The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1885-03-11
Prestdens Cyevesard's I~aspurai.


about TO supplement ard seal, by the OATH
which shall take, the manifestation Of the
will OF great aud free people. In the
exercise of their power and right OF self
government they have committed 70 one OF
their fellOw-cltixens = supreme and sacred
trust, aud he here con eCratcs himself to
their service. This impressive ceremony
adds little 70 the solemn sense Of RESPONSE
bility with which contemplate the duty
owe to all the people OF the land nothing
can relieve me from anxiety lest by any act
of mine their interests may suffer, and
nothing is needed to strengthen my resou-
ton to engage every faculty and effort In
the promotion OF their welfare. Amid the
din OF party strife the peoples choice was
made; but Its attendant circumstances have
demonstrated anew the strength and safety
Of government by the people. In each
succeeding year it more clearly appears
that our democratic principle needs no
apology. aud that In It's fearless and faith
full application Is to be found the surest
guaranty OF good government. But the
best results 10 the operation OF q govern
ment wherein every citizen has share
largely depend upon q proper limitation OF
purely partisan zeal aud effort, and cor
rect appreciation of the tune when the
heat Of the partisan should be merged In
the patriotism of the citizen.
To-day the executive branch Of the gov
ernmt mt is transferred to new keeping, but
this Is still the government OF all the peo'
pie, and 1t should be none the less an OBJ
ject of their sifectionate solicituds. AT
this hour the animosities OF political strife,
the bitterness Of partisan defeat and the
exultation of partisan triumph should be
supplanted by an upjudging quiesceuce In
the popular will, and q sober, conscien'
tious coucern for the general veal. More
over, IL fr. N this hour we cheerfully and
honestly abandon all sectional prejudice
and distrust, and determine, with manly
confidence 10 one another. to work out har-
moniously the achievements of our nation
al destiny, we shall deserve to realize all
the dement's which our happy form of gov
eminent can bestOw.
o. this suspicious occasion we may well
renew the pledge of our devotion to the
constitution, which launched by the foun-
ders on the republic, aud consecrated by
their prayers and patriotic devotion, has
for almost century borne the hopes and
the aspirations Of 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 our country oui cOnsti-
tuition was commanded for adoption as
"rhe result of spirit OF amity and mutu-
al concession" In that same spirit 1t
should be administered, 10 order to pro-
mote the lasting welfare of the country,
and to secure the full measure of its price,
less benefits TO US and TO those who will
succeed 10 the blessings of our national
life The large variety of diverse and COM
peting interests subject to federal control,
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
Of national legislation, that spirit of amity
anc mutual concession shall prevail, In
which the constitution had Its birth. II
this involves the surrender or postpone
ment Of private interests and the abandon
ment of local advantages, compensation
will be found 10 the assurance that thus the
common interest is subserved and the gen
eral welfare advanced.
In the discharge OF my official duty
shall endeavor to be guided by just and
unstrained construction of the constitution
q careful observance OF the distinction be-
tween the powers granted the federal
government and those reserved to the states
or to the people and by q cautious appreci-
alton of these functions which, by the con-
stitution and laws have been especially de-
signed " tie executive branch Of the gov
eminent. But he who takes the oath to-
day to preserve, protect and defend the
constitution of the United States only as
sumes the solemn obligation which every
patriotic citizen, on the farm, In the work.
shop, in the busy marts Of trade, and ey.
erywhere, should share with him. The
constitution which prescribes his oath, my
countrymen, is yours; the government you
have chosen him 10 administer for time
Is yours; the suffrage 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 capital and the
national capital, Is yours. Your every
voter as surely as your chief magistrate
under the same high sanction, though In u
different sphere, exercises public trust.
Nor Is this all. Every citizen owes to the
country a vigilant watch and close scrutiny
of it's public servants, and fair and rea-
sonable estimate Of their fidelity and use
fulness. This is the peoples will impress
ed upon the whole framework OF our civil
polity-municipal, state aud federal-and
this is the price Of our liberty and the In
spiration Of our faith In the republic. II
Is the duty Of those serving the people In
public place, to closely limit public expen-
ditures to the actual needs Of the govern
ment economically administered; because
this bounds the right Of the government to
exact tribute from the earnings of labor or
pubic extravaganza begets extravaganza
among the people. We should never be
ashamed of the simplicity and prudential
economies which are best suited to the OPP
Grafton of republican form Of govern
ment, and most compatible with the mis-
sion of the American people. Those who
are selected for limited time, to manage
public affairs, are still of the people and
may do much by their example to encour-
age, consistently with the dignity Of their
official functions, that plain way of life
which among their fellOw-citizens aids In
tegrity and promotes thrift aud prosperity
The genius of our institutions, the needs of
our people In their home life and the atten
ton which is demanded for the settlement
ind development Of the resources of our
vast territory, dictate the scIupulous evil
dence of and departure from that foreign
policy, commended by the history, the ira
ditions, and the prosperity Of our republic.
1t is the policy Of independence. favored
by our position and defended by our known
love of Justice aud by onr power. II is
the policy Of peace suitable to our inter
ests. 1t Is the policy of neutrality. reject
ing any share In foreign broils and ambi-
lions upon other continents, and rcpelling
their intrusion here. 1t Is the policy OF
Monroe and Of Washington and Jefferson
-"Peace. commerce and honest friendship
with all nations; entangling alliances with
none"
A due regard for the interests and pros
peritv of all the people demand that our
fnances shall be established upon such q
sound and Sensible basis ~ shall secuSe the
safety and confidence Of business interest
and make the wage Of labor sure and
steady; and that our system Of revenue
shall be SO adjusted as to relieve people
from unnecessary taxation, having due
regard to the interests Of capital Invested
and workingmen employed In American In
dustries, and preventing the accumulation
~ in tha IN a "