The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-03-12
THE INAUGURATION.

Inc 4tn happened 10 Ut pitasans uay nv
Washington and the Inauguration parade and
ceremonies were carried out without any abate-
ment from the grand scale on which they were
projected. The procession filed Pennsylvania
avenue from end to end and included 10 900
soldiers in uniform The inauguration cere-
monies took place, rs usual, IN the East portlco
Of the capitol, where, after the administration
Of the oath of office by the Chief Justice,
President Garfield delivered his inaugural ad'
dress rs follows:
RETROSPECTIVE.
Fellow CITIZENS: We stand Today upon
an eIn,n.nce which overooks hundred years
Of national lile,-a century crowded with per
liz, but crowded with the trlumphs OF liberty
and love. Before continuing our onward
march let us pause on this height fol moment
to strenvt then our faith and renew our hope by
glance al the pathway along which our peo'
pie have Travelled. Ii is now three days more
shan 100 years since The adoption Of the first
written Constitution OF the United States
the articles Of confederation and of perpetual
union The new Republic was then bese. with
danger on every hand. 1t had not conquered
place in the FAMILY Of nations. The decisive
battle of the war for independence, whose cen
celebrated ut Yorktown, had not yet been
fought. The cOonlsts were struggling Lot
only against the armies of Great Britain, but
against the settled opinions Of mankind, for
she world did not believe that the supreme au'
thOrity Of government could be safely inlrust-
ed to the guardianship of the people them.
selves We cannot Overestimate the fervent
love of liberty, the intelligent courage, ana
saving common sense with which our fathers
NF nj n
When they found after \ short time that the
confcdcracv of states WAS too weak to meet the
necessities Of u vigorous and expanding Re
public, they boldly set II aside, and IN Its
stead established y National Union, founded
directly upon the will Of the people, and en-
lowed it with future powers OF seif-preserva'
ton and with ample authority for the accom-.
plshment of Its great objects. 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 National life has
indicated 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 an
equality of rights On all the seas. Under this
Constitution twenty. five States have been adj
ded TO the Union, with constitutions and laws
framed and enforced by their own citizens, to
secure the manifold blessings Of local and self
government. The jurisdiction of this C"nstl-
sutton now covers an area fifty ten times
greater than that of the original thirteen
states, and q population twenty times greater
than that of 1850 The supreme trial OF he
Constitution came At last under the trcmcnd-
Gus pressure of civil war. We ourselves are
witnesses that the Union emerged from the
blood and fire Of that conflict, purified and
made stronger for all the beneficent purposes
of good government, and now, at the close OF
this first century OF growth, with inspirations
of its history In their hearts, Our people have
lately reviewed the condition of the Nation,
passed Judgment upon the conduct and opn-
IONS Of the political parties, and have register
I'd their will concerning the future admins.
us,ion of government To interpret and exc
cute that WILL IN accordance with the Constl-
tuition, is the paramount duty of the Execu'
tive.
THE FUTURE.
Even from this brief review 1t ls manifest
that the Nation is rcsolutely facing To the
front resolved TO employ It's best energies in
developing the great possibilities of the future.
Sacredly preserving whatever has been gained
~ liberty and good government during the
century. our people are delermed to leave he
hind them all those bitter controversies con
settled and the 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 subject Of debate.
That discussion which for halt a century
threatened the existence Of the Union was
closed at last in the high court of war by de.
cree, from which there is no appeal, that the
Constitution and laws made in pursuance
thereof shall continue to he the supreme law
Of the land, binding alike upon the States and
upon the people. This decree docs not dis.
turb the autonomy of the States nor interfere
with any of their necessary rules Of self gov
eminent, but it does fix and establish the per
manent supremacy of the Union. The will Of
the Nation speaking with the voice of battle
and through the amended Constitution has full
fled the great promise Of 1915 by proclaim
ing Liberty throughout the land to oil the
inhabitants thereof"
EMANCIPATION.
The elevation of the negro race from slavery
to the full rights of citizenship IL the mos,
important political change We have known
since the adoption of the constitution of 1881.
No thOus htful men can fail to appreciate It's
benefcent effect upon our institutions and peo.
pie. 1t has freed Us from the perpetual danger
OF war and dissolution. 1t has added immense
ly to the moral and industrial forces OF our
people. 1t has liberated the master as well a.
the slave from the relation which wr0nged and
elteehed both. 1t has surrendered to their
own guardianship the manhood of more than
100000 people, and has opened to each one
Of them q career OF freedom and usefulness ::
1t has given new inspiration to the power of
selthelp in both races by making labor more
honorable 10 one and more necessary to the
other The influence Of this force will grow
greater and bear richer fruit with coming
years No doubt the great change has caused
serious disturbance to our Southern commu.
nifty This is to be deplored, though it was
unavoidable; but those who resisted the
change should remember that under our nsti
tutlons there was no middle ground for the