Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-03-11
TIVE INAUGURAL.
President CIeyeland's Address on TAX.
Ing Office.
Various Topics Of National Interest
Discussed.

lHc IOllONllb " sNo''Shb ~'N'N"N' '''N'o''N'
address in full as delivered:
FELow-CTTIzEEs-ln tho presence OF this vast
assemblago Of my countrymcn am about TO SUP.
pemeut and seal by tho oath which shall take
the manifestation o; the VIII OF Great ana @ iree
people. In the exercise OF their power ana seli-
government, they have committed 70 one OF lhelt
fe Ow-GtizU = Il supreme aud sacreu trust; ana no
here consecratcs himself to their service.
This impressive ceremony adds lttle 10 the SOL
emn sense OF responsibility with which contein-
plate the duty owe to ali tho people OF the lahu
nothing can relieve me OF anxiety lest by any act
ofmine their interests may snhcr, ana notnIns Is
needed TO strengthen my lesontlon 10 ehgago
every Mcuty and enort In the promotion OF then
welfare. ,,
Amid the din Of party strife the peoples choice
was madc but It's attendant circumstances nave
demonstrated anew the strength anu sat ~ 9t
government by the p2ope' IN cach succeoatns
Year II more clearly appears that our democralc
principle needs no apo oSy, ana that IN l,slearsess
and faithful appIcaioh is 10 DC louhu lne su'o
guaranty OF good government
But the best results IN the operation ot govern
went wherein every citizen has share, largely de-
pend upon proper limitation OF purely partisan
zeal and effort and correct appreciation oil inc
time when the heat OF the partisan should be merged
in the patr otism OF the clliZen. .
To-day the executive branch OF the government
is transferred TO new keeping. But TINS 10 sun tne
government Of all the people, and 1t should DO mono
The less an object OF alIcctionate sOlicitude. Az
this hour the anmosites Of political slrie the DIT
I rness Of partisan defeat and the exntatlon OF
partisan triumph should be suppIanted Oy an ah-
grudging acquesCcnce in tie popular vii, and
sober, Conscientious concern for The General veal
Moreover, II, from this hour we chceriuly ana non.
| estly abandon all sectional prejudice and d!strust
| and determine with manly confidence IN ono
another, to work out harmoniously the acmeve-
ments Of our national destiny, we shali deseNeto
realize all the benefits which our happy form OF
| government can oestow.
the pledge OF our devotion to the Constitution,
which, launched by the founders Of tine republic
and cOnsGcrated by their prayers and patnouc oe-
| yotion has for almost century porn tue hopes
and the aspirations OF great people through pros
perity and peace and through the shock Of foreign
conflicts nj the peri!s oil domestic STRIFE and VI
cissitudcs.
| commend for adoption as 1.-THE result OF epltt
| OF amity and mutual concession" In tnat sdulo
spirit il shonld be administered, in order to pro-
mote the lasting welfare or me country anu " 81.
cure tho full measure of its priceless b netls 10 US
and 10 those who will succeed to the blessings OF
our national life. The large variety OF diverse
and competing interests subject to Federal con-
troll, pcrsistGnty seeking thl recognition OF lnelI
claims, need give Us no fe rs mat " me greatest
good to the greatest number will fail to DC accom-
plshcd II in he halls Of national IeglsGtlon lna.
aprit Of amiy and mutual CONCESSION Shai! prevail
IN which the Constitution had It's birth. u TINS M
wolves the surrender or po,tponlment OF private
interest and the abandonment OF local ADVANTAGES,
COMPENSATION will be found in the assurance mat
thus the common interest Is suOscrNeu anu 'ue SVu-
eral welfare advanced.
In the discharge Of my official duty ! shall ell
deavor % be guided by Just and unstraineu oou.
slruction OF the Constitution, caretui ooserVdnce
OF the distinction between the powers Erahteu 70
the Federal government and those reserved TO me
States, or TO tine people, and a cautious appre-
cation Of those functions which. by the Constltu-
tion and laws, have been especially assigned 70 tuo
executive branch Of the government
But he who takes the oath today 10 preserve,
project and defend the Constitution o: the united
Slatos only assumes the solemn obligation wh!cn
every patriotic citizen, OIL the farm, in the work
shop, in the busy marts Of trade, and everywhere,
should share with hlm. The Constitution whlcn
presciOcs his osth, my counrymcn' Is your.; tne
government you have chosen nm 20 administer
Tor time is yours; the suffrage which executes
the will of freeman is your; the avs and the en-
tire scheme of our civil rule, from the town meet
ing to the State capitals and the national Captai,
Is yours Your every voter, as surely as your chief
magistrate, under the same high sanction, though
Ia a different sphere, exercises puOlc trust
Nor ia this all. Every citizen owes TO ne country
vgi!ant watch ana close scrutiny OF us puunc
servants aud fair and reasonable estimate OF
their fidelity and usefulness. Thus is the leopIe
Will impressed upon the whole fyHmewoTk OF our
civil poiLy-mUnclpa, state and Federal-apd
this Is the price OF our LIBERTY ana 'he lhspHaIon
Of our faith in the republic. "
1t the duty OF those serving In public place 70
closely mi pnolc expenditures to thea actual neeus
OF the government economically administered; pe-
cause this bounds the light OF the government "
exact tribute from the earnings OF labor or the
property OF the citizens, and because pnohC ex'
trOvagance beg ts extravaganza among lle people;
We should never be ashamed or tine siInplcIty anu any
prudential economies which are best sitcd TO the
operation of a republican form OF government ano
most compatible with the mission OF thc Amefcan
people. Those who are seecel Tor llmted 'ims
10 manage public affairs are still OF the people, anc
may 40 much py their example 10 encourage, con
stanty with the dignity of their Official functions
that plain way of life which among their iehow
l citizens aids Integrity and promotes thiit an'
I prosperity -
. peope in their homo life, and the attention whlct
Is demanded for the settlement aud DEVELOPMENT o
1 the resources OF our vast territory, u.cLate tn
scrupulols avoida ce Of any departure from tina
= foreign policy commended by the history, the ira
dtions aud tho prosperity o! our republic
Q 1t is the policy OF Independence, favored py ou
position and defended by our known love OF jus
: lice and by our power. 1t Is the policy Of peac
snirabe TO our Interests. 1t is the policy OF neu
tyality. rejecting any share in foreign oroIs an'
A ambitions upon other continents, ana repeEn
- their intrusion here. It Is the policy of Monroe an
{ of Washington and Jefferson -"Peacc, comm!rc
and honest friendship with all nations, entanettn
: alliances with none" due regard for the inter
ests and prosperity OF all tie people demana aonn .ns
- and sensible basis as shall secure the SAFETY an
confidence Of bushes. interests and make IN
ges OF labor sure and steady, and that our syster
OF revenue shall be SO adjusted as to relieve tn
q people from unnecessary taxation, taking due n
gard 10 the interests OF capital Invested and worn
5 ingmen employed in American / duslrics, ana pr
vent ng the accumulation OF surplus IN the 'tea'
+ ury TO tempt extravagance and waste. care Il
the property OF the ration, and for the needs
future settlers. require that the puDnc uomai
should be protected from pu'oining sehcmes an
Illawful occupation. :.
" Indians within our boundaries shall Oe fairy an
J honestly treated rs wards of the goVcrnmt nl' an
a their education and civilization promoted Win
view 10 their ultimate citizenship; and nat poyg
r, nv in the territories, destructive OF the iami
relation and offensive to the mora sense OF ~
@ civilized word, shall be repres he laws shon
- be rigdly enforced which prohibit the immlgTSLo
II of scrvle class to compete with American laoo
l. with no intention OF &C lu'rng ctizenship an
L bringing with them AMI retaining habits and cu
n toms rCpuguant to oar civilization.
- The people demand reform in the admnistratlo
# Of te Government and the application of businet
principles to pubic affairs As a means 10 thls en-
is civil service reform should be in good faith 81
forced Our citizens have the right to protectle
s, from the incompetelcy of public employees WI
, hold their aces solely us the reward OF partisa
IL seryccsl and from tn, corrupting influence
h those who promise and the vicious methods
IL those who expcct such rewards. And those WI
+. worthy seek public employment have the right
insist that merit, that competency shal De reco
6, nized, instead Of parry subScryisncy or the su
render OF honest political belief.
to In the administration of government pledgt
to do equal and exact justice to all men, the
Is should BE- no pretext for auX ely touching the pr
-, tectioa Of the freedmen in their rights, or the
vi security in the government Of their privileges und
~ the Constitution and its amendments. AL d'cu
:. sion as TO their fitness for the place accordeu
~ them rs American citizens is Idle and unrrontao
except as it suggests the necessity for their improy
es ment. lhe fact that they are citizens enlill
them TO all TIC rights due to thst relation, a.
IN charges them with all its duties, obligations and
l.. spunslbiltie'.
10 These topics, and the constant and ever varylI
wants OF an active and enlcrprting populauo
may well receive the attention and the patriotic e
deayor OF all who make aad execute the Fed
law Our duties are practical, and Gil for indust
ous application, an intelligent perception oil I
al Claims OF public office; and, above al, firm d
~ termination by united action 10 secure to al !
ry lie Of the land the full benefits of the best fol
:! OF government eve, vouchsaied 10 man And
us not trust TO human eIort alone; but hunt
acknowledging the rower and goodness OF
er mighty God who prc.ides over the desines
nat ons, an who has at all times been revealed
We Our country's history let us invoke His aid and
,ol blessing upon our labors.