Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-03-05
THE INAUGURAL.

The inaugural of President Cleveland
possesses the virtue of brevity. 1t will
not be ranked among great statesmanlike
documents, but it is patriotic effort, never
theless, and records his adhesion to the
great fundamental principles of free
government with which all the people are
familiar. In this respect it deals largely
in generalities, such as characterize most
patriotic addresses But while it lacks
definiteneSs upon many of the topics re-
ferred to, there are few, if any, declara
tons in which all the people may not con-
cur. Upon two subjects the President is
gratifyingly explicit, and clearly defines his
policy-these are his determination to en-
force the civil service reform laws faith
fully and permit Of no evasion, and his
unlimited opposition to the immigration
of servile classes that cannot and do not
produce good citizenship. 1t is exceed
ingly gratifying to learn that the same
course which marked his gubernatorial
career regarding the civil service will
characterize his administration as Pres-
dent. He declares that civil service re-
form should be enforced in good faith
that the citizens of the republic have the
right to be protected from the incompe-
tency of public employees; that merit and
competency must be recognized as superior
to party subseryicncy, and yet without de-
handing the surrender of honest political
belief Civil service reioriner- h. reason
to congratulate themselves upon the posi-
tive stand taken by the new President, and
may reasonably expect that his policy
will be reflected by the legislative action
Of his party. Pap suckers and spoils-
men will not be pleased with Mr..
Cleveland's expressions on this sub
ject, which is distinct declaration
against the doctrines of the radical
Democracy. No one who reads the inaug-
ural viii be so uncharitable as to doubt
the sincerity of President Cleveland in
announcing the flllness with which he
feels the great responsibility he has as
sumed. We must accord to him honesty
OF purpose when he declares that the gen
eral veal must define the boundaries
within which party zeal is commendable
His concern for the general welfare, his
e 81, IL I
takes the oath Of office must keep in con-
slant view MS duty to all the people, en-
courages the hope that the Cleveland
administration will not be that of low
partisanship and subserviency to the rule
of political cliqucs and rings, which the
spoils-nen Of his party would prefer. He
dwells at length upon devotion to the
Constitution" a sentiment meaningless in
the abstract, and 50 construed by politi-
clans as to fit the whim or conceit of any
policy. But the President goes a step be-
yond this Democratic siibbolc.h when he
declares against strained interpretations Of
that substructural document He declares
iiatIy in favor of 4 peaceful attitude, al
tagenism TO all ambitious schemes on our
part recording other continents, and resist
anCe to the encroachments Of foreign
powers upon our own. But even thi,
declaration il generality, since it may be
construed to fit almost any emergency that
can arise. As the judgment as to what is
undue ambition on our part, and what Is
infringement upon the part Of another,
must always be ours and final. such declar-
ations Kill he received rs vague, especially
when coupled with the wise iteration
that the common veal and the
greatest good to the greatest number
must be the rule Of action.
His appeal to citizens to activity in gov
ernmental affairs, and his effort to awaken
them to fail realization Of individual
duty in politics, il commendal5le. The
President declares in favor Of honest deal |
ing with the Indian tribes, full recoeni- |
ton of all the rights of the freedmen Us
citizens, and enforcement Of their oonse-
quent obligations; and unheSitating con
demn4tion Of ihe imamy Of poiygany.
He eyades any positive expressions upon
financial questions, except to condemn the |
policy OF a surplrG in the Treasury and
contents himself with general expressions |
peace, comnerSsl prosperity, !
a-d revenue system that viii result in
the minimum Of taxation and the max
imum Of rewards for labor and capital.
As whole, the inaugural is a thought
rul expression, contains much good and
patriotic advice, indicates the policy of the
President on few leading topics. and
carefully evades committal upon others.
However, in his first message to Congress
I will be more reasonable to expect posi-
i've statements and explicit declarations
egarding his policy than in an inaugural
peech.