Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-03-17
Bemutfatit Nurttlmest.
GARFIELD'S INAUGURAL

FELLOW CITIZENS : We stand to-da
upon an eminence which overlooks on
hundred years of national life-a cen
tury crowded with perils but crowde,
with triumphs of liberty and love. BE
fore continuing our onward march, le
us pause on this height for momen
TO strengthen our faith and renew ou
hope by a glance at the pathway along
which our people have Travelled.
THE LESSONS or \ CENTURY.
1t is now three days more than ;
hundred years since the adoption of thC
first written constitution of the United
States--the articles of confederation
and perpetual union. The new repub-
tic was then beset with dangers on ev-
cry hand. IL had not conquered q
place in the family of nations The de.
oislve battle of the war for lndepen
dence, whose centennial anniversary
will scon be gratefully celebrated al
Yorktown, had not yet been fought
The colonists were struggling, not on
ly against the armies of Great Britain,
but against the settled opinions OF
mankind; for the world did not believe
that the supreme authority of gov
ernment could be safely entrusted to
the guardianship of the people them
selves. We cannot overestimate the
tervent love of liberty, the intelligent
courage and saving common sense with
which our fathers made the great ex-
pertinent Of self government. They
found after short time that the con
;ederacy Of the States was too weak to
meet the necessities of a vigorous and
expanding republic.
THIS is A NATION.
They boldly set it aside. and In its
stead established u national union,
founded directly upon the will of the
people, endowed with powers of self
preservation and with ample authority
for the accomplishment of its great OBJ
jects. Under this constitution the
boundaries of freedom have been en-
!arged, the foundations of order and
peace have been strengthened, and the
growth of all the better elements of
national life has vindicated the wisdom
of its founders and given new hope to
their descendants.
Under this constitution our people
Tong 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 State houses have
been added to the union, with constitu.
tions and laws framed and enforced by
their own citizens, to secure the mani
fold blessings Of local self-government.
The jurisdiction Of this constitution
now covers an area of fifty times great.
er than that Of the original thirteen
States and a population twenty times
greater than that of 1850. The supreme
trial of this constitution came at last
under the tremendous pressure of civil
war. We ourselves are witnesses that
the union emerged from the blood and
tire of that conflict purified and made
stronger for all the benefcent purposes
of good government
THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE SUPREME.
And now, at the close of this first
century of growth, with the inspira--
sions of its history in their hearts, our
people have lately reviewed the condi-
tion of the nation and passed judg-
ment upon the conduct and opinions of
political parties, and have registered
their will concerning the future admin.
lstration of the government, and to in
terpret and execute their will, in &C.
with the constitution, is the
paramount duty of the executive.
FACED TO THE FRONT
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 possibilities Of the future sacred
ly preserving whatever has been gained
to liberty and good government dur
ing the century,
DEAD ISSUES.
Our people are determined to leave
behind them all those bitter contro-
versies concerning things which have
been irrevocably settled, an 4 the furth.
er 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 the
subject Of debate. That discussion
which for half a century threatened the
existence Of the union, was closed at
asst in the high court of war by de-
:ree from which there is no appeal,
hat the constitution and laws made in
pursuance thereof shall continue to be
he supreme laws OF the land, binding
lpon the States and the people. This
decree does not disturb the autonomy
If the States, nor interfere with any Of
heir necessary rules of local selt-gov
'rnment. But it does fix and establish
he permanent supremacy Of the I'm
on.
UNIVERSAL LIBERTY AND ITS BLESSINGS.
The will of nation speaking with
he voice of battle and through the
mended constitution, has fulfilled the
.reatpromise OF l776, by proclaiming