The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1881-03-10
oARFreLp's ADDRESS


from President Garfed's Inaugural
Address;
At the close of this first century
of growth, with the Inspirations of
its history in their hearts, our people
have lately reviewed the condition
of the nation, passed judgment upon
the conduct and opinions of political
parties, and have registered their
will concerning the future admiuis
tration of the government. To 10
terpret and to execute that will, in
accordance with the Constitution, is
a paramount duty of the Executive
Our people are determined to leave
behind them all those bitter contro
versies concerning things which
have beer irrevocably settled, aud
the further discussion of which can
only stir up strife and delay their
onward march.
The supremacy of the nation and
its laws should be no longer subjects
of debate. That discussion, which
for half century threatened the ex-
istence of the Union, was closed at
last 10 the high court of war, by a
decree from which there is no ap>
peal, that the Constitution and the
laws made in pursuance thereof are
and shall continue to be the supreme
law of the land, binding alike upon
the States and the people. This de
cree does not disturb the autonomy
of the States, nor interfere with any
of their necessary rights of local self
government. but it does fix aud es
tabIish the permanent supremacy of
the Union. The will of the nation,
speaking with the voice of battle and
through the amended Constitution.
has fulfilled the great promise of ZIG
by proclaimiug liberty throughout
the land to all the inhabitants there,
Of
The elevation of the negro race
from slavery to the full rights of citi
zenship is the most important politi>
cal change we have known since the
adoption of the Constitution in 1857.
No thoughtful man can fail t. sp,
preciste its beneticent effect upon our
institutions and people. 1t has freed
us from the perpetual danger of war
and dissolution, 1t has added i'm.
mensely TO the moral and industrial
forces of our people. It has liberia
ted the master as we'll rs the slave
from relation which wronged and
enfeebled both, II has surrendered
to .heir own guardiansbips the man
hood of more than 100000 of peo-
pie, and has opened to each one of
them career of freedom and useful
ness, 1t has given new inspiration
to the power of self help in Doth races
by making labor more honorable to
the Que and more necessary to the
other. The influence Of this force
will grow greater and bear richer
fruit with the coming years No
doubt this great change has caused
serious disturbance TO our Southern
communities. This is TO be deplor
ed, though it was perhaps unsvaiIa-
Bile, but those who resisted the
change should remember that under
our institutions there was no middle
ground for the negro race between
slavery and equal citizenship.
Il is alleged that in many comma
mites the negro citizens are ptscii,
cally denied the freedom of the bal
lot 10 SO far as the tru'h of this
allegation is admitted, it is answered
that in many places honest l'cel
government is impossible it the mass
OF uneducated negroes are SLOWED
to vnte. These are grave sllega-
tious. So far as the matter is true,
it ia the only pslliatiOn that can be
offered for opposing the freedom If
the ballot Bad local government lie
certainly great evil which ought TO
be prevented, out to violate the frees
dom and ssncti,y of suffrage is more
than an svil-it is a crime shich. if
persisted in, will destroy the govern,
ment itself. Suicide 10 not a RENE.