The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-03-12
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.

by the oath which I shall take, the mani |
festation of the will of a great and free peo- /
,ple In the exercise of their power ana fgnt
OF self f-govefnment, they have committed to /
one of their fellow citizens Il supreme and
sacred trust. and he here consecrates niiIi-
,uony adds little TO the solemn sense OF re- !
sponsibity with which | contemplate the
duty owe to all the people of this land
Nothing can relieve me from anxiety lest by
any act of mine their interest may suHer;
and nothing is needed to strengthen my resu-
luton to engage every faculty and ebort iI
the promotion of their welfare
And the din of party strife. the peoples
choice was made, but its attendant clrcun-
stances have demonstrated anew t9e
strength and safety of u Government by the
people. -. - ,,
appears that our democratic principle needs
no apology and that in its fearless and IaIth-
Tul application is 10 be found the surest
guarantee of good government But the best
results in the operation OF Government,
wherein every citizen has share, largely De
mend upou proper limitation OF purely
bar san zeal and effort and a correct appre-
ciatuu Of the time when the heat Of the
partisan should te merged ia the PATRIOTISM
OF the GItlZen
To-da, the executive branch o1 the Gov
erument is rrdn s1eTred to new Keep ng. but
this is still the Government of ali the people
and II should lie none the less an object OF
their uaeSti.Git-e 50! c tude. At this hour
the all mos - 81 polk < u strife the bitter
ness or pu I Il, de;taE and the exulta-
TOT OF Pall.- IL Triumph, should De sup
planted b, aiI uTisTudg ,lg a1Qu escence in
the popular W II and Il sooer. conscientious
concern for the general veal. Moreover, II
from this hour We gheeI1uily and honestly
abandon all SECTIONAL p:e iudice and distrust
and determine. " tn mahl, confidence il ole
another, TO work ouI harnoniouSly the
achievements OF our National deSunS. We
shall deserve 10 realize all the nenents which
our happy form OF government can bestow;
On this auspicious ucSaslon We may Well
renew the pledge OF our osN Not1on 10 the Con
stitution, which, launched 10y the founders
of the republic. and oonsecFated by their
PRAYERS and patriotic devotion has Tor al
most a century borne the hopes and the as.
piraIions OF q great people, through pros
perity and peace. and through the shock OF
foreign conflicts aud the perlis OF domestic
/ strife and vicissirudes. BY the Father OF his
Country our Constitution was commended
! for adoption as the result OF spirit OF aInlty
! aud mutual concession.
4 In that same spirit il should be ad LII 'nistered
| in order to promote The lasting welfare of
| The country, and to secure the fnii measurs
| OF its priceless benefits to us and 10 those
who viii succeed to the blessings OF our Ma,
tOnal life. The large variety OF diverse anu
| competing interests subj ject to Federal CON
troll, persistently seeking the recognition OF
| their claims, need give us no fear that the
greatest good to the greatest number will
| fail to be accomplished. If, in the halls OIL Na-
! ,toGsl Legislation. that spirit of amity and
mutual concessions shall prevail in which
| the Constitution had its biEfRr
| 1t this INVOLVES the surrender, or posi-
| dOnment of local advantages. 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 duty, shall
| endeayor to be guided by just and un
strained construction of the Constitution,
| parsfuI observance of the distinction be
| tween the po4ess granted 10 the feneral %
states ep or to the people. and by a cautious
! appreciation of those functions W hich by
| Jhe Constitution and laws, have been es-
| pecialiy assigned TO the executive pranch nt
| Bnt he who takes the oath to-day to pro
of the United States, only assumes the
| solemn obligation which every patriotic
citizen. on the farm, in the workshor' hnm IN 'hg
| share with him. The Constitution, wh'rh
presc.inss his oath, my r""ntrymghm, rI nh,,san .n
him to administer for time, Is yours; :he
| suffrage which executes the will OF free men,
is yours: the laws and entire scheme "i our our
| State CapitolS and the Nat1onai 'apitoi- u
youts. Every voter. rs SnreaS h,ab al !snrI s"mr
| lion, though in different sPherh, EXERCISES
Snr il this ali. Eycry oiii5rn owes to- the the
| of its public servants, ana II fair Rad reason
able estimate of their idclit' and usefulness.
| Thus is the peoples will impress upon the
whole framework of our civil polity-muni
cipal state and Federal-and this is the price
of our liberty and the inspiration "t oui
faith in the republic.
IL is the duty of those serving the people
in public places to closely limit public cN
oenditures to the actual needs of the GOV
ernmeIt economically administered. because
this bounds ths righl Gf the G9yernment tt
| exact IrlDut6 IEOUl ohN
the property of the citizen, and because
public Extravaganza hegcts extravaganza
among the people. We should never bt
ashamed of the simplicity and prudentra
economies which are best sn ted to tha oper
tiops of a republican form of government: ant
most compatible with the mission OF tn
Those who are selected for q limited tint
to manage public affairs are stiil OF lhe peo
| encourage, consistently with the dignity o
their official functions, that plain way OF HE
I,..fr- Coll.
tegriIy aud promotes thrift aud prosperity
The genius of our institutions. the needs .
our people in their home,ilfe, ana me atten
ton which is demanded for the sett!emen
ard DEVELOPMENT of the resources of ourVss
ttaritGry. ulctase the scrupui"us a'onuancs
sign policy commended by the his
tory. the traditions any she pros
pfti ii a;,e pendencs' m favored by o our position
aud defended by our known love Of juStiCs
and pS Oh. power It le the policy ot peacs
neutrality, rejecting any share III toTeigT
bIn!is and ambitions upon other continents
aud rrpelling their intrusion here. 1t is the
policy OF Monroe and OF wss hn2ton anC
Jeferson-"Peace. commerce and honest
friendship with all nations entangling al
A due regard for the interests and prosper
ity of all the people demands that our fnan
\ | ces shall be tablIsheI upon such souuI
and sensible basis as shall secure the sa1et,
/: and confidence OF business interests, ana Una
king the wages Of labor renanerat'Ne sure
be so adjusted as TO relieve The people 1rol
r unnecessary taxation. having que regard
TO the interests OF capital invested and WOFk
ingmen employed In American Industries
e and preventing the accumulation OF sur
plus in the Treasury To tempt eStraYzgane'
and waste.
f Care for the property OF the Nation all,
for tne nsed OF future settlers. require tina
The public domain should be protected iron
. proionging schemes and unlawful occupa
, non.
The conscience of the people demands tina
a h hsa Rst.ni SEln
1 fairly and honestly treated as wards OF IL,
Government. and their education and civil
mate citizenship, and that polygany in til,
| Territories. destructive of ths family rela
lion and offensive TO the moral sense OF III;
civilized world. shall be represscd.
Tia laws should be rigidly enforced which
prohibit the Immigration OF sery,ie class e
tion of acquiring citizenship. and bringiIl
with them and retaining habits and custOln
| repagnant to our CIVILIZATION.
The people demand reform in the admins
tratiou of the Government and the applica
tiOn OF business principles to public affairs
As means to this end, civil service reform
should be in good faith enforced.
Our citizens have the right TO protection
from the incompetency of public empioye
who hold their places solely as the rewar'
| of partisan service and from the corruptint
| influence OF those who promise and th
/. vicious methods of those who expect sucI
reward; and those who worthiy seek publi
employment have the right to insist tina
merit and competency shall be recognize'
J.. instead OF party subseryieney. or the sur
render of honest political belief.
v In the administration of a Government
:. | pledged to do equal and exact Justice to al
men there should be no preteXt for anxiet.
, touching the protection of the freedme
: In their rights their security in tn
d enjoyment of their privileges unde
the Constitution and its amendment.
r All discussion as to their fitness TO
the place accorded to them as American cit
Zens is idle and Improbable. except as
:. suggests the necessity for their improve
ment. The fact that they citizens Ell
& titles them to all the rights due to that rels
a ton, and charges them with all its duties
Obligations and responsibilities.
e These topics and the constant and eve
varying wants of active and enterprisin
e population. may well receive the attentiO
and the patriotic endeavor of all who max
! and execute the Federal laws. Our ar
. practical and call for the industrious applies
ton and intelligent perception of the claim
N of public Office and above all, firm determ
n nation, by united action, to secure to all tn
9 people of the land the full benefits of tn
q best form of Government ever vOuchsafe
to man.
g And let us not trust to human effort alone
but humbly acknow lodging the power an
i goodness of Almighty God, who preside
q over the destiny of nations and who has Il
all times been revealed in our country
e history, let us invoke His aid and His bles,
ing upon our labors.
: The oath of Office was administer e
fo Clavolond hy oh; of Inofica NVait.