Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-03-05
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.

| FELLOW CITIZENS. We stand to-day upon
an eminenCe which overlooks hundred years
OF national life-a century crowded with psrils
but crowned with the triumph of liberty and
love. Before continuing the onward march
let us pause moment at this height-for a
moment to strengthen our faith and renew
our hope by glance at the pathway along
| which our people have trayelad. 1t is now
three days more than hundred years since the
adoption of the first written constitution of
the United States, the articles of confederation
and perpetual union.
THE NEW REPUBLIC
was then beset with danger on every hand 1t
had not conquered place in the family OF
nations. The decisive battle of the war for
independence, whose centennial anniversary
will soon be gratefully celebrated at York
town, had not yet been fought. The colonists
were struggling not only against the armies
of Great Britain but against the settled opin.
ions of mankind, for the world did not believe
that the supreme authority of government
could be safely entrusted to the guardianship
| of the people themselves. We cannot over.
estimate the fervent love of liberty, the intel
| ligent courage and saving common sense with
which our fathers made the great experiment
| of self-government. When they found after a
short time that a confederacy of the States was
too weak to meet the necessities of the vigor-
Gus and expanding republic, they boldly set it
| aside and in its stead established
THE NATIONAL UNION,
| founded directly upon all the people, endowed
with full powers of self-preservation and
with ample authority for the accomplishment
of its great object. Under this constitution
the boundaries of freedom have been enlarged,
| the foundations OF order and peace been
strengthened, and growth in all the better
elements of national life has vindcated the
wisdom 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
union, with constitutions and laws formed
and enforced by their own citizens to secure
| the manifold blessings of local self-govern-
ment The jurisdiction of this constitution
now covers an area fifty times greater than
that of the original thirteen States and pop
nlation twenty times greater than that of 1850.
The supreme trial of the constitution came at
last under the tremendous pressure of civil
war. We ourselves are witnesses that the
Union emerged from the blood and fire of that
conflict purified and made stronger for all the
benefcent purposes of good government.
ana now AT the close OF Lnls,
THE FIRST CENTURY
of growth, with the inspirations Of its history
in their hearts, our people have lately reviewed
the condition of the nation, passed judgment
upon the conduct and opinions of political
parties, and have registered their will concern
ing the future administration of the govern
ment, and to interpret and execute that will in
accordance with the constitution, is the para
mount duty of the executive.
FRUITS OF THE WAR.
Even from this point of view it is manifest
that the nation is resolutely facing to the
front, resolved to occupy its vast energies in
developing the great possibilities of the fu-
ture Sacredly preserving whatever has bt en-
gained to liberty and good government during
the century, our people are determin-
ed to leave behind all those bit
ter controversies concerning things
which have been irreyocably settled and
further discussion of which can only stir up
strife and delay the onward march. The SUI
premacy of the nation and its laws should be
no longer a subject of debate That discus
sion which for half a century threatened the
existence of the Union was closed at the last
court of war by a decree from which there is
no appeal. The constitution and laws made in
pursuance thereof shall continue to be the su-
preme law of the land, binding alike upon
disturb any of the States nor interfere with
any of their necessary rules of local self gov
ernment, but it does fix and establish the per-
manept supremacy of the Union. The will of
the nation, speaking with the voice of battle
and through the amended constitution, has
fulfilled the great promise of 177Izby pro-
claiming liberty throughout the land to all
inhabitants therein.
THE NEGRO RACE.
The alavatinn of fha narro rooa fror, slo1-
cry to full rights of citizenship, is the
most important political change we have
known since the adoption of the constitution
of 1857 No thoughtful man can fail to ap.
preciate its benefcent effect on our people.
1t has freed us from perpetual danger of war
and dissolution. It has added immensely to
the moral aid industrial force Of our people,
1t has liberated the master as well as the slave
from relation which wronged and enfeebled
both. 1t has surrendered to
their own guardianship the manhood
OF more than five million people, and
has opened to each one of them a career of
freedom and usefulness. 1t has given new In
spiration to the power of self help in both
| races, by making labor more honorable to one
and more necessary to the other The influence
| Of this force will grow greater and bear richer
| fruit with coming years. No doubt the great
change has caused serious disturbance to our
| SOututTu mis- Is 10 De QeplOr6Q,
though 1t was unavoidable, but those who re-
sisted the change should remember that under
our institutions there was no middle ground for
the negro race between slavery and equalization.
There could be no permanent disfranchised
peasantry in the United States. Freedom can
never yield its fullness of blessings as long as
law or its administration places the smallest
obstacle in the way of any virtuous citizen.
| The emanclpated race has already made re-
| marEahla DrOprnss With unconditional dnr-o.
ton to the Union, with patience and gentle
| ness not born OF fear, they have followed the
| light as God gave them to see the light. They
are rapidly laying material foundations of self
support, widening the circle of intelligence and
beginning to enjoy blessings that gather
around homes of the Industrious poor and
they deserve generous encouragement of all
good men. So far as my authority can law
fully extend they shall enjoy the full and equal
protection of the constitution aud laws
| THE BALLOT.
The free enjoyment of equal suffrage is still
in question, and the frank statement of the
issue may aid its solution. 1t is alleged that
| in many communities negro citizens are prac
| tically denied the freedom of the ballot. In
sofar as the truth of this allegation Is admit
ted, it is answered that in many places honest
local government is impossible if a mass of
uneducated negroes are allowed to vote. These
are grave allegations. So far as the latter is
true, it is the only palliation that can be offer.
ed for opposing the freedom of the ballot
Bad local government is certainly great evil
which ought TO be prevented, but to VIC.
late the freedom and sanctity of suffrage
is more than an evil. 1t is crime which if
protested in.will destroy the government ITSELF
Suicide is not remedy. Ifin other lands it
he high treason to compass the death of
king, it should be counted no less crime here
voice. 1t has been said that unsettled ques.
tions have no pity for repose of nations. 1t
should be said with the utmost emphasis that
this question of suffrage will never give re.
pose or safety to States or the nation, until
each within its own jurisdiction makes and