The new North-west., 1881-03-11
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
PRESIDENT JAMES A. GARFIELD.
WASHINGTON. March 4, 1881.


WASHINGTON, March 4, 1881.
Felio,c Citizens We stand to-day upon
an eminence which overlooks hundred
wears of National life-a century CROWDED
with perils. but crowned with triumphs OF
liberty and love.
RETRosPEcTIoN.
SBefore continuing the onward march let
ma pause on this heighth for moment TO re-
new and strengthen our faith and hope oy
glance at the pathway along which our peo-
ple have travelled. 1t is now three days more
thsn q hundred years since the saoPeion
IA States and the articles of confederation
and perpetual union. The new Republic
was then beset with dangers on every hand.
We had not conquered place In the family
of nations. The decisive battle OF the war
for independence, whose centennial ann.
yersary wild be gratefully ceieoratea al AZ
Yorktown, had not not been fought. Ihe
colonies " ele struggling not only againstt the
armies of Great Britain, but against the set,
led opinions of mankind, for the wofid dia
not believe that the supreme authority Oh
government could be safely entrusted 10 tne
guardianship of the people themselves. w, we
Cannot oyer-estimate the fervent love OF lib
erty. the intelligent courage and saving com
mon sense with which our fathers made the
GREAT experiment of self-government. When
| thew found in short time that the confedei-
| acy of States was too weak to meet the ne
| cessity Of vigorous and expanding repup-
| lie tbey boldly set it aside, and its stead es-
| tablisbed a National Union, founded direct
tly upou tiIu will of tho people. Endowed
| with future powers of self preservation anu
with ample authority for the accomplishment
| of its great objects, under this cohstiIatiol''
/ q have
Iarped, the foundations of peace and order
/ have been strengthened, and the growth I'D
| all the better elements Of national lie nave
yindicated the wisdom Of the founders anu
| giveu new hope to their descendants. uhder
This constitution our people long ago made
themselves safe from danger without ana Sc
| cured for their mariners and flag equal rights
on the sea. Under this constitution twenty
five States have been added to the Union,
with constitutions and laws framed by their
own citizens to secure the manifold pressing
of local self government. The Jurlsdlctioh
of this constitution now covers an area my
times greater than that OF the orisihai .nir-
teen States. and population twenty uihes
greater than that of lISO.
THE TRIAL BY FIRE.
III The supreme trial of the const tuition came
| at last, under the tremendous pressure oi
: the civil war. We ourselves are witnesses
= that the Union emerged from the flood ane
fire of that conflict purified and made strong
: or for all the purposes of beneficial govern
f meut. and now, at the close of this first cen
: tury of growth, further discussion OF whici
n can only stir up strife aad delay the onwar'
# march, the supremacy of the nation and u
q laws should no longer be subject oi ae
i bate. That discussion which for hall cen
/ tury threatened the existence Of the Uniol
e | II. t. tha iaba ri N
& cree from which there is no appeal. that III
Q constitution and the laws made in purstahc
e thereof are, and shall continue to be, the su
st preme law of the land, binding alike upo
Is States and people. This decree does hu
Or disturb the autonomy of the States no
J. interfere with any of their necessary rule
" of local self government, but 1t does hx an
s establish the permanent supremacy oi th
Union. The will Of the Nation speakin
or with the voice of battle and through a
le amended constitution has fulfilled the gre'
ne promise of 1776 by "proclalming iiber'
S. throughout the land to all the inhabitan
Ut thereof"
,n NEGRO ENFRANCHIsEMENT.
1t, The elevation of the negro race fom 81
IN very to full rights of citizenship Is the mo
st. important political chan2e we have know
ge since the adoption of the constitution
p- 1850. No thoughtful men can fail 10 'ppr
of ciate with inspirations Of history In the
he hearts that our people have lately review.
the condition of the Nation, passed Jud
III ment upo,. the conduct and opinions OF
OF litieal parties and have registered their "
th concerning the future admiaisirssasm oi a., :
is as governmeaGtia with the constitution is
flac5aMP3qpt flcaMP f duty of the e Ese6ntiSer ernaE
Va Nation is resolutely facing to the front, q
haa I'm. N
ue yeloping the great possibilities Of the futu
ar sacredly preserving whatever has been gain
~, TO liberty and good government during t
no last century. Our people are determined
leave behind them all these bitter cont
Us. versies concerning things which have be
put irreyOcably settled, and wronged and emf
ply bled both. Ii has surrendered TO theii o.
ne guardianship the manhood of more than 4
ry million people, and has opened TO each @
nat Of them career of freedom and usefulne
OF Ii has given new inspiration to the power
i've self help In both races, by making labor mt
'oh honorable to one and more necessary TO
other. The influence of this force will or
eni greater and bear richer fruit with the conn
oy years. No doubt this great change has ca
hai ed serious disturbance to our southern co
mo munity. This Is to be deplored, though
al- was unavoidable. But those who resist
she the change should remember that under {
lef, institutions there was no middle ground
ON the negro between slavery and equal citiz
IAN ship. There can be no permanent disfr
e a chised peasantry In the United States. FIR
ex- dom can never yield its fullness of blessir
ed, as long as the law orits administration pla
ere the slightest obstacle In the pathway of q
lge virtuous citizen. The emancipated race
the already made remarkable progress. w
unauestionable devotion to the Union, q
4 al nd t1ano mot hpr,,
fear, they have followed the light as g
Re- gave them to see the light. They are rap
ly LAYING material foundations for self 81
a' port, widening the circle of intelligence 3
pot beginning to enjoy the blessings that gatl
nan around the homes of the industrious pc
nm They deserve the generous encouragement
all good men. So far as my authority
|" lawfully extend, they shall enjoy the full I
has equal protection Of the constitution a
Un- laws. The free enjoyment OF equal suffr
, IL is still in question, and frank statement
-. the issue may aid in its solution.
oSe sANCTITY OF THE BALLOT.
ana It IS alleged that In many communities
tor gro citizens are practically denied the Fl
irk dem of the ballot. In so far as the truth
!. this allegation Is admitted, il Is asserted
many places honest local government is
loie possible If the mass of uneducated negr
are allowed to vote. These are grave allie
tions. So far as the latter Is true, it is
only palliation that can be offered for OPT
ing the freedom of the ballot. Bad l.
irk- government Is certainly great evil, VII
De- ought to be prevented, but to violate
ans freedom and sanctity of suffrage Is more q
an evil. IL is crime, which, If persisted
no" will destroy the government ITSELF Suit
10y is not remedy. If in other lands 1t
counted high treason to compass the deatl
red king, it should be counted no less or
~, here to destroy freedom. But the dan
',oh which arises from ignorance in the the v,
mint cannot be denied. 1t covers q field
and wider than that of negro suffrage and
present conditienuf iha' race. IL is a
- ger that turks and hides IN corners and 70
s1e tains Of power in every seat. We have
ner- standard by which to measure the disa
her that may be brought upon us by ignora
ex- In citizens when joined to corruption
fraud in suffrage. The voters Of The I'm
who make and unpake constitutions,
to- upon whose will hangs the destiny Of
lion government, can transmit their supreme
thority to no successor save the coming {
-, Grafton of voters, who are the sole heirs
M le,- the sovereign power. II that general