The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-03-14

The following is President Ctve-
lands inaugural address in full:
FelLOW-cjtize1aS-In the presence of
this vast assemblage of my country
men, l am about to supplement- the
seal by the oath which l shall t.ke,
the manifestation of the will ,ls.ee
great and free people. In the ex-
erclse of their power and right of
self-government, they have commit.
ted to one of their felIow,citizens a
supreme trust land he here eonsecrates
himself to their service.
This impressive ceremony adds
little to the solemn sense of RESPONSE
bility 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 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 havedemon-
strated anew the strength and safety
of government by the people. In
each succeeding year it more clearly
appears that our democratic princi-
pie needs no apology, and that in its
fearless and faithful application is to
be found the surest guaranty of good
government.
But the best results in the opera
ton of a government, wherein every
citizen has share, largely depends
upon proper limitation of purely
partisan zeal and effort, and a correct
appreciation Of the time when the
heat ofthe partisan should be merged
in the patriotism of the citizen.
To-day the executive branch of the
government is transferred to new
keeping. But this is still the gov
eminent Of all the people, and it
should be none the less an object of
atfectiOnate sOlicitude. At this hour,
the animosities of political strife, the
bitterness of partisan defeat and the
eXultatiOn of partisan triumph should
be supplanted by an ungrudging ac-
quiescence in the popular will and
sober, conscientious concern for the
general veal. Moreover, if, from
this hour we cheerfully and honestly
abandon all sectional prejudice and
distrust, and determine, with manly
confidence in one another, to work
out tremendously the achievements
of our national destiny, we shall de-
serve to realize all the benefits which
our happy form Of government can
be5toW.
On this suspicious occasion we may
we'll renew the pledge of our devo-
ton to the constitution, which, laun-
ched by the founders of the republic
and consecrated by their prayers and
patriotic devotion, has for almost a
century borne the hopes aud the as.
pirations of a great people through
prosperity and peace, and through
the perils of domestic strife and vi
ciSSitudeS.
By the Father of his Country our
Constitution was commended for
adoption as "the result of spirit of
amity and mutual concession" In
that same spirit it should be admin
istered in order to promote the last
ing welfare of the country and to se-
cure the full measure of its priceless
benefits to us and to those who will
succeed to the blessings ofour nation
al life. The large variety of diverse
and competant interests 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 the national legislation, that
spirit of amity and mutual concession
shall prevail in which the eonstitu-
ton had its birth. If this involves
the surrender or postponment of
private interests and the abandon
ment of local advantages, compensa-
tiCn will be found in the assurance
that thus the common interest is sub
served and the general welfare adj
vanced.
In the discharge of my official du-
ty | shall endeavor to be guided by q
just and unstralned construction of
the Constitution a careful observance
of the distinction between the pow
ers pranted to the federal govern
ment and those reserye ed to the states
or to the people, and by a cautions
appreciation of those functions which,