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

common interest is subserved and the gen.
eral welfare advanced.
In the discharge OF my official duty shall
endeavor TO be guided by Just and I'M
strained construction of the constitution, a
careful observance Of the distinction between
the powers granted to the federal government
and those reserved to tho states or the peo.
pie, and by a cautious appreciation Of the
functions which by the constitution and laws
have been especially assigned to the exeou.
tive branch Of the government. But he who
takes the oath to-day TO preserve, protect
and defend the constitution Of the United
States only assumes the solemn obligation
which every patriotic citizon on the farm, in
the workshop, in the busy marts OF trade aud
every where should share with him. The
constitution which prescribes his oath, my
countrymen, is yours. The government you
have chosen him TO administer for time il
yours. The suffrage which executes the will
OF freemen is yours tho laws and the entire
scheme OF our civil rule from the town meet
ing to the state capitals and the national cap.
ital are yours Your every voter, az surely
as your chief magistrate, under the same
high sanction, though in a different sphere,
exercises public trust. Nor is this all
Every citizen owes to the country a vigiant
watch and close scrutiny of its public ser.
wants and fair and reasonable estimate OF
their fidelity and usefulness Thus is the
peoples will impressed upon the whole
framework Of our civil polity, municipal
state and federal, and this Is the price OF our
liberty and the inspiration Of our faith in the
Republic.
1t is the duty of those serving the people
In public places to closely limit public expen.
ditures to the actual needs OF the govern
ment, economically administered because
this bounds the right Of the government to
exact tribute from the earnings OF labor or
the property Of the citizen and because pub.
lie extravaganza begets extravaganza among
the people. We should never be ashamed
OF the simplicity and prudential economies
which are best suited to the operations of a
Republican form of government and most
compatible with the mission OF American
people. Those who are selected for limit.
cd time to manage public affairs are still of
the people, and may do much by their ex-
ample to encourage, consistently with the
dignity of their official functions, that plain
way OF life which among their fellow citizens
aids integrity aud promotes thrift and pros
perity.
The genius Of our institutions, the needs of
our people in their home life and the atteu-
tention which is demanded for the settle
ment and development OF the resources of
our vast territory dictate the scrupulous
avoidance OF any departure from that foreign
policy commended by the history, the tradi-
tions aud the prosperity of our republic. II
is the policy Of independence favored by our
position and defended by our known love Of
justice and by our power 1t ia the policy of
peace suitable TO our interests. It 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 aud Jefer-
son. Peace, commerce and honest friend
ship with all nations entangling alliances
with none" due regard for the interests
and prosperity of all the people demands
that our finances shall be established upon
such q sound and sensible basis as shall Sc
cure the safety and confidence Of business
interests aud make the wages of labor sure
and steady, and that our system of revenue
shall be so adjusted as to relieve the people
from unnecessary taxation, having due re.
gard to the interests OF capital invested and
workingmen employed in American indus.
tries and preventing the accumulation of a
surplus in the treasury, TO tempt extrava-
gance and waste.
Care for the property of the nation and for
the needs of future settlers req hires tina. the
| public domain should be protected from pur-
Joining schemes and unlawful occupation
The conscience Of the people demands that
the Indians within our boundaries shall be
fairly and honestly treated as wards Of the
| government and their education aud civiliza-
/ ton promoted with a view to their ultimate
| citizenship and that polygamy in the terrific.
ries, destructive of the family relations aud
! offensive to the moral sense of the civilized
world, shall be depressed. The laws should
/ be rigidly enforced which prohibit the immi.
grafton of servile class to compete with
American labor with no intention Of acquir-
ing citizenship, and bringing with them and
retaining habits and customs repuRnaut to
! our civilization.
The people demand reform in the admins
tration OF the government aud the applica-
ton of business to public affairs. As
means to this end civil service reform should
be in good faith enforced Our citizens have
the right to protection from the incompetep-
| cy OF public employees who hold their places
solely as the reward OF partisan service aud
from the corrupting influence of those who
promise and the vicious methods Of those
who expect such rewards, and those who
worthlly seek public employment have the
! right to insist that merit and competency
shall be recognized instead of party subserv-
iency or the surrender of honest political be-
/ lief
In the administration of a government
pledged to do equal and exact justice to all
men, there should be no pretext for anxiety
] t'uCnluB the protection OF the freedmen IN
their rights or their security in the enjoy.
ment of their privileges under the constitu.
ton and its amendments. All discussion as
TO their fitness for the place accorded to them
as American citizens is idle aud Improbable,
except as it suggests the necessity for their
improvement The fact that they are citi-
zens entities them to all the rights due 10
that relation and charges them with all its du.
ties, obligations and responsibilities.
These topics and the constant and ever va
rying wants OF an active and enterprisinR
population may we'll receive the attention
and the patriotic endeavor of all who make
and execute the federal laws Our duties are
practical and call for industrious application.
an intelligent perception of the claims of
public Office, and above all firm determine.
tion by united action to secure to all the peo-
pie of the land the full benefits of the best
form Of government ever vouchsafed to man.
And let us not trust to human effort alone,
but humbly acknowledging the power and
| goodness of Almighty God, who presides
over the destiny Of nations and who has at
all times been revealed in our countrys his
tory, let us invoke his aid and his blessing
! upon our labors