The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-03-10
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
OF PRESIDENT JAMES A. GAR.
FIELD.
A Few Remarks From Vice President Arthur,
and the Farewell Address Of Speaker
u Randall.


FEIIow CIT1zENs-We stand today upon Al
eminence which oVeElooks q hundred years o
National life-a century crowded with perlls, bu
crowded with the triumphB Of liberty and love
Before continuing the onward march, let III
pause on this height for mo ent to strengthen
our faith and renew our hope by a glance at thu
pathway along which our people have travelled
1t Is now three days more than q hundred
yean since the adoption Of the first written Con
Htituton OF the United States, the articles Of con
federation and perpetual union. The new Re.
public WAS then beset with danger on every
hand II had not conquered place in the fami
ly Of NAtlons The decisive battle Of the War fol
IndependenCe-W centennial anniversary
will soon be gratefully celebrated at Yorktown
had not yet been fought. The Colonists were
struggling not only against the armies Of Great
Britain, but against the settled opinion Of man,
kind for the world did not believe that the su
preme authority of the Government could be
safely intrusted to the guardianship OF the peo
pie themselves.
We can not over.estimate the fervent love OF
the intelligent courage, having the common
sense with which our fathers made the gEeat ex
pertinent Of selfgovernment. When they found
after short time, that a oonfedeTacy Of States
was too weak to meet The necessities Of the glo.
rious and expanding Republic, they boldly Set
It aside, and in It's stead established Natior al
Union. founded directly upon the will Of the peO-
pie, endowed with future powers Of selfpreser.
walton and with ample authority for the accom-
plishment Of It's great objects. Under this Con.
stitution the boundaries OF freedom enlarged, the
foundations Of order and peace Rave been
strengthened, and growth in all the better ele.
ments Of national life has vindicsted the wisdom
Of the founders and given new hope to their de.
scendsnts. Under that Constitution our people
long ago made themselves against danger from
Without and secured for their mariners and flag
equality Of rights on all the seas. Under this
Constitution twenty-five State. houses have been
added to the Union, with Constitutions and laws
framed and enforced by their own citizens to se
cure the manifold blessings Of local and self
government. The Jurisdiction of this Constltu.
ton now covers an area fifty times greater than
that Of 1900.
The trial Of that Constitution came at last un.
der 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 ell benehcent purposes Of
good Government. And now, at the close Of the
first century Of growth, with the Inspirations Of
It's history In their hearts, our people have lately
reviewed the condition OF the nation, passed
Judgment upon the conduct and opinions Of DO.
litcal parties and have registered their will con.
corning the future administration Of the Govern.
ment To interpret and to execute that will In
accordaroe with the Constitution is the para.
mount duty OF the Executive. Even nom this
brief review It 10 manifest that the nation Is reeo
lutey facing to the front, resolved TO employ It's
best energies in developing the great possibilities
been gained to liberty and good Government
during the century, Our people are determined
to leave behind them all those bitter c0ntrover
sizes concerning things which have been irrevo-
oably settled, further discussion OF which can
only stir up striie and delay the onward march.
The supremacy Of the nation and Its laws
should be no longer @ subject OF debate. That
discussion, which for half q century threatened
the existence Of the Union, was closed at last in
the high Court OF War, ny decree irom which
laws made IN pursuance thereof, shall continue
TO be the supreme law Of the land, binding alike
on the States and the people, This decree does
not diaturb the autonomy Of the States, nor inter
feIe with any Of their necessary rules Of local
selEg0vernment, hut B does FIX and establish
the permanent supremacy OF the Union. The
will OF the nation speaking With the voice Of bat
tie and through the amended Constitution, has
fulfilled the great promise Of l7T6 By proclaim.
Ing Liberty throughout sha land, q Sll the In
The elevation Of the negro race irom plavery
TO the full rights Of oitiSenShip 10 the most i'm
portane political change wo have known iHnoe
the adoption Of the Constitution Of 1776. No
thoughtful nAn can fail 70 Appreciate its beneA-
cent eject upon our people. It hes freed US nom
the perpetual danger Of war and dissolution. II
has added immensely 70 the moral and industrial
forces OF our people. Il has liberated the master
as well as the slave irOm relation which wrong
ed and enfeebled both. Il has surrendered to
their own guagdiRnRhip the mRnqood Of more
than Ave million people, and has opened 70 each
one OF them q career OF freedom and usefulness,
II has given new inspiration to the power OF self
help In both races BY making labor more honor |
able to the one and mors 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 |
to our Southern community. This iB |
10 be deplOred; but those who resisted the change
should remember that In our instltutions there |
was no MIDDLE ground for the negro race between |
slavery and equal citizenship. There can be no |
permanent dlRfranchised peasantry In the United |
States Freedom can never yield its iullness Of |
blessing as long as the law or It's administration
places the smallest obstacle In the pathway Of
any Yirtu0us citizenship. The emanclpated race |
has already made remarkable progress. With |
1nqueAtiQnRble devotion to the Union, with |
patience and gentleness not born OF fear, they |
have followed the Light as God gave them to see
he light They are rapidly having the material |
foundations Of self-supp0rt widening the circle |
If IfinteliRence, and beginning to enjoy the bless
Hga that gather around the homes OF the indus. |
ri0us poor. They deserve the generous encour' |
lgement Of ell good men. 30 far as my authority |
,an lawfully extend, they shall enjoy the full /
md equal protection Of the Constitution and
The nee sDIoymentof equal suffrage ID still in 4
question, and frank statement Of the Issue may /
I'D IL solution, II is alleged that IN many COM /
nunitieg negro citizens are practically denied \
he freedom Of the ballot. In so far az the truth /
" this allegation ia admitted It is ansWeEed that
n many places honest local government "a i'm. |
'Ossible II q mass OF uneducated negroes are al.
owed to vote. These are grave allegations. SO
ar as the latter is true II is no paliaon that can
% offered for opposing freedom OF the ballot. /
'ad local government iH certainly great evil,
Which ought to be prevented; but 10 violate the
reedom and sanetity OF suffrage is more than an
Wilt is crime, which, Il pergIsted In, win de-
troy the Government Itself. Suicide Ia not q
emedy. II In other lands It be high treason to
ompess the death Of q King 1t should be count
d no less crime here to strangle our aOVereiRn
over and stife It's voice.
It has been said that unsettled queaiions have
10 pity for the rep0se OF nations II should be
aid, with the utmost emphasis that this ques.
lon Of suffrage will never give repose or safety
D the States or to the nation until eRoh within
g own Jurisdiction, makes and keeps the ballot
rec and pure By the strong sanctions OF law.
Iut the danger which arises from Ignorance In
be voter can not be denied. Ii covers field far
rider than that Of negro suffrage, and the pres.
ut condition OF that race. II ia @ danger that
1rks aud hides In the sources and fountain Of
over In any State. We have no standard by
1hich TO measure the disaster that may be bro't
pom US by ignorance and vice IN citizens, when
lined to corruption and fraud In the Suffrage
he voters OF the Union, who make and unmake
constitutions, and upon whose will hangs the
estiny Of our Governments, can transmit their.
1preme authority TO no successor save the COM
g generation OF voters who are the sole heirs Of
lYereien power. II that generation comes 10 tts
blinded By ignorance and corrupted
2 yieo, The fall Of the Republic VIII be certain
"a r9m0ollo29, trinal9 hHOl 90
Tho cohaus has already sounded the alarm in
ppalling hgurep which mark how dangerou ely
lgh tho TIDE Of tliilqE4oy hAa arisen among our
olRni and kholr chIldfen. 10 ne Bouth the
lestion a Of gQpt81nq Importance; but the re-
lonEbiliiy fop the eElslelbo Qf slavery does OF
et upOn the South olOnot Th0 naflnn itgalf n
A. ~, - /