Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-03-05
TEXT OF THE INAUGURAL.
Words which Outline "a Wise and Con
servatiYe Policy.

Words which Outline a Wise and Con
servatiYe Policy.
WAsHINGTON, March 4.-The following is
the inaugural address of President Cleveland:
"FELLOw CITIZENS-In the presence of this
vast assemblags of my countrymen l am
about to supplement and seal by the oath
which shall take, the manifestation of the
will of great and free people. In
the exercise of their power and
right of self-gOvernment they have commit
ted to one of their fellow citizens a supreme
and sacred trust, and he here consecrates
him elf to their service. This impressive
ceremony adds little to the solemn sense of
responsibility with which | contemplate the
duty | owe to AL the people of the land. Moth
ing can relieve me from anxiety lest by anv
act of mine their interests may suffer, and
nothing Is needed to strengthen my reso-
luton to engage every faculty and ef-
fort in the promotion Of their welfare.
Amid the din of party strife the peoples
choice was made, but its attendant c rcum-
stances have demonstrated anew the strength
aud safety of government by the people
In each succeeding year it more clearly aD-
pears that our democratic principle needs no
apology, and that in its fearless and faithful
application is 10 be found the surest guaranty
OF good government. But the best results
IN the operation of a government wherein
every citizen has a share, largely depend upon
a proper hmltatiOn of purely partisan zeal
and effort, and correct appreciation of the
time when the heat Of the partisan should he
merged in the patriotism Of the c iZens
TODAY the executive branch of the govern
mrnt is transferred to new keeping, but this
is still the government of all the people, and
it should be none the less an object of their
affectiOnate solicitude.
PLEA FOR UNITY.
At this hour the animosIties of political
strife, the bitterness of partisan defeat and
the eXultatiOn of partisan triumph should he
supplanted by an ungrudging acquiescence in
the popular will and a sober conscientious
concern for the general veal. Moreover, If
from this hour We chcerfulY and honestly
abandon all sectional prejudice and dstrust
and determine with manly confidence in one
another to work out harmOniOusly
the achievements Of our national
destiny we shall deserve to
realize all the benefit which our happy form
OF government can bestOw, On this auspici-
ous occasion we may well renew the pledge
Of our devotion to the constitution which,
launched by the founders of the Republic aud
consecrated by their prayers and patriotic de-
votiOn, has for almost "a century borne the
hopes and the aspirations of great people
through prosperity and peace. and through
the shock Of foreign conflicts and The peTils of
domestic strife and vicisstudes. BY the
Father of his Country our constitution was
commended for adoption as THE result OF
spirit OF amlty and mutual concession"
FOR THE COMMON GOOD.
In that same spirit 1t should be admins
tered. in order TO promote the lasting welfare
OF the country, and TO secure the full measure
OF It's priceless benefits 10 Us ana 10 those who
VIII succeed to the blessings OF our national
life the large variety of diverse and compet-
ing interests, subject to Federal control, per-
slstently seeking the recognition of their
claims, need give us no fear that "The great
est good to the greatest number" will fail to
be accomplished if. in the halls of national
legislation, that spirit of amity and mutual
concession shall prevail in WhIehathe cOnsti-
tuition had its birth. If this involves the sur
render OrApostpOnement OF private inter-
ests or Che abandonment of local adj
vantages. compensation will be found
in the assurance that thus the
common interest is subserved and the general
welfare advanced In the discharge OF my
official duties ! desire to be guided by just
and unstrained construction of the cOnstitu-
ton. careful observance OF the distinction
between the powers granted to the Federal
Government and those reserved to the States
or to the people, and by a cautious apprecia-
ton of those functions which by the cOnstitu-
tiOn and laws have been especially assigned to
the executive branch of the government, buthe
who takes the oath to day to preserve, protect
ana defend the constitution of the United States
only assumes the solemn obligation which
every patriotic citizen on the farm, in the
workshop, In the busy marts of trade and
evv vrywhere should share with him.
OF THE WHOLE PEOPLE.
The constitution which preserIbes his oath.
my GOuntrymen, Is yours. The government
you have chosen for time Is yours. The
suffrage which executes the will of free men
is yours. the laws and the entire scheme Of
our civil rule from the town meeting TO the
State capitOls and the National capitol, is
yours. Your every voter as surely as your
chief magistrate under the same high sane
tioD, though in a different sphere. exercises a
public trust Nor is this all. Every citizen
owes to the country Ylgilant
watch and close scrutiny of It's
public servants and fair and
reasonable estimate of their fidelity and use
fQlness. 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
falth in the Republic. 1t is the duty of those
serving the people IN public pl ices to el sely
limit public expenditures TO the actual needs
OF the government, ecOnom cally admins
tered, because this bounds the right of the
government TO exact tribute from the earn
ings Of labor or the property of the citizen,