Middletown transcript., 1883-01-19
THE INAUGURAL.
Full Text of Governor Stockley's Ad-
dress ON Assuming the Duties of
His Office.

bu0 ulSCudLS6 VI Ill0 uuIlCo PERTAINING
to the Office Of Chief Magistrate Of this
State avail myself Of the opportunity
to express my grateful acknowledg-
ments for the high honor conferred,
and in return pledge an honest and
sincere desire to so administer the trust
reposed that the fair name and fame OF
our glorious little commonwealth shall
be preserved untarnished and the we'll
being and best interests of all her peo-
pie sacredly guarded.
To accomplish and advance these
important ends shall Zealously dedi-
cate my humble abilities, feeling that
the source to which may look for the
aids which alone can supply my def
ciencies in the well-tried intelligence
and virtue of my fellow-citizens, and
in the counsels Of those representing
them in the departments of the State
government. In these my confidence
will be placed next to that in which we
have all been encouraged to feel in the
protection and guidance of the Al
mighty Ruler of the Universe, in whose
hands are the destinies of States and
men to whom we address our devout
gratitude for the past as well as our
fervent supplications and best hopes
for the future.
The present period of our history is
cause for cOngratulation, by reason of
| the bounteous harvests and fruits that
have crowned the past year, and of the
evidence of prosperity that everywhere
abounds. The season Of depression has
passed, and the era of peace and plenty
has come with all its attendant bless
ings. The times are especially propi
| tiOuS, not only in our midst but
| throughout our beloved and common
country, for extensive development in
all that pertains to religious, social and
material improvement, conditions only
to be realized through a well-regulated,
orderly and just system of government.
The recent political contests, with their
results, in this and other States, clearly
lead us to expect and hope that the
people will insist, with fresh energy
/ and renewed devotion, upon d faithful
and honest administration of State af-
fairs in all its departments and we
here point with pride to the complete
and full Endorsement by the people Of
Delaware of the safe, economical, just
and honorable management by her pub
lie servants, for a period of nearly a
quarter of century, presenting to-day
a record of high financial credit and
State honor, unsurpassed by any of her
sister States in the Union. [ fully re-
alize that at no time have the benifi-
cent effects of local self-government
become more apparent and appreciated
by the citizens of this, in common with
those of other States, and when the
people generally contemplate the future
with brighter anticipatiOns and hopes
for the ancient glory and honor of the
great Republic and the States compos-
ing it.
That political and opposing parties
have always existed in this country,
and have been deemed necessary under
our free and independent form of gov
ernment-a government depending for
it's existence on the consent of the gov
erned-is true but when organiZa-
tions, formed and seeking the control
and government of the people, and to
serve only their best interests as a
whole, fail to recognize their proper
functions and objects, and pass under
the dominion of the few, and often the
reckless, corrupt and daring, then the
overthrow and defeat of such organi-
zations or parties is the highest duty of
the citizen. The great political reVo-
luton that has just swept over so many
Of the large and populous States of the
Union will be standing menace !
hope to dangerous men and factions for
all coming time, and warning that
cliques or combinations, unsupported
by armed forces, cannot stife or over
come the honest will of the masses.
Certainly the oft-repeated expression of
GA government by the people, for the
people and c&Athe people," is now a
fixed fact-and what State of all this
great country has in the long and at
times dark and perilous days of the
Republic, as well as trying periods in
our own history, set better example
of good and pure local self-government
and home rule than our loved Della
ware ? Surely continued confidence of
her own voters, as expressed, 10 these
many years, is the best attestation of
the merit and worth of her govern
ment.
The last campaign in this State was,
it may be truly affirmed, almost exclu-
sively one Of examination and trial Of
our own State administrations, and but
little attention paid to the consideTa-
tion of questions pertaining to Federal
} affairs. Hence, as your chief executive
officer, shall not feel called upon to
discuss the relations of State and Fed
eral government, except in few in
stances but under the powers and
duties vested in me by the constitution
of the State l will indicate my views,
by way of suggestions, for your gui-
dance and the continued good govern
ment and prosperity Of our people.
Before attending to matters of purely
State interest, | will refer to questions
Of national concern in which the peo-
pie Of Delaware have deep, practical
interest, namely, Tariff and Civil Ser
vice reforms.
TARIFF REFORM,
1 congratulate all classes of our citi-
zens, and especially that large majority
who are engaged in agricultural oecu-
pations and the pursuits closely con-
nected Herewith, upon the hopeful
promise of reformation in the present
unwise, antiquated and ill-arranged
system Of tariff taxation, which has
long since ceased to protect even those
industries especially selected to receive
it's benefits, while it has produced those
narindical StoDDages and staonatinns in
production which are SO ruinous and
distressing to operatives, and increase
the cost Of living to the laboring
classes.
The public demand for relief and re-
form in this quarter has been so un-
mistakably expressed in the late Con-
gressional elections that it is to be
hoped that measures of moderate and
wise reform, 50 long delayed, will soon
be enacted by Congress.
The people in this State are so ex-
tensively engaged in the business of
ship building, both of iron and wood,
and the amount of capital, labor and
skill which are invested in the con-
struction and navigation of vessels of
every class is SO large that it Is
highly important that our commerce
and exchanges with other nations
| cbou1d ha freed from tha shacklps and