The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1881-03-11
ii The New President.

James A. Garfield was duly inaugurated
as the twentieth President Of the United
States at Washington, on Friday last, the
4th of March. Upwards of 100000 persons
from all parts of the country, were there to
witness the ceremonies.
The Senate of the 41th Congress was or
gained by the swearingin ofVice President
Arthur, and after General Garfield had deliy.
cred his inaugural address the oath of office
was administered to him by the Chief JUS
tiee of the Supreme Court The address of
President Garfield, while it is in full accord
with prevailing Republican sentiment con-
corning Capitalization, is moderate in its
tone, and apparently avoids exciting topics,
as though he did not wish to excite, at the
outset, any needless hostility from those who
differ with him as to theories ofgovernment.
He sketches the origin of the Union of the
States, their increase in numbers and in pop
ulation and asserts that to execute the will
of The people in accordance with the Consti-
tuition, is the paramount duty of the Execu-
tive.
''our people are determined to leave behind
them all those bitter controversies concerning
things which have been irrevocably settled,
and the consideration of which can only stir
up strife and delay the onward march" of the
republic He adverts to the elevation of the
negro race to citizenship, and does not at
tempt to palliate the danger ofignorant suf-
frage. His remedy for this is universal
education In this benefcent work, he says,
sections and races should be forgotten and
partisanship should be unknown Fifty
years hence said the President the cOntro-
versies of the present will be forgotten,
as we have forgotten those of fifty years ago.
1--WE may hasten or we may retard, but we
cannot prevent the final reconciliation" We
are in period ofunparalleled prosperity, we
are reminded, and our p rudent financial az
rangements have enabled us "to secure the
blessings when the seasons brought" The
President wishes to see these blessings still
further profited by, great enterprises pushed
to completion, and the worlds currency
finally settled by international concert, so
that 'the purchasing power of every coined
dollar will be exactly equal 10 its debt.paying
power in all the markets of the world" He
favors the refunding process lately attempted,
and the gradual but not forcible withdrawal
of the greenback promises to pay" He
thinks that the interests ofagriculture should
receive more attention than is at present
tl,at, nal
agement to manufactures and greater facil-
tiles to transportation through the improve
ment of rivers and harbors and the increase
of our carrying trade. The interoccanic
isthmus canal is approved by him but the
construction must not be undertaken except
under such auspices as will guarantee secu-
rty to our national interests. He favors the
coercion of the Mormon hierarchy, and de.
carcs that the civil service can never be
placed upon a satisfactory basis until it is
regulated by law for the good ofthe service
itself These are the leading features of this
compact and well-worded address.
In the Inauguration of President Garfield
the country may be congratulated upon one
President, but was chosen by the American
people according to the forms of law. 1t is
true that majority of the votes were cast
for General Hancock, but General Garfield
had majority in the electoral colleges, and
is therefore legally elected President He
has an opportunity before him which few
Presidents of late years have had. The as
perties of the war are toned down Provi-
dence has blessed the country with good
crops, and business of all kinds isprosperous.
President Garfield, has it in his power to
to aid in bringing about full reconciliation
between the North and South, by resolutely
opposing any attempt to stir up sectional
strife. There is a faction in his own party
that fiourishes upon the memories of the war
1t remains to be seen whether he will place
himself unreservcdly in their hands to con-
tinue their work of evil, or by adopting a
broad, generous and Just policy make his
name a blessing.