The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-03-12
SATURDAY, MARCH u, 1881.
President Garfeld's Inaugural Address.

SATURDAY., MANU- Is 1901
President Garfeld's Inaugural Address.
After taking the oath of Office General
Garfield delivered an inaugural address of
considerable length, in which may be found
some outline of the policy to be pursued
by his administration. Those familiar
with his career are not surprised at his ut
terances. lie believes this Union of free
and Independent States to be Nation,
and is in favor of strong, paternal gov
eminent. The elevation of the negro from
slavery to full citizenship he regards as
the most important political change since
the adoption of the Constitution in 1877.
A considerable portion of his address is
taken up with the negro question, and it
is evident that the colored man and broth
er is to be the special care of the new ad-
ministration. Much of the legislation OF
the country, since the advent of the Re
publican party to power, has been in the
interest of the black man, and this sort of
class legislation is likely to continue as
long as the Radical party controls affairs
Whilst on the negro subject, Gen. Garfield
takes occasion to say that free suffrage is
not exercised by the negroes, and promises
them that his authority shall be used to
secure them the full enjoyment of this
privilege, and he emphasizes the statement
that there will be no repose until the bal
lot shall be pure and free. After Gen.
Garfelds manipulation and forgery of the
returns of the State of Louisiana, in 1876,
anything from him on the subject of
pure ballot comes with i'll grace. He,
more than any one else, is responsible for
the overthrow of the will of the people, as
exp ressed by the ballot. If he were hon
est in desiring free and unrestrained
ballot, he would not have confined himself
to alleged abuses Of the elective franchise
in the South, but would have, as well, ut
tered an indignant protest against the tyr
amy of Northern factory lords, who drive
their white operatives to the polls to vote
the Republican ticket like so many cattle
Gen. Garfield cannot be ignorant of this
fact. for he is President Of the United
States to-day only in consequence Of such
tactics as these, by which several Of the
Northern States were carried by very
meagrc majorities.
The inaugural address fayors universal
education, fostering Of manufactures and
farming interests. Universal education Is
part of the Capitalization scheme Of ad-
vaneed Radicalism. Fostering manufac-
lures means high protective tariffs, and
conserving the landed interests means
nothing. Mr. Garfield is also a moderate
Civil Service Reformer, but Is not as
thorough or as enthusiastic as his fraudu-
lent predecessor on the subject. He de-
sires to have the tenure of Office defined
by law. aud his sole purpose in this seems
TO be 10 relieve officials Of the annoyance
Of ofiee-seekers
The present administration, we believe,
will be an extremely bitter partisan one,
AID eentralizing in all its tendencies. The
President is enc Of the most advanced IN
all the departures from the old and gener-
ally accepted construction of the eonsti'u-
zion. State lines he regards rs similar 10
eoauty lines, the States to exercise no
Authority except such as are granted by the
general government. He is also an unre-
ientiug hater Of the South aud her people,
and that section viii have nothing to hope
for during his term Ills elevation TO the
Presidency was not a fit one to be made,
Apart from his questionable moral eharac-
ter, he is too much of partisan to take
broad and comprehensive view Of affairs,
and he viii conserve the interests ofparty
TO the exclusion Of the public good