The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1881-03-12
A GRAND AppRrss.
President oarnsld's Inaugural Speech
Sounding the Key-Noto OF National


President oariisld's Inaugural speech
Sounding the Koy-Noto OF National
Unity and National Progress.
The Usios has rarely u ever been able 70 re-
iinqush 90 much Of lee space as was necessary 70
publish Presidents inaugural address, but the
address of President GARFIELD is 90 able and 90
manly that every person who has any interest In
his country shoald read u carefully and for this
reason We give Il In full. Tho President said
-sifiss.s-ws stand to-day upon an emil
nsass whieh evssiooks . hundred years Of national
lhe-a century crowded with psrils, bat crowned
with the triumphs ofliberty aud Law. before con-
tinuing the onward march let Ne pause on this
renew our hope By glance ~ the pathway along
which our people have travelled.
ltis nov three days more than . hundred years
since the adoption Of the hrst written Consultation
Of the Unitsd States-the articles Reconsideration
and perpetual union. The new republic was then
beses with danger ON every hand. II had not con
quered place In the family Of nations The de-
eisive battle Of the war for Independence
centennial anniversary win soon be gratefully
celebrated at Ysrktown-had not Jet been fought.
The coicnists were struggling not only against the
armies Of . great nation, but against the settled
believe that the supreme authority Of government
could be safely entrusted 20 tho guardianship Of
the people themselves.
We cannot overestimate the fervent love Of lib.
erty, the intelligent courage and the saving CON-
mon sense with which our fathers made the grea,
experiment Of self. government. When they found,
after short trial, that the confedsraey Of states
was too weak 10 meet the necessities Of vieor.as
and expanding republic, they boldly Get q aside,
and instead established national union. founded
directly upon the whole Of the people, endowed
ample authority for The rssconpiishnsss Of il
great objects. Under this Consultation the bonn.
daries Of freedom have been enlarged, the founda.
tons Of order and peace have been strengthened,
and the growth Of The people In all the better ss-
msnts Of national life has vindieated the wisdom
Of the founders and given new hope TO their de-
Under this Constitution our people long ago
made themselves safe against danger FROM with.
out, and secured for their mariners and Gag
equality Of rights on all seas Under this Constr
tuition twenty Eve states have been added 10 the
Union, with constitutions and laws formed and
enforced BY their own citizens, 10 secure the mani.
fold blessings Of local self government.
The Jurisdiction Of the Consultation nov covers
an area hfty times greater than that Of the origi
nal thirteen states, and population twenty times
greater than that Of 1889. The supreme trial Of
the Constitution came In at last under the trcmcn-
v
nesses tina, the Union emerged from the blood aud
IRE Of that conflict purified and made stronger
for oil the bens6cent purposes OF good govern ,
ment and now, at the clsss Of this 6rst century
Of growth, with the inspirations Of Its history In
their hearts, our people have lately reviewed the
condition Of the nation. passed Judgment upon tho
conduct and opinions Of political parties aud have
registered their will concerning the future admin
istration OF the government. To interpret and 20
execute that will In accordance with the Constitu.
ton 10 the paramount duty Of the executive.
PACING rHE 'FRONT.'.
Even from this brief review Il Is manifest that
the nation 10 resoutcy facing TO the 'front.' resolved
10 employ It's best energies IN developing the great
possibilities Of the future. Sacrcdi, preserving
whatever has been gained TO liberty and good
government during the century, our people are de.
termned Z, leave behind them all those bitter con.
troversies concerning things which have beea IT,
revocably settled, and the further discussion of
which can only stir up strife and delay the onward
march. The supremacy Of the nation aud It's laws
should no longer DO . subject Of debate. Tina,
discussion which for half n century threat.
ened the existence Of the Union, and closed at
last In the high court Of the war, by decree from
which there Is no appeal declares that the Consti.
tuition and the laws made In pursuance thereof,
shall continue 10 be the supreme Law Of the land
binding alike upon the States and the people.
This decree docs not disturb the autonomy Of the
States, nor interfere with any of their rights Of
local self government, but u does tx and establish
the permanent supremacy Of the Union. The
will Of the nation, speaking with voice Of battle
and through the amended Constitution, has. fal.
fled the great promise Of 1910 by proelaiming
CELEBRITY throughout the land 10 all the inhabitants
thereof"
The sis sssiep sf tho negro race from slavery To
the full rights Of citirenship 10 the most Important
political change We have known since the adoption
Of the Constitution Of 1857. No thoughtful man
can fail to appreciate It's bcneGcent effect upon
our institutions and people. II has freed Us from
the perpetual danger of war and dissolution.
II has added immensely To the moral and indus
trial forces OF our people. II has liberated the
master, as well NJ the slave, from . relation which
wronged aud enfcebled both Il has surrendered
to their own guardianship the manhood Of more
than 100000 Of people. aud has opened TO each
one Of them n career of freedom and uu.cfulncss
II has given new Inspiration to the power Of self.
help In both races by making labor more honor
able TO the one and more necessary to the other.
The influence Of this course will grow greater and
bear richer fruit with the coming years.
No doubt the great change has cau,ed serious
disturbances TO our Southern communities. This
!. to be depored, though Il was, perhaps, unavoid
able.
Blu. those who resisted the change should 70.
member that under our institutions there was no
middle ground for the negro race between slavery
and equal citizenship. There can be no psrina-
nent disfranchised peasantry in the United States
Freedom can never yield It's fulness Of blessings
% long the law its administration places the
smallest obstacle In the pathway Of any virtuous
eitisen. The snaneipated race has already made
remarkable progress. With unqusssiening dsvo-
tion 20 the Union, with patience aud gentiencss
not born Of fear, they have followed the light ~
God gave them 70 see the light" They arc rap
idly laying the material foundations Of self sup.
port, widening the circle u inteli gcncc, and be-
ginning 20 enjoy the blessings that gather around
the homes Of the industrious poor. They deserve
the generous encouragement Of all good men.
SO far as my authority can lawfully extend, they
shall enjoy the full and equal protection Of the
Constitution and the laws.
suvraAGg AND EDUCATION.
The free enjoyment Of equal suffrage 10 still In
question, and frank statement Of tho issues may
aid its solution. II Is alleged that In many com.
munitiss negro citizens practically denied the
freedom Of the ballot. In 10 FAR % the truth Of
this allegation 10 admitted, Il IL answered that In
many places honest local government u impossi.
BILE IL Che mass Of uneducated negroes are allowed
70 vote. These are grave allegations. So far o.
the latter 10 true, Il Is the only paation that can
BE- offered Tor opposing the freedom Of the ballot
Bad local government 10 certainly . great evil,
which ought 70 be prevented bat TO violate the
freedom and ssnctity Of tho suffrage IL more than
IN evil-it 10 crime, which, u persisted In, will
destroy the government itself. Suicide 10 not
remedy. lin other lands u be high treason 20
compass the death Of the king. Il should be count.
Cd No less . crime here 10 strangle our sovereign
pover and sli0s its vofcs