Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-03-05

every patriotic citizen on the farm, in the
workshop, in the busy marts of trade, and
ereryw here. should share with him
The constitution, which prescribes his oath.
my countrymen, Is yours. The government
you have chosen him to administer for time
Is yours The 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 Stste capitols and the
national capitol is yours. Your everv 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 his country a
yigllant watch, a 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 frame
work OF our civil policy, 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 pub
lie place to closely limit expenditures to
the actual needs of government economical
iy administered, because this bounds the right
of government to exact tribute from the
earnings OF labor as the property of the citi-
zen, and because public extravaganza begets
extravaganza among the people. We should
not be ashamed of the simplicity and prudenti-
al economies which are best suited to the op-
Grafton of a republican form of government,
and most compatible with the mission of the
American people. Those who are Sc
lected for a limited time to man.
age 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 aids integrity and promotes thrift
and prosperity.
The genius of our institutions, the need.
OF our people in their home life, and the at
tention which is demanded for the settlement
and development OF the resources of our vast
territory. dictate the scrupulous avoidance of
any departure from that foreign policy, COM
mended by the history, the traditions and the
prosperity OF our Republic Ii is policy of in
dependence, favored by our position, and de
Tended by our known love OF justice, aud by
our power. and it Is policy of peace suitable
to our interests.
1t is policy of neutrality rejecting any
share in foreign broils and ambitions upon
other continents, and repelling their intrusion
here. lt is the policy of Mon
roe and of Washington and Jefferson
peace, commerce, and honest friendship
with all nations, entangling alliances with
none. A true regard for the interests and
prosperity of all our people demands that our
finances shall be established upon such sound
and sensible basis as shall secure the safe
ty and confidence of business interests and
make the wages of labor sure and steady and
that onr system of revenue shall be so adjust
ed as to relieve the people from unnecessary
taxation, having due regard to the interests of
capital invested and workmen employed in
American industries, and preventing the ac-
cumulation of a surplus in the treasury to
tempt extravaganza and waste.
Care for the prosperity of the natien and for
the needs OF future settlers requires that the
public domain should be protected from pur-
loning schemes aud 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 and
civilization promoted, with a view to their
ultimate citizenship. and that polygamy in
the territories, destructive of the family rela-
ton, and offensive to the moral sense of the
civilized world, shall be repressed
The laws should be rigi1ly enforced which
prohibit the immigration of servile class to
compete with American labor, with no inten-
ton of acquiring citizenship, and bringing
with them and retaining habits and customs
repugnant to our civilization.
The people demand reform in the admins
tration of the government, and the application
of business rules to public affairs, and a, a
means to this end civil service reform should
be in good faith enforced. Citizens
have the right to protection from the
incompetency of public employees, who hold
their places solely as a reward of partisan
service, and from the corrupting influence of
those who promise, and the vicious methods
of those who expect such rewards, and those
who worthliy seek public employment have
the right to insist that merit and competency
shall be recognized instead of party subser-
viency or surrender of honest politica
belief In the administration of gov
ernment pledged to do equal and exact JUS
tice to all men, there should be no pretext
for anxiety touching the protection of the
freedmen in their rights, or their security in
the enjoyment of their privileges under
the Constitution and its amendments.
Discussion as to their fitness for the place
accorded to them as American citizens. is idle
and uproftable, except as it suggests necess-
ity for their Improvement.
The fact that they are citizens, entities
them to all the rights due to that relation.
and charges them with these obligations
constant and ever-varying wants of an active
and enterprishg population may well receive
the attention and patriotic endeavors of all
who make and execute the federal law
Our duties are practical, and call for in
dustrious application, an intelligent per-
ception of the claims of public office, and,
above all, firm determination, by united ac-
tioD, to secure to all the people of the land the
full benefits of the best form of government
ever vouchsafed to man. And let u. no,
trust to human effort alone, but humbly &C.
knowledging the power and goodness of Al.
mighty God, who presides over the DESTINY of
nations, and who has at all times been re-
vealed in our country's history, let u. invoke
His aid and His blessing upon our labors
The Oath of Office Administered.
At the conclusion of the address. the oath
of office was administered to the President.
elect by the Chief Justic
The President and ex-President Arthur
then took their places in carriage in the
procession, which was the most striking fea
ture of the days ceremonies.
The two carriages which contained Presi.
dent Cleveland. ex-President Arthur. Vice
President Hendricks, and the Senate com.
mittee of arrangements took positions in the
first division.
The procession was organized and marched
as follows
Chief Marshai-Major General Henry w.
Slocum, of New York.
Chier of S,aff-Brevert Brigadier General
Albert 0rdway, United States volunteers.
Marshal Of First Div ision-Brevert Major