Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1885-03-12

Delivered ut Warrington, March 4, 1885.
FlJo1o Cfizeas.

Fe1oc Citizens:
In the presence Of this vast assemblsge Of my
countrymen / am about to supplement and seal
By the oath which shall take. the manifestation
Of the viii of great and free people In the exer-
else of their power and right OF seifgovernment.
They have committed to ore Of their fellow citi-
zens a supreme and sacred trust, and he here con.
socrates hin self TO their service. This Impressive
ceremony adds little to the solemn responsibility
with which contemplate the duty owe
to all the people Of the land. Nothing
can relieve from the anxiety, lest 10y
any act Of mine their interests may
suffer, and nothing is needed to strengthen my
resolution 10 engage every faculty ana effort in
the promotion of lheir welfare. Amid the din OF
party strife the peoples choice was made but Its
attendant circumstances have demonstrated a
people. In each succeeding year ii more clearly
appears that our democratic principle needs no
apology, and that in its fearless and faithful ap.
plica ION is to be found the surf st guaranty OF
good Government. But the bet results in the OPP
Grafton of a Government wherein every citizen
has share largely depend upon prop
and a. correct appreciation Of
the time when partisanship should be merged
into the patriotism of the citizen. To-day the
executive branch OF. the Government is Trans
ferred to new keeping, but This Is still govern
ment Of all the people, o. IL should be none the
less the object Of their afe ctionae Lettuce At
this hour the 8Dlmosities of political STRIFE, the
hi terness OF part san defeat, and the eXuliatiOn
Of partisan triumph should be suppanted by un.
grudging scquiesceDce 10 the popular will, aud
SO by console concern for the general vel
fare. Moreover, If from this hour we cheertuily
aud honestly lay aside q sectional prejuO and
distrust, and determine with renewed cor fidtnce
in one another to work out harmOBiou,ly the
achi vements of our National destiny, We shall
deserve to realize all the benef fits which our happy
form Of Government can bestow.
On this suspicious OF casion We may well renew
the pledge OF our devotion TO the Cons tuition,
which launched by the founders of the Republic
and consecrased by their prayers and patriotic
devotion, has for almost 4 century borne the
hopes and aspirations OF great people through
prosperity am peace, and through tue shock Of
foreign conflicts, and the peIis of do
nestle strife ald yiclssitudes. By the father
of his country our Constitution was commended
for adoption the result of spirit of mighty and
united concession and in that spirit it should
be Administered in order t. promote the lasting
welfare OF the country. and TO cure the full
measure OF its priceless benefits to US and those
who will succeed to the blessings of our National
life. The large variety OF diverse and competing
interests subject to Federal control persi> tenty
seeking the recognition of their claims need give
US no fear that the greatest number will
iall to accomplish If in the halls of the National
legislature that spirit of amity and mutual con-
cession shall prevail in which the Constitution
mad it's birth IT this involves the surrender or
pOstpOnement of private interests and The aban-
donment Of local advantages. remuneration will
be found in the thought that the common inter-
terest is subserved and the general welfare ad-
vanced.
In the discharge of my official duty, shall en-.
deavor to be guided by just and unstrained con-
strucion of the Constitution and a careful obser-
walton of the distinction between the powers
reserved to the States or 10 the people,
and by cautious appreciation of those
functions, which, by the Constitution
ana laws nave oeen sspecla!.y assignee e.,, 10
who takes the oath to-day to preserve protect and
defend the Constitution of the United States only,
assumes the solemn oblie at on which every patri-
otto citizen on the 1am: in the worksho q
the busy mdrtS OF Trade, and everywhere
should share with him. The Constitution
which pres RIDES his oath. my countrymen. is
to administer tor Q time is yours; the suffrage
which executes the viii of freeman is
yours; the laws and the entire
town meeting to the State Capital and the Ma
tional Capital is yours. Your every voter, as
surely SIS every Chief Magistrate, under the same
HE sanction though i'm different sphere. exer-
cises public trust. Nor is this all Every citi:
zen owes 10 the country a vigilant watch and
close scrutiny of its public servants, and fair
and reasonable estimate of their fidelity and USE
fumes. Thus is the peoples will impressed upon
the whole framewo rk of our civil policy, munich
pal, State ard Federal, and this is the price of our
liberty and the inspiI alton of our faith in our Re-
public
tits the duty Of those serving the people in .
public place to closely limit the public expendi.
lures to the actual needs Of the Government,
economically administered. because this bounds
the right Of government to exact tribute from the
earnings of labor property of citizens, and be-
cause public eXtravagance begetS extravaganza
among the people. We should never be ashamed
of the simplicity and prudential economirs
which are best suited to the operation of repub-
hcan form of government and most compatible
who are selected for a limited time to manage
public affairs are still of the people, and may do
much by their example to encourage, consistent
VIII pa tine wag III which, iHe
fellow-citizens, creates integrity and promotes
thrift and prosperity, the genius of our institu.
tons, the needs of our people. 10 them, home
The attention which is demanded for the
settlement and development of the re-
sources of our vast territory dictate the
scrupulOus avoidance of any departure from that
foreign policy commended by the history, tradi.
tons and the prosperity of our Republic. 1t Is
the policy of independence. favored by our posi-.
ton and defended by our known love of justice,
and by our power. 1t is the policy of peace suit
able to our interests 1t Is the policy of neutrality
rejecting any share in foreign broils ard ambi
intrusion here. 1t Is the policy of Monroe, aud
Washington, aud Jefferssn-peace, commerce and
honest friendship with all nations, entangling
A due regard for the interests and prosperity of
all the people demand that our finances
shall be established upon such sound
ana sensible nd BASIS as SNAIL secure the
and make the wages of labor sure and steady;
and that our system of revenue shall be SO ad-
justed as to relieve The people from unnecessary
the capital invested, of the vOrkingmen en-
ployed and the accumulation of surplus in the
treasury to tempt extravaganza and waste. Care
for the prope y of the nation and for the needs Of
future settlers require that the public domain
should be protected from puiloining schemes and
the unlawful occupation Of the pubic lan6s. The
conscience of the people demands that the In
dams without boundaries shall be fairly Ind
honestly treated as wards of the Government. and
their education and civilization promoted, with q
view their ultimate citizenship, and that polyg
amy, in the Territories, is destructive of the
family relations and offensive to the moral 8 nSe
of the cizilized world shall be repres.ed. The
the immigI alton of servile class to compete
W tn American labor with no intention of
acquiring citizenship, and bringing with
Them the retaining HABITS ana customs repugnant
ia the administration of the GOvernme nt and the
application of business principles 10 public Affairs.
AS means to TINS end, ivilservice reform should
be in good faith enforced. Our citizens have the
right To protection from the incC mpetency OF pub
lie emp. owes who hold their places solely as the
reward OF. partisan service. and from the cor
ruptiye influence Of those who pursue the vicious
methods of tnOse who expect such rewards,
and those who worthily seek public employment
have thought wis, st that merit and competency
shall be recognized instead of party sub ervency
Or the surrender of hoasst political belief In the
ADM nstration CT Government pledged 10 do
equal and exact justice 10 all men. there
the pro.ecton of the freedmen in their rights OF
in their security, in the enjoyment
Of their privileges under the constitution and its
amendments. All discussion as to their fitness
TO- the 2! ace accorded them as American ci.iz ms
isiole and Improbable. except as it suggests the
necessity for their improvement. The fact that
they are citizens entities them to all
he rights cue to that relation, and
charges them with all its duties. obligations
and responsibilities These topics snd the con-
slant aud ever VARYING wants of an active Rnd
enterpri>1ng pOpula ion mey well receive iha at
teution and the patriotic endeavors of all who |
IN AXE and execute the Federal law,
Our duties practical and call 70,
Al Industrious application of en- intelligent
perception Of the claims of pub ic Office |
ana above all a firm determination by united !