Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-03-06
The Inaugural AJdr.,..

FelLO0 Citizens In the presence OF this
vast assemblage of my oountrymen l am
about to supplement and seal by the oath
which l shall take, the manifestation of the
will of a great and free people. In the ex.
ercise Of their power and right of self-gov-
eminent they have committed to one of their
fellow citizens supreme and sacred trust,
and he here consecrates himself to their SER
vice. This impressive ceremony adds little
to the solemn sense of responsibility with
which l contemplate the duty / owe to all
the people of the land Nothing can relieve
me from anxiety lest by any act OF mine
their interests may suffer, and nothing is
needed to strengthen my resolution to en-
gage every faculty and effort in the promo.
ton of their welfare. Amid the din of party
strife the peoples choice was made, but its
attendant circumstances have demonstrated
anew the strength and safety of a govern
ment by the people. In each succeeding year
it more clearly appears that our democratic
principles need no apology and that in their
fearless and faithful application is to be found
the surest guaranty of good government.
But the best results in the operation Of a
government, wherein every citizen has
share, largely depend upon a proper limita-
ton of purely partisan zeal and effort and a
correct appreciation of the time when the
heat of the partisan should be merged in the
patriotism of the citizen.
To-day the executive branch of the gov
eminent ia transferred to new keeping, but
this is still the government of all the people,
and 1t should be none the less an object of
sffectionate solicitude ct this hour that the
animosities of political strife, the bitterness
of partisan defeat and the exultation of par.
tisan triumph should be supplanted by an
ungrudging acquiescence in the popular will
and sober, conscientious concern for the
general veal Moreover, il from this hour
we cheerfully and honestly abandon all sec
tional prejudice and dstrust, and determine
with manly confidence in one another TO
work out tremendously the achievements Of
our national destiny, we shall deserve to re-
alize all the benefits which our happy form
Of government can btstow. On this auspi-
cous occasion wemay we'll renew the pledge
OF our devotion to the constitution which
launched by the founders of the republic
and consecrated by their prayers and patriotic
devotion, has for almost a century borne the
hopes and the aspirations of great people
through prosperity and peace and through
the shock Of foreign conflicts and the perils
of domestic strife and vicissitudes. By the
father of his country our constitution was
commended as ''the result of a spirit of
amity and mutual concession" In that same
spirit it should be administered in order to
promote the lasting welfare of the country
and to secure the full measure of its priceless
benefits TO us and to those who will succeed
TO the blessings of our national life. The
large variety of diverse and competing inter
ests subject TO federal control persistently
seeking the recognition of their claims need
give us no fear that "the greatest good to the
greatest number" will fail to be accomplished
If in the halls OF national legislation that
spirit of amity and mutual concession shall
prevail in which the constitution had its
birth. If this involves the surrender or post.
ponement Of private interests and the aban-
donment Of local advantages, compensation
will be found in the assurance that thus the