Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-03-06

strengthen any resolution 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 demonstrated new
strength and the safety of government BIZ
the people. In each succeeding year Il |
more clearly appears that our democratic !
needs no apology, aud its fearless
and faithful application is to be found the
surest guaranty of good government, but
the best results in the operation of govern
ment, wherein every citizen has a share,
largely depends upon the proper limitation
of purely partisanship and u correct appre-
citation of the time when partisanship should
be merged into the patriotism of the citizen.
To-day the executive branch of
the government is transferred to new
keeping, but this is still the government of
all the people and it should be none the less
the object of their aifectionate solcitude.
AT this hour the animositics Of political
strife, the bitterness of partisan defeat and
exultation of partisan triumph should be
supplanted by an ungrudging acquieseence
to the popular will and solely conscien-
tious concern for the general welfare. More
over, if from this hour we cheerfully and
honestly abandon all sectional prejudice
and distrust, with manly confidence in one
another to work out tremendously the
achievements of our national destiny, we
shall deserve to realize all the benefits which
our happy form of government can bestow.
On this suspicious occasion we may well
renew the pledge OF our devotion TO the con-
stitution which launched by the founders of
the republic and consecrated by their pray
ers patriotic devotion has for almost a CEN
tury burne The hopes and aspirations of the
aggregate Of the people through prosperity
and peace, and through the stock Of foreign
conflicts and the perils OF domestic strife
and vicissitudes. By the father of "his
country our constitution was commended
for adoption as the result of Il spirit of
mighty and mutual concession, in that same
spirit 1t 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 ma
ton. IL left Il large variety of diverse and
competing interests subject to federal con-
troll, persistently seeking the recognition of
their claims, need give US fear that "the
greatest need to the greatest number viii
fail to be accomplished if in the halls of ma
tional legislation that spirit Of amity and
mutual concession shall prevail in which
the constitution had its birth. If this in
wolves the surrender or postponement of
private interests and the abandonment of
local advantages remuneration viii be found
in the thought that the comman interest is
subseryed and the general welfare advanced
in the discharge Of my official duty
| shall endeavor to be guided by just and
unstrained construction of the constitution,
a careful observation of the distinction be-
tween the powers granted to the fedora
government and those reserved to the states
or to the people, and by cautious appre-
citation of those functions which by the con-
stitution and laws have been repeatedly as
signed to the executive branch of the gov
eminent. But he who takes the oath to-day
70 preserve, protect and defend the cunstitu-
ton Of the United States only assumes the
solemn obligation which every patriotic
citizen on the farm, in the workshop, the
busy marts of trade and everywhere should
share with him. The constitution which
preseribes his oath, my countrymen, is
yours, the right of suffrage which executes
the will Of freemen Is yours, the laws and
the entire scheme of our civil rule from the
town meeting to the state capitol and the
national capitol is yours. Your very voter,
a surely rs every chief magistrate, under
the same high sanction, though in a differ
ent sphere, exercises Il public trust nor Is
this all, every citizen owes TO the country u
vigilant watch and close scrutiny of their
public servants and affairs and reasonable
| estimate of their fidelity and usefulness.
| Thus is the peoples will impressed upon the
whole frame work Of our civil policy, munie-
! ipal state and federal, and this is the price
Of our liberty aud inspiration of our faith in
our republic, II is the duty of those serving
the people in public place to closely limit
public expenditures to the actual needs of
the government economically administered,
because this bounds the right Of the
government to exact tribute from
the earnings If the labor or
public extravagance begets extravaganza
ashamed of the simplicity and presidential
economies which are best suited to the oper-
alton of a republican form of government,
and most compatible with the mission of the
American people. Those who are selected
for limited time to manage public affairs
are still Of the people, and may do much by
their example to encourage, consistently
with the dignity of their official functions,
that plain way Of life which among their
fellow citizens creates integrity, and
promotes thrift and prosperity. The genius
OF our Institutions, the needs of our people
to their home life, and the attention which
is demanded for the settlement and Develop
ment OF the resources of our vast territory
dictate the scrupulous avoidance of any de-
parture from that foreign policy commend
ed by the history, the traditions and the
prosperity of our republic. 1t is the policy
of independence favored by our position and
defended BY our known love of justice and
BY our power. 1t is the policy of peace
suitable TO our interests. 1t is the policy of
neutrality, rejecting Any share in foreign
broils and ambitions upon other continents
and repelling their intrusion here. 1t is the
policy of Monroe and Washington and
Jefferson. Peace, commerce and honest
friendship with all nations, entangling aliens
with none. A due regard for the interests
and prosperity of all the people demand
that our finances shall be established upon
such sound and sensible basis as shall Sc
cure the safety and confidence of the bust
ness interests, and make the wages of labor
sure and steady, and that our system of rev.
enue shall be SO adjusted as to relieve the
people from unnecessary taxation. having
due regard for the interests of capital invest
cd, and the workingmen employed in the
accumulation of a surplus in the treasury to
property of the nation and for the needs of
future settlers require that public domain
should be protected from purloining schemes.
The conscience OF the people demands that
the Indians without boundaries be fairly aud
honestly treated us wards of the government,
and their education and civilization
promoted, with view to their
ultimate citizenship, and that poligamy in
the territories, destructive of the family re-
lation and offensive to the moral sense of the
civilized world shall be repressed. The
laws should be rigidly enforced which pro-
hibits the emigration Of a seryile class to
compete with American labor, with no in
intention of acquiring citizenship, and
bringing with them and retaining habits
and customs repuunant to civilization. The
people demand reform in the administration
Of the government and the application Of
business principles 10 public affairs. As II
means to this end civil service reform should
be in good faith enforced. Our citizens
have right to protection from the incom-
pctence Of public employees who
hold their places solely rs the
reward of partisan service, and
from the corrupting influence of those who
make such promises, and the vicious meth
DDS of those who expect such rewards. and
those who worthy seek public employment
have thought it wisest that merit and COM
potency shall be recognized instead of party
subserviency or the surrender of an honest
political belief. In the administration Of Il
government, pledged TO do equal and exact
Justice to all ;nen there should be no pre-
text for anxiety as to the abusing Of the pro-
lection of the treenen in their rights or their
security in the endowment of their privileges
under the constitution and is amendments.
All discussion as % their fitness for place
accorded them as American citizens is idle
and unproitable, except rs II suggests
the necessity for their Improvement
The fact that they are citizens entitle them
to all the rights due to the relation and
charges them with all its duties, obligations
and responsibilities. These topics and the
constant and ever varying wants OF an ac-
tive and enterprising population may well
receive the attention and the patriotic en-
dcavors of all who make and execute federal
law. Their duties are 20 practice and form
by industrious application an intelligent
view of public office, and above all a firm
discrimination by united action to seeure'to
all the people of the land the full benefits of
the best form OF government ever vouch-
safed 10 man. And let us not trust TO hui
man effort alone, but hainbly acknowledge
the power and goodness of Almighty God,
who presides over the destiny of nations and
who has at all times been revealed IN our
history. Let Us invoke His aid
and His blessing upon our labors.