Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-03-11
The Inaugural Address.
Garfield Tells what he Knows about
Free Government.
The Usual Promises.

The Usual Promises.
Following is the inaugural ad
dress of President Garfield:
Fellow Citizens:-We stand to-
day upon an eminence which over.
looks hundred years of tho ma
tional lie of country, crowded
with perils, but crowned with tri
umphs of liberty and love. Before
continuing the onward march let
us pause on this height for a mo-
ment to strengthen our faith and re-
new our hope by glance at the
pathway along which our people
have travelled. 1t is now three days
more than q hundred years since
the adoption of the first written con-
stitution of the United States, the
articles of confederation and perpet-
ual union. The new republic was
then beset with dangers on every
hand, and had not conquered a
place in the family of nations. The
decisive battle of the war for indie.
pendence whose centennial anniver-
sary will be gratefully celebrated at
Yorktown, lad not been fought.
The colonists were struggling not
only against the armies of Great
Britain, but against the settled opin-
ions of mankind; for the world did
not believe that supreme authority
could be safely entrusted to the
guardianship of the people them
selves. We cannot over estimate
the fervant love of liberty, the intel
lisent courage and common sense
with which our fathers made the
great experiment of self-government.
When they found in a short time
that a confederacy of the States was
too weak to meet the necessities OF
vigorous and expanding Republic
they boldly set it aside and in its
stead established a national union,
founded directly upon the will of
the people, endowed with future
powers Of self-preservation and with
ample authority for the accomplish
ment of its great object. Under
this constitution the boundaries of
freedom have been enlarged, the
foundations of order and peace have
been strengthened and growth in all
the better elements of national life
has virdicated the wisdom of the
founders, and given new hope to
their descendants. Under this con.
stitution our people long ago made
themselves safe against danger from
without and secured for their mari
ners and flag equality of rights on
all seas. Under this constitution
twenty five States have been added
to the Union with constitutions and
laws framed and enforced by their
own citizens to secure the manifold
blessings of local and self-goVern-
nent. The jurisdiction OF this con-
stitution now covers an area fifty
times greater than that OF the origi-
nal thirteen States and population
twenty times greater than that OF
1850. The supreme trial of the con-
stitution came at last under the tre-
mendous pressure OF civil war. We
ourselves are witnesses that the
Union emerged from the blood and
fire of that conflict purified and
made stronger for all the beneticent
purposes of good Government.
Now at the close of this first CEN
tury of growth, with the inspirations
of its history in their hearts, our
people have lately reviewed the con-
dition of the nation and passed judg-
ment upon the conduct and opinions
of political parties and have regis
tered their will concerning the fu-
ture Administration of the Govern
ment. TO interpret and execute
that will in accordance with the
constitution, is the paramount duty
of the Executive. Even from this
brief review it is manifest that the
nation is resolutely facing to the
front, resolved to employ its best
energies in developing the great pos
sibilities of the future, sacredly pre-.
serving whatever has been gained
to liberty and good government dur
ing the past century. Our people
are determined to leave behind
them all those bitter controversies
concerning things which have beer
irrevocably settled and the further
discussion of which can only stir VI
strife and delay in the onward march
Tho supremacy of the nation and itt
laws should be no longer a subjec
of debate. That discussion which
for half a century threatened the ex
istence Of the Union and was closet
at last in the high court of war by ,
decree from which there is no ap
peal, that the constitution and law
made in pursuance thereof are ant
shall continue to be the supreme. Law
OF tho land, binding alike upon tn
States and the people. This deere