Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-03-04
Badly &ennebee Journal.
Augusta, Friday Morning, Mar. 4.


dent OF the United States-JAMES A.
GARFIELD of Ohio. The event is one
Of deep interest to the American people.
In other countries change Of rulers. un-
less caused by death, seldom occurs with
out bloodshed and widespread and vio-
lent popular commotion. To-day one
President retires to private life, and an
other man. bearing no relation to the
former save common nationality, comes
toward and receives at the hands of the
people the honor. power and responsibility
attached to the office of the Chief Magis-
trate of this great nation. To the student
of history, this peaceful, orderly change Of
governmental power and authority is a
wonderful, impressive and hopeful fact.
assuring him that the world is steadily
moving in the direction Of better govern
ment tor the people and by the people.
Like many of our Presidents the man
who to-day receives that distinction was
born in poverty and has made his way
step by step through his own exertions to
the chief place in the nation. a log house
in new country was his early home, and
he was acquainted with hard labor upon
the farm and other kindred cmployments
when youth. His determination to gain
an education was the turning point in his
life. This took him away from the car
penter's bench. from dreams of going to
sea and life of manual toll, and placed
his feet upon the first round of the ladder
whose highest point he reaches to-day.
Of course he had the stuff in him of which
great men are made. or he would not now
be the central figure in the ceremony
soon to take place at the capital of the ma
ton. 1t is often said that the Presidency
is a prize which the humblest boy may
gam. but it is the kingly soul and not the
circumstances of birth which makes the
achievement possible.
The new President comes to his office
dent by the grace of God and the votes Of
the people of the United States, cast and
counted in accordance with the constitr-
ton and laws of the country. His chief
competitor. General Hancock, good man
and noble soldier that he is, gives the oc-
casion the endorsement of his presence
and out-spoken appreciation. The out
going President cheerfully relnquishes
the power which he has welded four
thing to render the Inauguration propi-
tious. The heart of the nation beats in
sympathy with the proceedings that are
to take place in the next few hours at
Washington. The national flag every
where will wave in recognition of the
great event and in fealty to the powers
that are to be And as the lightning
flashes across the land the intelligence
that Garfield i5Presdent the general voice
will respond. amen. so let it be.
That President Garfield will fill his Office
well there is no reason to doubt. lie brings
to it cultured mind, sound judgment.
large experience in governmental affairs.
an honest heart and firm physical health.
The republican platform adopted at Chi
cago will be his chart lie has not dis
sembled his own opinions upon political
matters. The record Of his career i'm
Congress is open to the inspection of all,
and his Letter of Acceptance of the nomin-
alton rendered him at Chicago speaks his
views upon matters of national Importance.
In that document we may read the policy
which will guide his administration
He declares in that. rs the starting
point. his opposition to the doctrine
Of State supremacy "a understood by
the followers of John c. Calhoun. and
asserts the opposite doctrine. that the
United States is a nation; that it has and
must maintain the power TO determine the
method by which its own legislature shall
be created; that the laws for the election
OF representatives shall not be violated or
evaded; and that every voter must be pro-
tected in the right to cast his ballot as he
pleases and to have it honestly counted.
Next in Importance to Justice and fire.
dom he holds popular education, without
which, he says, "nether freedom or JUS
tice can be permanently maintained.
Whatever help the nation can justly afford
should be generously given to aid the
States in supporting common schools"
As to the national finances he eN-
presses his pleasure at the reduction of
the national debt. the decrease of the
burden of interest. and declares for econ
omy in all the expenditures of govern
ment, and against violent changes and
doubtful financial experiments
He favors tariff that Twill bring rev.
nue. to the treasury. and will enable the
labor and capital employed in our great
industries to compete fairly in our own
markets with the labor aud capital of
foreign producers" He would aid inter-
nal improvements of national Importance.
favor efforts to remove the evils which
attend Chinese immigration. also to inn
prove the civil service.
These are sound doctrines. with which
&ha ;u,uy,r,l ajdrasS dal;xarad r. Ja,-