American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-03-12
PRESIDENT GARFIELD.
His Inaugural Address.

|
| FELLow-CIrIzENs: We stand to day upon
| an eminence which overlooks hundred years
| of national life-a century crowded with
| erty and love. Before continuing the onward
march, let us pause on this height for a mo
| ment to strengthen our faith and renew our
hope by glance at the pathway along which
| 1t Is now three days more than a hundred
| years since the adoption of the first written
| Constitution of the United States-the Arti-
cles of Confederation and Perpetual Union.
| The new Republic WIS then beset with danger
on every hand. 1t had not conquered place
| in the family of nations. The decisive battle
| NAL anniversary will soon be gratefully ceIe-
DRAFTED at Yorktown. had not yet been fought.
| the armies of Great Britain, but against the
settled opinions of mankind, for the world did
not believe that the supreme authority OF the
Government could be safely entrusted to the
| guardianship of the people themselves. We
can not overestimate the fervent love intelh-
gent courage, and common sense with which
our fathers made the great experiment of
| self government. When they found, after n
| short time, that the confederacy of the States
was too weak to meet the necessities of n
glorious and expanding republic, they boldly
National Union, founded directly upon the
will of the people, endowed with future pow
thority for the ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF its great
objects. Under this Constitution the bound
aries aries OF freedom were enlarged. the founda-
ments of national life has indicated the wis
their descendants. Under this Constitution
our people long ago made themselves safe
their mariners and nag equality of rights
ON all the seas. Under this Constitution
ed to the Union. with Constitutions and
laws framed and enforced by their own citi-
70 he GU f ana
Constitution now covers an area nifty times
greater than that of the original thirteen
greater than that OF 1880. The trial of the
Constitution came at last under the tremen
witnesses that the Union emerged from the
blood and fire OF that conflict purified and
all
this first century of growth, with the inspira-
tons OF its history IN the their mear our Pe9p1e
ton, passed Judgment upon the acts and
opinions Of political parties and f have regis
fstration of the Government. To interpret
and to execute that will in accordance with
the Constitution is the paramount duty of
the Executive.
Even from this brief review It is manifest
that the Nation is resolutely facing to the
front with the resolution to employ its best
energies in developing the great possibilities
of the future. sacredly reserving whatever has
ing the century Our people are determined
to leave behind them all these bitter contro-
irrevocabiy settled. the further discussion of
which can only stir up strife and delay the
and its laws should no longer be the question
of debate That discussion which for half a
was closed at last in the high court OF war by
a decree, from which there Is no appeal, that
the Constitution and laws made in pursuance
thereof shall continue to be the supreme law
of the land, binding alike on the States and on
the people. This decree does not disturb the
of their necessary rules of local sell. govern
ment; but it does DIX and establish the perma-
Nation, speaking with the voice of battle
and through the amended Constitution has
inn tine greaa tS 81 an e p p m se I'M
habitants thereof
The elevation of the negro race from slavery
to the full rights of citizenship is the most i'm
portant political change we have known since
the adoption of the Constitution of lI76. No
benefcent results upon our people. 1t has
freed us from the perpetual danger of war
and dissolution. 1t has added Immensely to
the moral and industrial forces of our people. 4
1t has liberated the master as we'll as the
enfeebled both. It has surrendered RENDERED ito to
their own guardianship the manhood of
more than five milliSns Of people and
a career of freedom and usefulness
It has given new Inspiration to the power of
honorable to one and more necessary to the
other. The influence of this force will grow
years. No doubt the great change has caused
serious disturbance to our Southern
was unavoidable. but those who resisted the
change should remember that in orr institu
gro race between slavery and equal citizen.
chised peasantry IN the United States. Free
dom can never yield its fullness of blessings
as long as the law or its administration places
the smallest obstacle in the pathway Of any
has already made remarkable progress. with
unguestionable devotion to the Union with
them to see the light" They are rapidly lay law
widening the circle of intelligence. and begin
ming to enjoy the blessings that gather around
serve the generous eneourasem9ent of ali good
men SO far as my authority can lawfully ex
lection OF the Constitution and laws.
The free enjoyment of equal suffrage is still |
in question, and frank statement of the |
in many communities the negro citizens are
practically denied the freedom of the ballot |
In so far as the truth Of this allegation is nd |
mass Of uneducated negroes are allowed to |
the latter is true Il is no paiiation that can be
offered for opposing the freedom ofthe ballot. |
Bad local government 10 certainly great evil |
which ought to be prevented, but to violate |
the freedom and sanctity of suffrage is more |
in NV viii destroy the Government Itself and
suicide is not n remedy. If in other lands 1t |
king, It should be counted no less crime here
to strangle our sovereign power and stifie its
voice: 1t has been said that unsettled ques-
It should be said with the utmost emphasis
that this question of sufrag e will never give re-
til each within its own jurisdiction makes and
keeps the ballot free and pure by the strong
sanctions of the law. But the danger which
arises from ignorance in the voter can not be
denied. 1t covers a field far wider than that
of negro suffrage and the present condition
Of that race. 1t is a danger that turks and
hides In the sources and fountain OF power in
every State. We have no standard by which
to measure this disaster that may be brought
upon us by ignorance and vice in the citizens
suffrage. The voters of the Union, who make
and unmake Constitutions, and upon whose
can transmit their supreme authority to no
successor save the coming generation of
voters, who arc the sole heirs of the sovereign
power. If that generation comes to its inner
itance blinded by Ignorance and corrupted
by vice, the fall of the Republic will be GER
sounded the alarm in appalling figures, which
mark how dangerously the tide of Hitter
acy has arisen among our voters and
their children. To the South the question Is
Of supreme Importance. The responsibility
for the existence of slavery does not rest upon
the South alone. TheNatton itselfis RESPONSE
special obligations to aid in removing the
which it has addedto the voting pop
nlation. For North and South alike there is
but one remedy. All constitutional power of
the Nation and of the States and all volunteer
forces of people should be summoned to meet
versa education It is the high privilege and
sacred duty of those now living to educate
their successors and fit them by Intelligence
Them. In this beneficient work sections and
races should be forgotten and craftsmanship
should be unknown. Let our people find
,iares that A little child shall lead them, !" for
our little children will soon control the destt-
MES of the Republic.
My countryinen we do not now differ in
concerning the controversies of
past generations, and nifty years hence our