Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-03-12
THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
PRESIDENT GARFIELD MAKES
KNOWN HIS VIEWS TO
THE COUNTRY
The Results Of the War, the Southern
Question, Popular Suffrage, Public
Education, Agriculture and
Commerce and Inter-
Ocean Transit.
Polyga my and Other Subjects Brief
ly Commented on.

WASHINGTON, March 4.-The follow.
ing is the inaugural address Of President
Garfield, delivered at the Capitol to-
day:
FeIIow- Citi-sns-We stand to-day upon
all eminence which overlooks one hun
bred years of National life; a century
crowded with perils, but crowded with
triumphs of liberty and law. Before
continuing the onward march, let us
pause on this height for moment tc
strengthen our faith and renew our hope
by glance at the pathway along which
our people have travelled. 1t is now
three days more than a hundred years
since the adoption Of the first writer
constitution of the United States-the
articles of confederation and perpetual
union. The new republic was then be-
set with danger on every hand. 1t had
not conquered a place in the family O.
nations. The decisive battle of the wal
for independence, whose centennial an
niversary will soon be gratefully cele
brated at Yorktown, had not, yet beer
fought. The colonists were struggling
not only against the armies of a great
nation, but against the settled opinion
of mankind, for the world did net ther
believe that the supreme authority o
government could be safely entrusted tt
the guardianship Of the people them
selves. We cannot overestimate thu
fervent love of liberty, intelligent cour
age and saving common sens,
with which our fathers make TIKI
great experiment of self-govern
ment, when they would, afte,
short trial, find that the confedera
tion of States was too weak to meet tho
necessities of tho vigorous and expand
ing republic, they boldly set st aside
snd in it's stead establish national union
founded directly upon the will Of the
people, endowed with fall powers OF self
preservation aud with ample authority
for its accomplishments of it's great OBJ
jeets.
Under this constitution the bounda
riss of freedom have been enlarged, the
foundations Of order and peace have beer
strengthened and the growth of ou1
people, in all the better elements of ma
tional life, has indicated the wisdom Of
the founder and given new hope to theil
descendants. Under this constitution
our people long age made themselve.
safe against danger from wishout, and
secured for their mariners and Tag
equality of rights on all the seas; under
this constitution twenty-five States have
been added 10 the Union. with constitu.
tons 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 fifty times greater thar
that of the original thirteen States, anC
population twenty times greater thar
, that of 1850.
THE WAR AND ITS RESULTS.
The supreme trial of the constitution
came at last under the tremendous pres
sure of civil war. We ourselves are wit
nesses that the Union emerged from TIT
blood and frs o" that conflict purified
dLu Iu'lC cOiOuSCl lVl dll tuC UCuCliCtll
purposes of good government, and nov
at the close ofthis first century of growth
with tho inspirations Of its history il
their hearts, our people have lately re
viewed the condition of the nation
passed Judgment upon the conduct anc
opinions of political parties, and hav,
registered their will concerning the flu
ture administration of the government
To interpret and to execute that will, il
accordance with the constitution. is th,
paramount duty Of the executive.
Even from this brief review it is mani
fest that tho nation u rssolusely facine
front, resolved to employ it, bsst ener
Sies in developing shs great possibihtie,
Of the future, saorsdly preserving what
svcr hss been GAINED - Liberty and geot
government daring tbs century.
Our pOpls are dsssr,niHsd " hAA,
behind ,HSm al shoss histSr ssaEovsr
siss soassrafag things which Aays heel
Nrsy eeoA1y SsSN1sa, nd further Nets