The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1881-03-10
The Inaugural Address.

CITIZENS stand to-day
upon an eminence which overlooks a
hundred years of national life, CEN
tury crowded with perils, but crowned
with triumphs 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 path
way along which our people have
travelled.
It is now three days more than a
hundred years since the adoption of
the first written Constitution of the
United States, the articles Of confed-
Grafton and perpetual union. The new
Republic was then beset with danger
on every hand. 1t had not conquered
place in the family of Nations. The
decisive battle Of the war for independ-
ence, whose centennial anniversary
will soon be gratefully celebrated at
Yorktown, had not yet been fought.
The colonists were struggling not only
against the armies Of Great Britain,
but against the settled opinions of
mankind, for the world did not believe
that the supreme authority Of govern
ment could be safely intrusted to the
guardianship of the people themselves
We can not over-estimate the fervent
love, the intelligent courage, the say
ing common sense with which our
fathers made the great experiment Of
self-government.
When they found, after a short
time, that the Confederacy Of States
was too weak to meet the necessities
Of glorious and expanding Republic,
they boldly set it aside, and in its stead
established National Union, founded
directly upon the will Of the people,
endowed with powers of self-preserva-
ton, and with ample authority for the
accomplishments Of its great objects.
Under this Constitution the bound
aries of freedom are enlarged, the
foundations of order and peace have
been strengthened, and the growth in
all the better elements of National life
has vindicated the wisdom of the
founders and given new hope to their
descendants.
Under this Constitution our people
long ago made themselves safe against
danger from without, and secured for
their mariners and flag equality of
rights on all the SEAS Under this Con-
stitution 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 self-government.
The Jurisdiction Of this Constitution
now covers an area fifty times greater
than that of the original thirteen
States, and a population twenty times
greater than that Of 1850. The trial
of the Constitution came at last under
the tremendous pressure of civil war.
We ourselves are witnesses that the
Union emerged from the blood and
fire of the conflict, purified and made
stronger for all the benefcent purposes
of good government, and now at the
close of this, the first century of
growth, with the inspiration of its his
tory in their hearts, our people have
lately reviewed the condition Of the
Nation, passed Judgment upon the
conduct and opinions of the political
parties, and have registered their will
concerning the future administration
of the Government. To interpret and
to 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, resolution to employ it's best
energies in developing the great possi-
bilities of the future. Sacredly pre-
serving whatever has been gained to
liberty and good government during
the century, our people are determined
to leave behind them all those bitter
controversies concerning things which
have been irrevocably settled, further
discussion Of which can only stir up
strife and delay the onward march. !
The supremacy Of the Nation and its
laws should be no longer the subject
Of debate. That discussion, which for |