St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-03-05
THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS.

A Good, Sound and Sensible Document
Fellow Citizens: In the presence of this
vast assemblage of my countrymen, am
about to supplement and seal by the oath
which shall take the manifestation of the
will of great and free people. In the ex-
ercise of their power and right of self-gov-
ernment they have committed to one of their
fellow citizens supreme and sacred trust,
and he here consecrateS himself to their
service. This impressive ceremony adds
little to the solemn sense OF the responsible
ity with which l contemplate the duty due all
the people of the land. Nothing can relieve
me from the anxiety lest that by any act of
mine their interests may suffer, and nothing
is needed to strengthen my resolution to
engage every faculty and effort in the pro-
motion of thoir welfare. Amid the din of
party strife the peoples choice was made,
but its attendant circumstances have demon
strated anew the strength and safety of
a government by the people. In each
succeeding year it more clearly appears that
our democratic principle needs no apology,
and that in its fearless and faithful applica-
ton is to be found the surest
GUARANTY OF GOOD GOVERNMENT.
But the best results In the operation of
u
share largely depend upon proper Limitation
of purely partisan zeal and effort and a cor
rect appreciation of the time when the heat
of partisan should be merged in the pa
triotism of citizen. To-day the executive
branch of the government is transferred to
a new keeping, but this is still the govern
ment Of all the people, and it should be none
the less an object of their affectionate solci-
tude At this hour the animosities of politi-
cal strife, the bitterness of partisan defeat
and exultation Of party triumph should be
supplanted by an ungrudging acQuiescence
in the popular will and sober, conscientious
concern for the general veal. More
over, if from this hour we cheerfully
and honestly abandon all sectional
prejudice and distrust and determine with
manly confidence in one another to work out
harmoniously the achievements of our ma
tonal destiny, we shall dessfEe to realize all
the benefits which our happy form OF govern
ment can bestow. On this auspicious occa-
sion we may well renew the pledges OF our
DEVOTION TO THE CONSTITUTION,
which, launched by the founders of the re-
public, and consecrated by their prayers and
patriotic devotion, has for almost century
borne the hopes and aspirations of all great
people, through prosperity and peace and
through the shock of foreign conflicts and the
perils of domestic strife and vicissitudes.
By the Father Of his Country our constitution
was commended for adoption as ''the result
of "a spirit of amity and mutual concession"
In that same spirit it should be administered
in order TO promote the lasting welfare Of the
country, and to secure the full measure of
its priceless benefits to us and to those who
will succeed to the blessings of
our national life. The large
variety. of diverse and competing
interests subject to federal control, persist
emily seeking the recognition of their claims.
| need give us no fear that the 'greatest good
to the greatest number" will fail to be ac-
complished if in the halls of national legis-
lation that spirit Of amity and mutual con-
cession shall prevail in which the constitu-
ton had its birth. If this involves the sur
render or postpopement of private interests
and the abandonment of local advantages,
mpen sations will be found in the assur-
auce that thus the
COMMON INTEREST Is sUBsERvBD
aud the general welfare advanced. In the
discharge of my official duty shall endeavor
to be guided by Just and unstrained con-
struction of the constitution, careful OBJ
servance of the distinction between the
| powers granted to the federal government
ard those reserved to the states or to the
people, and by cautious appreciation of
those functions which, by the consti-
| tuition aud laws, have been es-
! pecialy assigned to the executive
! branch of the government. But he who
| takes the oath to-day TO preserve, protect and
| defend the constitution Of the United States
| only assumes tue solemn obligation which
every patriotic citizen on the farm, in the
| workshop, in the busy marts of trade and
everywhere should share with him. The
! cor stitution which prescribes his oath, my
countryinen, is yours. The government you
! have chosen him to administer for time is
| yours. The suffrage which executes the will
! Of freemeu is yours. The laws and the
! entire scheme Of our civil rules from the
! town meeting to the state capital and the Ha-
| tional capital are yours. Your every voter :.
as surely as your chief magistrate under the
! same high sanction, though in a different
/ sphere, exercises public trust Nor is this
1 all. Every citizen owes to the country a
| vigilant watch and close scrutiny of its public
/ servants aud fair and reasonable estimate
| of their fidelity and usefulness. Thus is the
peoples will impressed upon the whole frame
! work of our civil polity-muuicipal, state
aud federal-snd this is 10 be
TEE PRICE OF OUR LIBERTY
and the inspiration of our faith in the re-
/ public. It is the duty Of those serving the
people in public places to closely limit the
/ public expenditures TO the actual needs Of
| the government economically administered,
/ because this binds the right of the govern
meut to exact tribute from the earnings of
/ labor or the property Of the citizens, and
! because public extraysgsnee begets extrava-
( gauce among the people. We should never
I be ashamed Of the sim fEcity and prudential
( economies which are best suited to the opera
ton of a republican form of government
/ and most compatible with the mission Of the
/ American people. Those who are selected
for a limited time TO manage public affairs
ARE STILL or TIE PEOPLE
snd NAV do much by their example to en-
courage consistently with the dignity Of their
/ official functions, that plain way Of life
which among their. fellow citizens aids integ-
ritv and promotes thrift and prosperity.
/ The genius of our institutions, the needs OF
/ our people in their home life and the atten-
ton which Is demanded for the
social development Of the re-
sources Of our vast territory dictate
the scrupalous avoidance os any departure
from that foreign policy commended By the
history, the traditions and the prosperity OF
our government II is the policy Of inde-
/ peudeuce. favored b. oar position. aud de-
feuded By our knowledge Of Justice and by
! oa- po=er. Il = the policy OF peace, suit
abe to our interests Il Is the policy Of urE-
( traliiy, rejecting any share IN foreign poz-
ers and ambitions upon o-her coutinerts,