The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-03-24
miscellaneous.
JEFFERsoN's INAUGURAL AD-
DRESS.
MARCH 4, 1901.


Friends and Fett0U CiLzens'
Called upon to undertake the duties II the FIRST
executive Off % OF our country, avail myself OF
the presence Of that portion OF my felow'citizans
which is here assembled, to express my grateful
thanks for the favor with which they have been
pleased to look towards me, to declare sincere
consciousness that the task is above my talents
and that approach 1t with those anxious and
awful presentiments, which the greatness Of the
charge, aud the weak leBs Of my powers 30 justly
inspire A rising nation, spread over wide and
fruitful land trayersng all the seas with the rich
productions of their industry, engaged in COM
merca with nations who feel power and forget
right advancing rapidly to deslines beyond the
reach Of mortal eye; when l contemplate these
transcendent obj ,cs, aud see the honor, the hap
piness, and the hopes Of this beloved country
committed to the issue and the auspices Of this
day, shrink from the contemplation and hum
BILE myself before the magnitude OF the dertak-
ing Utterly indeed should l despair, did not the
presence Of many whom here see remind me
that, in the other high authorities provided by
our constitution, shal find resources OF wisdom,
Of virtue, and Of zeal, on which to rely under all
difficulties To you then, gentlemen, who are
charged with the sovereign functions Of legisla'
tion and to those ass )ciatod with you look with
encouragement for that guidance and support
which may enable us to steer with safety the YES
sci in VIII ch we are all embarke :, amid the con-
hlctIng elements of troubled orld.
During the contest Of opin IN through which
we have Just passed, the ami alton Of discussion
and exertion has sometimes worn an aspect
which might impose on strangers unused to
think freely, and to speak and to write what they
think; but this being now decided by the voice o.
the nation, announced according to the rules Of
the constitution, all will Of course arrange them
selves under the will of the law, and unite in
common efforts for the common good. All TOO
will b ar in mind this sacred principle that
though the will of the majority is in all cases to
prevail, that WILL to be rightful must be reason
able that the minority possesses their equal rights
which equal law must protect, and to 'violate
would be oppression, Let us then, fellow citizens
unite with one heart aud one mind; let us restore
to social intercourse tn It harmony aud Affection
without which liberty, and even life itself, are
but dresry things. And let us ref ct, that, hav-
ing banished from our minds that religious intjl-
ersnce under which mankind go long bled and
suffered we have yet gained little, II we counte.
nance political intolerance as despoic, as wick
ed, and capable Of as bitt7r and bloody persecu
tlons During the throes and Convulslons of the
ancient world, during the ag)nizng spasms Of
iniuriated man seeking through blood and slaugh
ter his long lost liberty 1t was not wonderful that
the agitation OF the billows should reach even
this distant and peaceful shore: that this should
be more felt and feared by some, and less by 9th.
ers that this should divide opinions as to measures
Of safety but every difference of opinion is not
difference of principle. We have called by differ
ent names brethren OF the same principle. We
are all republicans; we are all federalits. II
there b - any among us who would wish to lis.
solve this Union, or to change its republican form
let them st nd undsturbed, as monuments Of the
safety with which error Of opinion may be tolerat
ed, where reason is left free to combat it, know
indeed that some honest men fear that a republi.
can government cannot be otrong that this Gov
eminent is not strong enough But would lthe
honest patriot in the full tide of successful ex.
pertinent abandon government which so far
has kept us free and firm, on the theoretic and
visionary fear that this GOverR ent, the worlds
best hope, may, by possibility want energy to
preserve itself? l trust not. / believe this, on
the contrary, the strongest government on earth.
believe It the only one where every man, at the
call of the laws, would fl j to the standard Of the
law, and would meet inVaslOns of the public Or
der as his own personal concern. Sometimes 1t
is said that man cannot be trusted with the CIV.
eminent OF himself, Can he then be trusted with
the government OF Others or have we found
ang,ls I'm the forms Of kings to govern him Let
history answer this question,
Let us then, with courage and confidence, pur
foHH 4
attachment to our Union and representative
Government, Kindly separated by nature and an
ocean from the eXterminating havoc Of one
quarter Of the globe; too high minded to endure
the degradatiOnS Of the others; possessing a
chosen country, with room enough for Onr de
scendants to the thousandth andthousandth gen.
GRAFTON; entertaining one sense Of our equal
right to the use Of our OVn faculties, to the
ACQUISITIONS of our industry, TO honor and conf
dence from our fellow citizens, resulting not
from birth but from our actions and their sense
Of them; enlightened by benign religion, pro.
tossed indeed and practised In various forms, yet
al of them including honesty, truth, temperance,
gratitude, and the love of man, acknowedg ng
and adOring an Overruling Providence, which, by
all its dispensltons proves that 1t delights In the
happiness Of man here, and his greater happiness
hereafter; with all these blts ngs what more is
necessary to make us happy and prosperous
peoplp? Still one thing more, fellOw-Citzens-a
wise and FRUGAL government which shall restrain
men from inilrug one another, shall leave them
otherwise free to regulate their own pursuit of
industry and improvement and shall not take
from the mouth Of labor the bread 1t has earned.
This is the sum Of good government, and this is
necessary to close the circle Of our fecties.
About to enter, fellow citizens, on the exercise
OF duties which comprehend everything dear and
valuable to you 1t is proper that you should un.
ders'and what teem he essential principles OF
our Government, and consequently those which
ought to shape its administration. l will com
press the N with the DarrOWest compass they will
bear stating the general principles but not all the
limitations, Equal aud exact justice to all men,
OF whatever state or persuasion, religious or DO
litiCal; peace, commerce. and honest friendship
with all nations entang ing alliances with none
the pport Of the Safe Government in all their
rights, as the most competent administration for
our domestic concerns, and the surest bulWarks
against anti republican tendencies; the preserva.
ton Of the general Government In Its whole Con
stitullOnal vigOr as the sheet anchor Of our peace
at home and safety abroad; salous care Of the
right of election by the people mild and safe
corrective Of abuses, which are lopDed by the
sword OF revolution, where peacable remedies
are unprovided; absolute acquiescencein In the de
cisiOns of the MAJ gritty the vital principle OF re-
publics from which is no appeal but to force, the
vital principle and immediate parent Of despOt.
ism; a Well.disciplined militia, our best reliance
In peace, and for the first moments Of war, till
regulars may relieve them the supremacy Of the
civil over the military authority economy in the
public expense that labor may be lightly bur.
dened the honest payment of our debls and sa.
cred pres ,rvstIon Of the public faith encourage
ment Of agriculture and Of commerce as It's
hand maid the diffusion Of information, and ar
raignment of all abuses at the bar Of public |
reason freedom Of religion; freedom Of the
press; and freedom Of person, under the protec
tiOn Of the habeas cOrpusi and trial by Juries I'M
partially selected These principles form the |
bright constellation which has gone before US,
and guided our steps through an age Of revolu- |
ton and reformation The wisdom Of our sages |
and blood Of our heroes have been devoted tU |
their attainment; they should be the creed Of our
political faith; the text Of civil instruction the
touchsOne by which o try the services Of those |
we trust; and should we wander from them in |
moments Of error or alarm, let US hasten TO re- |
trace our steps, and to regain the road which |
alone leads to peace, liberty and safety.
repair, then, fellow. citizens to the post you |
have assigned me- With experience enough in |
subordinate Offices 10 have seen the difficulties OF
this, the greatest OF ALL have learnt to expect |
that II will fall TO the lot Of imperfect man to re
tire from this station with the reputation and |
favor which bring him into 1t. Without preten. !
sions to that high confidence you reposed In our
hht and great revolutionary character, whose
no on m N q HFgt