Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-03-05
INAUGURATION
Of Grover Cleveland as
President.
An Immense Cr0Wa-MiIes Of Dee.
0ratiOnS-Great Military Dis.
play and Many Civic Org
aniZatiOns.
A Splendid Procession and Big
Day for the Democracy-The
Inaugural Ceremony - The
New Presidents Address.
WAsHINGTDS Marc

WASHINGTON. March 4.
Washington was thronged with eager and
expectant faces this morning. Pennsylvania
avenue has been swathed in bunting for
week past, and flags were flying in all direc-
tions.
The morning was fair 1t was estimated
that a hundred thousand strangers were in
town.
At about 10 o'clock, Senators Sherman and
Ransom called upon Mr.. Cleveland, at the
Arlington, and soon afterward escorted him
to the White House. Senator Hawley pres
emily arrived with Mr.. Hendricks, and at IL
o'clock President Arthur and the President
and Vice President-elect were escorted to the
capitol by the United States troops, the ma
rine corps and the District volunteers.
President Arthur and his Cabinet occupied
the Presidents room at the capitol, where the
legislation of the closing hours of the admin
istration was considered and completed.
Mr.. Cleveland and Mr.. Hendricks were
taken to the Vice Presidents rooms.
When all was ready, Mr.. Hendricks was
summoned to the Senate chamber, where the
oath of office was administered to him by the
acting president of the Senate, in the pres
ence of the Senators and Representatives the
Supreme Court, the Diplomatic corps, heads
of departments and other distinguish
visitors.
The august assembly then proceeded through
the rotunda to the platform which had been
erected before the central portico OF the east
front of the capitol.
On reaching the portico, the President and
President-elect took the seats reserved for
them, the Chief Justice on their right and
the Sergeant-at-arms of the Senate on their
10 har tictin Sbal yp;fn nf ~,
inauguration occupied the seats assigned to
them.
When summoned to take the oath of office.
Mr.. Cleveland said
The Inaugural Address.
FeHoW Citizens In presence of this vast
assembage of my countrymen, | am about
to supplement and seal, by the oath which
shall take, the manifestation of the will of a
great and free people. In the exercise of their
power and right of self government they
have committed to one of their fellow cit-
zens a supreme and sacred trust, and he here
consecrates himself to their service This
impressive ceremony adds little to the solemn
sense of responsibility with which | coDtem-
plate 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 RESOLUTION TO engage every faculty
and effort in the promotion of their well
fare. Amid the din of party strife the peo-
pies choice was made, but its attendant cir
cumstances have demonstrated anew the
strength and safety of the government by the
people. In each succeeding year it more
clearly appears that our democratic princi-
pie needs no apology and that in its fearles.
and faithful application is to be found the
surest guaranty of good government. But
the best results in the operation of a gov
ernment, wherein every citizen has a
share, largely depend upon the proper linn
itation of purely partisan zeal and effort
and 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 trans
ferred to new keeping; but this is still the
government of all the people and it should
be none the less an object of affectonate
solicitude at this hour. The animosities of
political strife. the bitterness of partisan de-
feat and the exultation of partisan triumph
should be supplanted by an ungrudging ac-
quescence in the popular will and a sober,
conscientious concern for the general veal.
Moreover, if from this hour we cheerfullv
and honestly abandon all sectional prejudice
".
fdence in one another to work out har-
moniously the achievement of our national
destiny, we shall deserve to realize all the
benefits which our happy form of government
can bestow. On this auspicious occasion
all may well renew the pledge of our de-
votion to the constitution, which, launched
by the founders of the republic. and conse-
Grated by their prayers and patriotic devo
ton, has for almost a century borne the
hopes and the aspirations of great people
through prosperity and peace, and through
the shock of foreign conflicts and peris
of domestic strife and vicissitudes. By the
father of his country our constitution wa.
commended for adoption as the result of the
spirit of amity and mutual concession. In
that same spirit it should be administered, in
order II promote the lasting welfare of the
country, and secure the full measure of its
priceless benefits to us and those who will sue
ceed to the blessings of our national life.
The large variety of diverse and competing
interests, subject to federal control, persis-
tently seeking the recognition of their claims
need give us no fear that the greatest good to
the greatest number will fail of accomplish
meut if. in the halls of national legislation,
that spirit of amity and mutual concession
shall prevail in which the constitution had its
birth; if this involves surrender or post
ponement of private interests and abandon.
ment 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 endeavor to be guided by Jus,
and unstrained construction of the constitu-
tion, by a careful observance of the distinction
between the powers granted to the federal
government and those reserved to the States
or to the people, and by cautious appreciation
of those functions, which, by the constitution
and laws have been specially assigned to the
executive branch of the government. But he
who takes the oath to preserve, protect and
dofond thu 1onsfifufian of tho IInifod Csasx,a