Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1881-03-09
ing approaching it here since the grand
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THE INAUGuRAL

hand. 1t had not conquered place in tn
family Of nations. The decisive battle of tn
yersary will soon be gratefully celebrated a
Yorktown, had not yet been fought Til
Colonists We're struggling not only agains
the armies Of Great Britain. bu
against the settled opinions of mankind, TO
the world did not believe that the supreme au
thority of government could be safely eutruste.
to the guardianship of the people themselves
We cannot over-estimate the tervent love 0
liberty, the intelligent courage and saving com
mon sense with which our fathers mad
the great experiment of self govern
ment. When they found after a shor
time that the confederacy of state
was too weak to meet the necessities Of vigor
aside and in its stead established nationa
union, founded directly upon the will of thu
people, endowed with future powers of self
preservation and with ample authority for thu
accomplishment of its great object. Under
this constitution the boundaries of freedom
have been enlarged, the foundations of order
and peace have been strengthened, and the
growth in all the better elements of nationa
life has indicated the wisdom of the founders
and given new hope to their descendants. Un.
der this consti tuition 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 constitu.
| ton twenty-five states have been added to the
! Union, with constitutions and laws framed and
enforced by their own citizens to Sc
cure the manifold blessings of local
self-government. The jurisdiction Of this
constitution now covers an area fifty times
greater than that of the original THU teen states
that Of 1850. The supreme trial Of the consti-
tuition came at last, under the tremendous pres
sure Of civil war. We ourselves are witnesses
that the Union emerged from the flood and fire
OF that conflict purified and made stronger
for all bcnefcent purposes and good
government, and now, 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 po-
litical parties and have registered their will con
corning the future administration of the gov
eminent: To interpret and execute their will
in accordance with the constitution is the para
mount duty of the executive.
Even from this exceedingly brief view il
is manifest that the nation is 1esolutely
facing to the front, resolved to employ it's
best energies in developing the great posi-
bilities Of the future, sacredly preserving
whatever has been gained to liberty and good
government during the century. Our people
are determined to leave behind all those
bitter controversies concerning things which
have been irrevocably settled and the
further discussion of which can only stir ND
strife and delay the onward march. The SUI
premacy of the nation and its laws should be
no longer the subject Of debate. That discus
sion which for half a century threatened the
existence of the Union was closed at last in the
high court OF war by decree from which there
is no appeal, that the constitution and laws
made in pursuance thereof shall continue to
be the supreme law Of the land, binding alike
upon the states and the people, This decree
does not disturb the autonomy of the states
nor Interfere with any Of their necessary rules
of local self-government, but it does fix and
Union. The will of the nation, speaking with
the voice of battle and through the amended
constitution, has fulfilled the great promise of
AVG by proclaiming. Liberty throughout the
land to all the inhabitants thereof
The elevation of the negro race from slavery
to the free rights of citizenship is the most i'm
portant political change we have known since
the adoption Of the constitution of 1887. No
thoughtful man can fail to appreciate it's bene-
fclent effect upon our institutions and people.
1t has freed us from perpetual danger Of war
and dissolution, it has added immensely to the
moral and industrial force of our people;
it has liberated the master as well
wronged and enfeebled both; it has surren-
dered to them ou guardianship of the man
hood of more than five millions of people, and
has opened to each one of them career of
freedom and usefulness; it has given new in
spiration to tue power of solf-help III both races
oy making labor more honorable to one and
more necessary to the other. The influence of
this force will grow greater and bear richer
frut With coming years. No doubt the great
change has caused serious disturbances
to our southern community. This is to be
deplored though it was unavoidable, but those
who resisted the change should remember that
under our institutions there was no middle
0r hn 1o+r
equal citizenship. There can be no permanent
dlsfranchised peasantry in the United States.
Freedom can never yield its fullncss of blessings
as long as law or its administration places the
smallest obstacle in the pathway of any virtu-
Gus citizens. The emancipated race has already
made remarkable progress. With unquestioned
devotion to the Union, with patience and
lowed the light as God gave them to see the
light. They are rapidly laying the material
foundations of self-support, widening the circle
OF intelligence and beginning to enjoy the bless
lngs that gather around the homes of the indus
trlous poor They deserve the generous encour-
agement of all good men. So far as my
authority an can lawfully extend. they shall enjoy
and laws. The free enjoyment of equal
suffrage IS still in question and frank state
ment OF the issue may aid it's solution. If
1t Is alleged that III many communities negro
citizens are practically denied the freedom of
!he baiot IN SO far as the truth of this allegation
is admitted, it is answered that in many places
honest local government is impossible if the
mass of uneducated negroes are allowed to
vote. These are grave allegations. So far as
the latter ls true, il is the only paliation that
can be offered for opposing the freedom of the
ballot. Bad local government is certainly an
eni which ought to be prevented, but to
violate the freedom and sanctty of
q crime which, if persisted in, will
destroy the government itself. Suicide is not
a remedy. If in other lands it be high treason
to compass the death Of the king, it should be
counted no less a crime here to strangle our
sovereign power and stifle its voice. It has been
said that unsettled questions have no pity for
u Inc repose OF nations. It should be said with
frage will never give repose or safety to the
states or to the nation until each within it's own
jurisdiction makes and keeps the ballot free
and pure by the strong sanctions Of the law.
But the danger which arises from ignorance
N the voter, cannot be denied. It covers d
held Tar wider than that of negro suffrage and
The present condition Of that race. It is dan
ger that Turks and hides in the sources and
fountains Of power in every state. We have
no standard by which to measure the disaster
bnat may be brought upon us by ignorance and
vice in citizens. when joined to corruption and
fraud on suffrage. The voters of the Union. who
make and unmake constitutions, and upon
whose will hangs the destiny of our govern.
ment can transmit their supreme authority to
no successor save the coming generation Of
voters who are the sole heirs Of the sovereign
power: If that generation comes to it's Inherit
ance, blinded by ignorance and corrupted by
vice, the fall OF the republic will be certain and
remed1less. The census has already sounded
The alarm in appalling figures which mark how
high the tide of illiteracy has
arisen Il e. among our voters and their children.
10 the south the question is of supreme I'M
portance. but the responsibility for the
existence ?; of slavery did not rest upon
The south alone. The nation itself is
responsible for the extension of suffrage. and
s under special obligations to cid in REMOVING
ne iliteracy which it has added to the yotine
population Of the north and south alike. There
but one remedy. All the constitutional
oower of the nation and of the states. and ali
me volunteer forces Of tho people should be-
to meet this danger, by having the |
influence of universal education. It is the h;oh !
privilege and sacred dhty Of those now living To |
EDUCATE their successors ana fit them by mteli- |
'ence and virtue for the inheritance which |
waits them. In this benefcieut work sects |
nd races should be forgotten and partisanshiD
mould be unknown. Let our pie find new
meaning in the divine oracle which declares
hat "A little child shall lead them" for our