Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1885-03-12
PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.


Mr.. Cleveland Delivers His Inaugural
In the Clearing of 100000 Persons.
''FELLow CITIZENS: In the presence of
this vast aSselublage of my countrymen, l am
about to supplement and seal by oath that
which shall take by the manifestation and
will of all real and free people. In the exer-
else of power and the right Of self-govern-
ment is committed to one fellOw-citizen, the
supreme and sacred trust, and he here conse-
crates himself to that service. This impress
siye ceremony adds little to the solemn
sense of responsibility with which contem-
plate the duty 1 owe to all people in the land.
Nothing can relieve me of the anxiety, lest by
any act of mine, their interests may suffer;
and nothing is needed to strengthen my resolu
ton to engage every faculty and effort in the
promotion of their welfare. Amid the din of
party strife the peoples choice was made, but
its attendant circumstances have delnonstrat-
ed a new strength and safety of government
by the people.
'In eacn succeeding year, it more clearly
appears tilat our democratic principles needs
no apology and that in its fearless and faith
full application is to be found the surest
guaranty of good government. But best re-
suits in operation of government where
every citizen has a share, largely depends
upon proper limitation of purely PARTISAN
zeal and effort, and correct appreciation of
a time when heat of PARTISAN should be
merged into patriotism of citizen
To-day the executive branch of the govern
ment is transferred to a new keeping but this
is still government of all the people, and
should be none the less an object of affectionate
solicitude. At this hour animoSities of po-
ltical strife and bitterness of PARTISAN de-
feat, and the execution Of PARTISAN triumph
should be supplanted by acquiesence in the
popular will and sober conscientious concern
for general veal
"Moreover, it from this hour we cheerfully
and honestly abandon all sectional prejudice
and distrust, and determine with manly con-
fdence in one another to work harmoniously
achievements of our national destiny, we
shall deserve to realize all benefits which our
happy form of government can bestow. On
this auspicious occasion we me may well re-
new the pledge of our devotion to the con-
stitution which was launched by the found
ers of our republic and, consecrated by their
prayers and patriotic devotion, has for al
most Century borne the hopes and aspira-
tions OF great people through and peace
and through the shock of foreign conflicts,
and peri, Of domestic strife and viciSsitudes.
By the fa,ier of his country our constitu-
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 secure full
measure of its priceless benefits to us and
to those who will succeed to the blessings of
our national life.
"a large variety of diverse and competing
interests subject to federal control, persist
emily seeking recognition and claims, need
give us no fear that the Greatest good to the
greatest number will not fail to be accom-
plished if, in the halls of national legislation
that spirit of amity and mutual concession
shall prevail in which the constitution had
its birth
''If th.s involves the surrender OF post
ponemers OF private interests, and abandon
ment o. local advantages, compensation will
be found in tue assurance that thus the COM
mon interest is subserved and the general well
fare advanced. In the discharge of my offi-
cial duty, l shall endeavor to be guided by a
just and unstrained construction Of the con-
stitution and careful observance of the dis
tinction between the powers granted to the
federal government and those reserved to the
states or to the people by courteous appre-
ciation of their functions, which by the con-
stitution and laws, has been especially as
signed to the executive branch of the gov
ernment.
"But he who takes the oath today to pre-
serve, protect and defend the constitution Of
the United States only assumes the solemn OBJ
legation which every patriotic citizen, on the
farm, in the workshop, in the busy marts Of
trade any everywhere, should share with
him. The constitution which prescribes his
oath, my countrymen, is yours; the suffrage
which executes the viii OF freemen is yours;
the laws and entire scheme Of our civil rule,
from town meeting to state capital, and ma
tional capital, is yours. Every voter as
surely as your chief magistrate, under the
high sanction, though in a different sphere,
exercises public trust. Nor
is this all Every citizen owes to the coun-
try vigilant watch and close scrutiny of its
public servants and fair and reasonable es-
innate of fidelity and usefulness. ThuD is the
peoples will impressed upon the whole frame
work of civil policy-municipal, state and
federal-and this is the price of our liberty
and the inspiration of our faith in the repub-
lie. 1t is the duty of those serving the people
in public places to closely limit the public
expenditures to the actual needs of the gov
ernment economically administered. because