Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1881-03-12
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PRESIDENT GARFIELD.

PRESIDENT GARTIELD's INAUGURAL
ADDRESS President Garfield on Fri
day, after taking the oath OF Office at
the proper time and place, delivered the
inaugural address which custom de-
mands OF every incoming President.
Mr.. Garfeld'S reputation, while lis
practical ability and wide scope Of
every day working qualities is not de
uicd anywhere, Is that Of a man OF
ideas, OF broad and philosophical views,
fortified 10y accurate historical study III
al the forms ard purposes OF govern
ment. Ills address yesterday was GER
tainy pitched to very high key-so
high that some effort must have been
required of hir 10 sustain his flight.
He bcgan.hy = survey of the life of the
Union OF the States during hundred
wears, locking down upon the strug
Cling infancy of the period Of the revo-
luton and the birth of the constitution
from The enrincnce upon which we now
stand. Strict constructi0niSts and pre-
cislars in the constitutional law will
not agree with him in his conclusion
that the cid cuniederacy which con
Quoted the revolution to successful
issue was pushed aside TO form
National Union founded directly upvn
the whole Of the people" particularly as
the Union Of which he speaks was III
,erlY unknown 10 the fathers Of the re
public, and is only gradually cryStaliz-
ing itself into that form and mold in
these present times. Bot the growth
of the country and the development
Of the government embraced IN his sur
yey are in disputable facts, and, as he
said, ''the supremacy OF The nation and
its laws should no longer be a subject
of debate The autonomy of the
States has not yet been seriously invad-
cd, and it is in every respect true that
''the nation is resoutely facing TO the
trent, resolved to employ lis best encr-
gies in developing the great possibilities
of the future" The countrys chief
concern is to ascertain from Mr.. Gar
fields address what are lis views as
10 those ''p0ssibilities Of the future.
First, he speaks of the newIy-made col
ored citizen, his devotion to the Union,
his capacity to get along, his rights and
bis wrongs. The negro was given the
suffrage imme diately after entranchize-
ment, he says, because this country
could not afford permanently disfran
chiscd peasantry. aud There was no
middle ground" The colored mans
right to the suffrage is established, and
must aud will be maintained. Bad 10
cal government founded on negro suf-
frage is Il great evil; but violating the
sanctlty of the ballot-box is "a crime
which, If persisted in, will destroy the
government itself Suicide is no
remedy" aud the suffrage must there
fore be maintained. Mr.. Garfield does
uot attempt. however, 10 pa;liate the
danger OF ignorant suffrage, and his
remedy for this is universal education.
We owe that 10 the children who are
TO succeed US in control OF our public al
fairs. ''If that generation, says Mr..
Garfield, comes TO rs inheritance
blinded by ignorance and corrupted by
vice, the fate of the republic will be GER
tain and remedies" The South is the
greatest sufferer 10y illiieracy, the con-
sequence of slavery, for which all parts
of the country have been responsible,
and the Presideu. thinks that "all the
constitutional powers OF the nation and
of the States, and all the volunteer for
ces of the people should be summoned
to meet this danger by hessaving in
fuerce of universal education. Ia this