Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1881-03-16
PRESIDENT GARFIELD-HIS
INA UG URAL ADDRESS,
a Retrospective Glance-History Of
the Nation Since It's Birth-Pro-
gress in Everything That
Contributes to Greatness
in Peep e.

FELLOW CITIZENS We stand to
day upon an eminence which overlook;
a hundred years of national life, q
century crowded with perils. but
crowned with the triumphs of liberty
and law. Before continuing the on
ward march, let us pause on this height
for moment, to 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
first written constitution of the United
States, the articles of confederation and
perpetual union The new republic
was then beset with danger on every
band. 1t had not conquered a place in
the family or nations. The decisive
battle of the war for independence,
whose centennial anniversary will soon
be gracefully celebrated at Yorktown,
had not yet been fought The colo
nists were struggling not only against
the armies Of great nation, but
against the settled opinions of man.
kind, for the world did not tfen believe
that the supreme authority of govern
ment could be safely entrusted to the
guardianship of the people themselves
We cannot overestimate the fervent
love of liberty, the intelligent courage
and the saving common sense with
which our fathers made the great ex-
pertinent of sclf-govcrnment. When
they found, after short trial, that the
confederacy Of States was too weak to
meet the necessity Of a vigorous and
expanding republic, they boldly set it
aside and in its stead established ma
tional union. founded directly upon the
whole Of the people. endowed with
full powers of self-preservation and
with ample authority for the accom-.
plishment Of other great objects
Under this constitution the bound
aries of freedom have been enlarged,
the foundations OF order and peace have
been strengthened, ana the growth Of
our people in all the better elements
of national life has vindicated the wis
dom 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 equality Of
rights on all the seas. Under this
Constitution twenty-five States have
been added to the UniCn, with Con-
| stitution and laws framed and enforced
by their own citizens to secure the
manifold blessings Of local self govern
menI Tie jurisdiction Of this Con-
stitution now covers an area fifty times
greater than that of the original thir-
teen States, aud population twenty
times greater than that of 1880
The supreme trial Of the Constitu-
Gus pressure Of civil war We, our
selves, are witncsss that the Union
emerged from the blood and lire OF that
conflict purified and made stronger for
all the benelicent purposes OF good gov
| ernmcDt
And now, at the close Of this FIRST
century Of growth, with the inspira-
tions Of It's history in brave hearts, our
people have lately renewed the condi-
ton Of the nation, passed Judgment
upon the conduct aud opinions of po-
lilical parties, ard have registered their
will concerning the future administra-
tion Of the Government. TO interpret
AID 10 execute that will in accordance
with the Constitution, il the para
mount duty Of the Executive.
Even from this brief review " it Is man
ifcst that the nation il resolutely ia :
ing TO the front, resolved to employ its
best energies in developing the great
possibilities Of the future. Sacredly
preserving whatever has been gained
to liberty and good government during
the century, our people are determined
to leave behind them all those bitte-
controversies concerning things which
have been irrevocably 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 bc no longer subject
Of debate. That discussion which for
h0lf u century threatened the existence
Of the Union was closed, at least in
the high court Of war, by decree
from which there is no appeal, that
the Constitution and the laws made in
pursuance Hereof are and shall con-
time TO be the supreme law Of the land,
binding alike upon the States and the
people. This decree does not disturb
the autonomy of the States nor inter-
fere with any Of their necessary rights
Of local self government, but it does fix
and establish the permanent supremacy
Of the Union.
The will Of the nation, speaking
with the voice Of battle and through
the amended Constitution, has fulfilled
tho great promise l77G, bv proclaiming
Liberty throughout the land to all
inhabitants thereof" The elevation
Of the negro race from slavery to the
full rights Of citizenship Is the most
important political change We have
known since the adoption Of the Con-
slitution Of 1887. No though tful man
can fail to appreciate its bencfcent ef-
feet upon our institutions and people
IL has freed US from the perpetual dan
ger Of war and dissolution. 1t has adj
ded immensely to the moral and indi-
vidual forces Of our people. 1t has
; liberated the master, as well as the
slave, from relation which wrongcd
and enfeeblcd both 1t has surrendered
TO their own guardianship the man
hood Of more than five million people,
and has opened to each ono Of them n
career Of freedom and usefulness. 1T
has given new inspiration to the power
Of self help in both races, by making
labor more honorable TO the one and
more necessary to the other. The in
.. aucn:e Of this force will grow greater