San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1881-03-17
eARFIELDss INAUGURAL ADDRESS

day upon an emlnence whch over.
looks. a hundred years of national
life. A century crowded with perils !;
but also crowded with triumphs of
liberty and law. Before continuing
our onward march let us pause atthis
height for o 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 then q hundred
years since the adoption Of the first
constitution of the United States, the
articles of confederation and popular
union. The new republic was then
beset with danger on every hand 1t
had not been consigned a place in the
family Of nations. The decisive bat.
tie for independence whose centennial
anniversary will be gratefully cele-
brated Mt Yorktown, had not yet been
fought. The colonists were struggling,
not only against the army OF Great
Britain, but against the settled opln.
ions of mankind, for the world did
not then believe that the supreme au-
thority of the government could be
safely entrusted to the guardianship
of the people. We cannot overestl-
mate the fervent love of liberty, in
teligent courage and saving common
sense with which our fathers made
the great experiment of self govern
ment, whens they, after o short trial,
found that the confederation OF states
was too to meet the necessities
Of vigorous and expanding repub.
lie, boldly set it aside, andin its stead
established a national union founded
directly upon the willof the people,
empowered With powers of self pres
ervstion,, and with ample authority
for the accomplishment of its great
objects. Under this constitution the
boundaries Of free men have been en-
larged, the foundation Of order and
peace have been Strengthened, and
the growth of our population inall
the better elements sof our natural
life has indicated the wisdom OF the
founders. It has given new hope to
their descendants, and under this c9n
stitution our people long ago made
themselves safe against the danger
from without, and secured for their
marines d fig, and 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 citizens to secure the manifold
of lbcil self government.
The jurisdiotion Of this constitution
an areaIffty times greater
than that of the original thirteen states
and population twenty times great
er than tnan that of 17SO. =.
The supreme trial of the constitu-
ton has come at last under the tre-
pressure the civil war'
We, ourselves, are witnesses that the
Union emerged from the blood and
fire of that conflict purified and made
strongerfor ] ahead in the bencticent
purposes of good government, and
now at the close Of this first century
OF its growth, with inspirations of Its
history in their hearts, the people
have totally revived The condition OF
the nation. passed judgnInt upon its
conduct and the opinioniof political
parties, and have regissered theif viii
concerning the future administra-
tionof tine government To rnterpret
and 10 execute that viii. in further
alcu with the constellation. rs the par
amount duty Of the executive. hven
from tlns brief reyies IL is manifest
tl,st tie nation ia rcsolnte,y facing
the 'front.' srd is resolved 70 employ
its best enagss " deveiopinS the
gre.t posEb1ifies Of the tatare, whils
sacred,. presersins vhsteEer hss been
ioined 10 E5<Ig and good govesnr
ment dllng the century. 49,
Ous ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 10 leave
blind them all their bitteT oontro-
varScs concerning EIings Which have
bsea irrs-ocztty ss..c1- and the fur
.l.e7- 5szsszicn o. xaish ca oaly str
up zrIfe .rsd dshv h onSArd naAreb-
Tne esypss<y Of the rsson as.d rs
avs <6o1ld be no loloer NE snt1ecf
Of aesAsi Il -. disc9Sssoz.. ylich for
h.lfs oeatny. threstenri the e1,ss-
CO. Of .hs CnsOa- War clooed At