Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-03-10
THE INAUGURAL.
President Garilelds Address Upon the
Past and the Future Of the Nation.
WASHINGTON, March &.

WASHINGTON, March 1.
The following is President Garfield 5
inaugural address;
FELLOW CITIZENS: We stand to-day
upon an eminence which overlooks a
hundred years of national life-a cen.
tury crowded with perils, but crowned
with the triumphs of liberty and law.
Before continuing the onward march let
us pause on this height for a moment
to strengthen our faith and renew our
hope by a glance at the pathway along
which our people have travelled. 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
thus beset with danger on every hand.
1t had not conquered a place in the
family of nations. The decisive battle
OF the war for independence, whose
centennial anniversary will soon be
gratefully celebrated at Yorktown, had
not yet been fought The colonists
were struggling not only against armies
OF great nation, but against the settled
opinions Of mankind, for the world did
not then believe that the supreme au.
thority Of government could be safely
entrusted to the guardianship OF the
people themselves.
We cannot overestimate the fervent
love of liberty, the intelligent courage
and the saving common sense with
which our fathers made the great ex.
pertinent of self government. When
they found, after short trial, that the
Confederacy of States was too weak TO
meet the necessities OF vigorous and
expanding Republic, they boldly set it
aside and in its stead established a ma.
tional Union, founded directly upon the
whole of the people, endowed with full
powers Of self.preservation and with
ample authority for the accomplishment
Of other great objects. Under this Con.
stitution boundaries OF freedom have
been enlarged, the foundations of order
and peace have been strengthened and
the growth of our people in all the bet.
ter elements of national life has vindi.
Gated the wisdom of the founders ard
given new hopes to their descendants
Under this Constitution our people long
ago made themselves safe against dan.
ger 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
framed and enforced by their own citi.
zens to secure the manifold blessings oi
local self government The Jurisdiction
of their Constitution now covers an
area fifty times greater than that Of the
original thirteen States and a popula.
ton twenty times greater than that oil
1850. The supreme trial OF the Consti.
tuition came at last under the tremend.
Gus pressure Of civil war. We ourselves
are witnesses that the Union emerged
from the blood and fire Of conflict puri.
fed and made stronger for ell the bene.
fcent purposes of good government.
And now, at the close Of this first cen.
tury 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 par.
ties and have registered their will con.
cerning the future administration OF the
government. To interpret and to exc.
cute that will in accordance with the
Constitution is the paramount duty Of
the Executive.
LEAVING THE PAST BEHIND.
Even from this brief review it is man.
ifest that the nation is resolutely facing
to the front, resolved to employ its best
energies in developing the great posi-
bilities Of the future. Sacredly pre-
serving whatever has been gained ia
liberty and good government during the
century, our people are determined "a
leave behind them all those bitter con.
troyersies concerning things which have
been irrevocably settled and the further
discussion of which can only stir up
strife and delay the onward march
The supremacy Of the nation and IL
laws should be no longer a subject oil
debate. That discussion, which for hall
a century threatened the existence ol
the Union, was closed at last in the high
court Of war by decree from which
there Is no appeal, that the Constitution
and The laws made in pursuance Thereof
are and shall continue TO be the supreme
law of the land, binding alike upon the
States and the people. This decree
does not disturb the autonomy OF the
States nor interfere with any Of theiI