Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1885-03-12

| owe tO Ill Tue peJpio vi lilc Idllu' NuIn-
ing can relieve me from anxiety lest by
any act of mine their interests may suf.
fer, and nothing is needed to strength
en- my resolution to engage every facul-
| ty and effort In the promotion of their
welfare.
Amid the din of party strife the peo-
ple's choice was made but its attend
ant circumstances have demonstrated
anew the strength aud safety of a gov
ernment of the people. In each sue
ceeding year it more clearly appears
that our democratic principle needs no
apology, and that in its fearless and
faithful application is to be found the
surest guaranty Of good government.
But the best results in the operation of
q government wherein every citizen has
share, largely depend upon proper
limitation of purely partisan zeal and
effort, and a correct appreciation of the
time when the heat of the partisan
should be merged in the patriotism of
the citizen.
To-day the executive branch of the
government is transferred to new keep
ing. But this is still the government
of all the people, and it should be none
the less an object of affectionate solicit
tude. At this hour the animosites of
political strife, the bitterness of parti-
san defeat and the eXultation of parti-
san triu mph should be supplanted by
an ungrudging acquiescence in the pop
ular will and a sober, conscientious
concern for the general veal. More
over, if from this hour we cheerfully
and honestly abandon all sectional pre-
judice and distrust, and determine with
manly confidence in one another to
work out harmoniously the achieve
ments of our national destiny, we shall
deserve to realize all the benefits which
our happy form of government can be-
stow.
On this auspicious occasion we may
well renew the pledge of our
DEVOTION TO THE CONSTITUTION,
which, launched by the founders of the
republic, land consecrated by their pray
erS and patriotic devotion, has for al
most century Dorne the hopes and as
pirations of great people through
prosperity and peace, and through the
shock of foreign conflicts and the perilS
of domestric strife and vicissitudes.
By the father of his country our con-
stitution was commended for adoption
as 1.-THE result of spirit of amity and
mutual concession. "In that same spirit
it should be administered, In order to
promote the lasting welfare of the coun-
try and to secule the full measure of its
priceless benefits to us and to those who
will succeed to the blessings OF our ma
tional life. The large variety of diverse
and competing interests subject to fed
eral control persistently seeking the
recognition Of their claims. need give
us no fear that 1.-THE greatest good to
the greatest number" will fail 20 be &C
complished, if in the halls of national
legislation that spirit of amlty and mu-
tai concession shall prevail in which
the constitution had its birth Ii this
involves the surrender or'postponement
Of private interests, and the abandon
ment of local advantages, compensation
will be found in the assurance that
thus the common interest is subserved
and the general welfare advanced.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE
STATES.
In the discharge of my official duty
shall endeavor to be guided by just
and unstrained construction of the con-
stitution, a careful observance of the
distinction between the powers granted
to the federal government and those re.
served to the states, or to the people,
and by cautious appreciation of those
functions which, by the constitution
and laws, have been especially assigned
to the executive branch Of the govern
ment.
But he who takes the oath to-day to
preserve, protect and defend the con-
stitution of the United States only as
sumes the solemn obligation which ev-
cry patriotic citizen, on the farm in the
workshop, in the busy martS Of trade.
everywhere should share with him.
THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE.
The constitution which perscribes
his oath, my countrymen, is yours the
government you have chosen him to ad-
minister for time, is yours the suf-
frage 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 capitals and the
national cpaital, IS yours. Your every
voter, as surely as your chief magis-
trate under the same high sanction,
though in different'sphere, exercises a
public trust. Nor is this all. Every
citizen owes to the country, a vigilant
watch and close scrutiny Of its public
servants, and fair and reasonable es.
innate of their fidelity and usefulness.
Thus is the peoples will impressed up.
on the whole framework of our civil
policy-municipal, state and federal
and this is the price of our liberty and
the inspiration of our faith in the re-
public.
ECONOMY AND EXTRAvAGANCE
1t is the duty of those serving the
people in public place closely to limit
public expenditures to the actual need
Of the government economically ad-
ministered, because this bounds the
right of the government to exact trib.
ute from the earnings of labor or the
property of the citizen, and because
public extravaganza bcgets extravs-
gance among the people. We should
never be ashamed of the sublicity and
prudential economies which are best
suited in the operation of republican
form of government, and most compa'
tible with the mission of the American
people. Those who are elected, for q
limited time, to manage public affairs
are still Of the people, and may do much
by their example to encourage, consist
emily with the dignity of their officia
functions, that plain way of life which
among their fellow citizens aids lnteg
rity and promotes thrift and prOsperi-
ty.
THE POLICY OF PEACE.
| The pe,,iuS of 0ur institutions ths