Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-03-12
THF INAUGURAL ADDRESS.

VIC nave HUG space lOT Tue IuIl
text of President Garfield's inaugu.
raj address. 1t was delivered on
Friday, and ere this has been read
by millions of citizens, and made the
text of comments deeply tinged with
the preconceived opinions and pre-
juices prevailing in various circles
and sections. Like all important
declarations addressed to immense
audiences it contains some avowaIs
which may excite antagonistic feel
ings, but bearing in mind that he
was elected az the candidate of the
Republican party and is generally
expected to uphold the distinctive
ideas and principles of that organi-
zltion, the President has combined
a full recognition of that obligation
which an avoidance of unnecessary
offense to his partisan antagonists.
On the issue most likely to awaken
hostilities, which is that relating to
the alleged infringements Of the
political rights of the american
citizens of African DESCENT the
practical remedy he proposes might,
if properly applied, be more likely to
prove acceptable than odious to some
of the Southern States. In brief, he
advocates liberal appropriations by
Congress, for the support of the CON-
mon schools intended for the educa-
ton of the freedmen, as this seems
clearly to be the meaning Of his de-
claration that the "Nation itself is
responsible for the extension of the
suffrage, and is under special obliga-
lions to aid in removing the litter
acy which it has added to the voting
population" AS most, if not all of
the Southern States habitually make
appropriations for supporting freed
mems schools, and as the industrial
aud financial difficulties under which
the South has been laboring gener-
ally either render these appropria-
tions insufficient for the complete
accomplishment of the contemplated
end, or necessitate rate of taxa
tion which is considered very oner-
Gus, the scheme for partly educating
the freedmen at the expense of the
entire country might be carried out
in manner which would extend
welcome relief to the entire body of
Southern taxpayers. One of the
most plausible objections to this
proposition is that it would have a
tendency to promote Capitalization,
and it must remain for the future to
decide whether this theoretical con-
sideration will be allowed to out
weigh the proposed practical advan-
tages.
The inaugural address, in very
emphatic manner, discusses the con-
tinued prevalence of polygamy in
Utah, and the prolonged exercise,
by the Mormon church, of powers
akin to those usually welded by
government. The country is nearer
now, than at any former period, to
reaching practical solution of the
Mormon problem, and the new pres
ident is evidently disposed to take
special efforts to hasten the accom-
plishment of that end.
In regard to civil service the i'm
portant suggestion is made that
Congress should pass law "to fix
the tenure Of the minor officers of
the several executive departments,
and prescribe the grounds upon
which removals shall be made dur
ing the terms for which incumbents
have been appointed" Such
measure would have a very import
ant effect in preventing tens of thou
sands of employees of the government
from being subjected to uncertain
ties and quakings whenever a change
occurs in the heads Of the depart
ment with which they are connected.
There would be at least some sort
of a fixed point in regard to the mi
nor offices, and their incumbents are
quite as well entitled to such pro-
lection as is proposed as the holders
of more important positions.
In reference to the Isthmus canal
project, the Monroe doctrine is reaf-
firmed. On financial questions the
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