McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1885-03-12

people In the exercise OF their power ano
right of SELF government. They have
committed to one of their fellow citizens
supreme and sacred trust, and he here
consecrates himself to their service. This
impressive ceremony adds little to the
solemn sense of responsibility 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. Amidst
party strife the peoples choice was
made. but its attendant circumstances
have demonstrated new strength and
safety of government by the peo-
pie. In each succeeding year 1t moro
clearly appears that our democratic peo-
pie need no apology and that in its fear
less and faithful application is to be found
the surest guaranty of good government.
But the best results in the operation OF
the government, wherein every citizen
has a share, largely depend upon the
proper limitation of purely partisan zeal
and effort and correct appreciation
of the time when the heat of the 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 government OF
all the people and it should be none the
less an object of their affectionate solicit
tude. At this hour the animosities Of
political strife, the bitterness of partisan
defeat and exultation of partisan triumph
should be supplanted by ungrudging &C
IN, bo ,1or WI III roH cnhnr
conscientious concern for the general
veal. Moreover, if from this hour we
cheerfully and honestly abandon all sec
tional prejudice and distrust and deter
mine with manly confidence in
one another to work out harmonously
the achievements of our national destiny,
we shall deserve to realize all the bene-
fits which our happy form of government
can bestow. On this suspicious occa-
sion we may well renew the pledge of our
devotion to the constitution which,
launched by the founders of the republic
and consecrated by their prayers and
patriotic devotion, has for almost GEN.
fury borne the hopes and aspirations to
those who will succeed to the blessing of
our national life. The large variety of
diverse and competing interests is 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 accom-
plished. If in the halls of national leg
islatiOn that spirit of amity and mutual
concession shall prevail In which the con-
stitution had is birth; if this in
wolves the surrender or postponement
of private interests and the
abandonment Of local advantages, COM
pensation will be found in the assurance
that thus the common interest is sub
served and the general welfare advanced.
In the discharge of my official duty shall
endeavor to be guided by a just and I'M
strained construction of the constitution,
a careful observance of the distinction
between the powers granted to the fed
eral government and those reserved to
the states or to the people. and by a eau
tious application of those functions which
by the constitution and laws have been
assigned to the executive
branch of the government. But he who
takes the oath to-day to preserve, pro-
tect and defend the constitution of the
United States, only assumes the
obligation which every patriotic
citizen on the farm, in the work
shop, in the busy marts of
trade and everywhere should share with
him. The constitution which prescribes
his oath, my countrymen, is yours; the
government you have chosen him to adj
for time is yours; the suffrage
which executes the will of the freemen is
yours; the laws and the entire scheme of
our civil rule, from the town meeting to
the state capitol, is yours. Your every
voter, as surely as your chief magistrate,
under the same high sanction, though in
a different sphere, exercises a public
trust. Nor is this all; every citizen owes
to the country vigilant watch and close
scrutiny of its public servants 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 re-
public. 1t is the duty of those serving
people in public place to closely limit
pubic expenditures to the actual needs of
the government economically admins
tered. because this bounds the right of
the government, to exact tribute from the
of labor or the property of citi-
zens and because public extravaganza
begets extravaganza among the people.
We should never be ashamed of the sim
plicity and prudential economics which
are best suited to the operation of re-
publican form of government and most
compatible with the mission of the Amer
lean people. Those who are for linn
tied time to manage the public affairs are
still of the people and may do much by
their example to encourage consist
emily the dignity of their
official functions in that plain
way of life which, among their fellow
citizens, aids integrity and promotes
thrift and prosperity. The genius of our
institutions, the needs of our people in
their home life, and the attention which
is demanded for the settlement and de-
velopment of the resources of our vast
territory, dictate the scrupulous avoid
ance of any departure from that foreign
policy, commended by the history. the
tradition and the prosperity of our re-
public. 1t is the policy of the independ-
ence favored by our position and de-
Tended by our power; it is the policy of
the peace so suitable to our interests; it
is the policy of neutrality, regretting any
share in foreign broils and ambitions
upon other continents, and repelling their
intrusion here; it is the policy
of Monroe and WASHINGTON and ,Jeffer-