The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-01-14
GOVERNOR eRAY's INAUGURAL.


GOVERNOR GRAY'S INAUGURAL.
The address of Hon. Isaac P. Gray upon
his Inauguration yesterday as Governor of
Indiana is State paper of decided merit. 1t
is something more than the conventional &C.
ceptance of public trust; it deals with prin-
ciples which should permeste legislation
and exhorts the lawmakers to their OBJ
servsnce. His approach to gubernstorial
duties he briefly defines is with c de-
termination to perform the duties OF the
Office faithfully for the public good" A
volume of promises could express no more.
He tells the legislators they are convened
''to enact such laws as will promote educa-
ton, suppress vice and immortality, punish
crime, protect the rights Of person and prop
erty, advance the general welfare of the
people and the prosperity of the State;" and
tersely reminds them that % republican
form of government can not endure longer
than simplicity, integrity aud economy
characterize its administration and fidelity
marks the conduct OF its public servsnts."
These are true sayings and worthy OF all
acceptstion. They are timely, too, remem-
hering how far our National legislation has,
within recent years, veered from these ex-
allied standards and been prostituted to
venal schemes for class and individual bene-
fit, rather than 'for the general welfare of
the people" In the simplicity and direct
ness of these and succeeding uttersnces
there is SAVIOR of the refreshing political
atmosphere augured in the apt figure of our
ocean of politics swept by the TEMPEST of
the late campaign, eliminating impure ele-
ments from the political waters.
Governor Gray puts the question "whether
| legislation has not been too much in the
interest of capital and wealth and against
| the industrial masses of the country" and
in the same connection points to 'the de-
velopment and fostering Of railway and
other corporate bodies of vast wealth by
government aid" and "the aggregation of
the money of our country in various COM
binations of power" While these evils have
been wrought in the Federal halls of legisla-
ton, it wss yet for the Chief Magistrate of
| the State, upon entering his Office, to cite
| the people to them, that their influence may
be thrown against any continuation OF such
abuses.
4
ton of the Legislature all deserve its con-
sideration. The alien law, il open to the
criticism his query indicates, should
promptly receive the careful review OF the
Judiciary Committees. The same may be
said of the question raised in the address as
to the function of the Supreme Court Com
missioners. The strong and ever growing
sentiment in the State for fostering her
higher institutions of learning, as we'll as
the common public system, will endorse the
Recommendation in behalf of the Indiana
University, while the honor in which the
memory of the heroes of the war is held will
appeal for prompt recognition Of the sug-
| gestion that Indiana mark the ground at
Gettysburg where some of our volunteer
soldiery fought and fell.
Whether Indiana, as q State, will derive
any benefit from participation in the
Worlds Exposition at New Orleans is a
| question which will be subordinate to q
State pride that she be not behind her sister
| States in promoting the success and grand
| eur of the enterprise which has now assumed
National Importance. But should the man
| agement of the Exposition, as Is now con-
templated, invite an organized reunion
| of Federal and Confederate soldiers
of the war, we sincerely trust that
Indiana shall be we'll represented
| in that congregation. The spectacle
Of veterans who fought each other In that
war, ningling together as brothers amidst
the products Of the arts OF peace from all the
States whose sons they are, would surely tie
the tongues and render inert the pens that
would longer continue dissensions between
the sections.
All in all, Governor Grsy's inaugural sd-
dress challenges cordial approval. 1t is
liberal and patriotic in sentiment, wise in
its suggestions and admirable for its force
and grace of diction. Il lie o paper which
worthily deserves recording With the archives
| of Indiana.