The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-03-07

endeavor to be guided by AUST and unstrain-
ed construction Of the constitution, 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 especially assigned to the execu-
tive branch Of the government.
| But he who takes the oath to-day to pre-
serve, protect and defend the constitution of
the United States, only assumes the 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 constitution which prescribes his
oath, my countrymen, is yours; the govern
ment you have chosen him to administer for
time is yours; the suffrage which executes
| the will of freemen is yours; the laws and the
entire scheme of our civil rule from the town
meeting to the State capltols and the national
Capitol is yours. Your every voter, as surely
as your Chief Magistrate, under the same
high sanction, though in Il different sphere,
exercises public trust. Nor is this ALL
Every citizen owes to the country a vigilant
watch and close scrunity of its public ser
wants, and fair and reasonable estimate of
their fidelity and usefulness. Thus is the
peoples will impressed upon the whole frame.
work of our civil polity-municipal, State and
federal-and this is the price of our liberty
and the inspiration ofour faith in the republic.
1t is the duty of those serving the people in
public place to closely limit public expen-
ditures to the actual needs of the government
economically admi nistered because this
bounds the right of the government to exact
tribute from the earnings of labor, or the pro-
perry of the citizen, and because public ex-
travagance begets extravaganza among the
people. We should never be ashamed of the
simplicity and prudential economies which
are best suited to the operation of a republi-
can 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 of the people,
and may do much by their example to en-
courage, consistently with the dignity of their
official functions, that plain way of life which
among their fellows citizens aids integrity and
promotes thrift and prosperity.
The genius of our institutions, the needs
of our people in their home life, and the at
tention which is demanded for the settlement
and development of the resources of our vast
territory, dictate the scrupulous avoidance of
any departure from that foreign policy, COM
mended by the history, the traditions and the
prosperity of our republic. 1t is the policy
of independence, favored by our position and
defended by our known love of justice and by
our power. 1t is the policy of peace suitable
to our interests. tits the policy of neutrality
rejecting any share in foreign broils and am
billions upon other continents, and repelling
their intrusion here. 1t is the policy of Mon
roe and of Washington and Jefferson" Peace,
commerce and honest friendship with all ma
tons, entangling alliance with none. A due re.
gard for the interests and prosperity of all the
people demand that our finances shall be es-
fahl
basis as shall secure the safety and confidence
of business interests, and make the wage of
labor sure and steady, and that our system of
revenue shall be so adjusted as to relieve the
people from unnecessary taxation, having a
due regard to the interest of capital invested
and workingmen employed in American in
dustries, and preventing the accumulation of
a surplus in the treasury to tempt extrava-
gance and waste. Care for the property of
the nation an1 for the needs of future settlers
require that the public domain should be pro-
tected from purloining schemes and unlawful
occupation.
The conscience of the people demands that
the Indians within our boundaries shall be
fairly and honestly treated as wards of the
government, and their education and civiliza-
ton promoted, with view to their ultimate
citizenship, and that polygamy in the terri
tories, destructive of the family relation and
offensive to the moral sense of the civilized
world, shall be repressed. The laws should
be rigidly enforced which prohibit the immi-
grafton of servile class to compete with
American labor, with no intention of acquir-
ing citizenship, and bringing with them and
retaining habits and customs repugnant to our
civilization.
The people demand reform in the admins
tration of the government and the application
Of huof nj fo IN off
means to this end civil-serviee reform should
be in good faith enforced. Our citizens have
the right to protection from the incompeteney
of public employees who hold their places
solely as the reward of partisan service, and
from the corrupting influence of those who
promise, and the vicious methods of those
who expect such rewards. And those who
worthily seek public employment have the
right to insist that merit and competency
shall be recognized, instead of party subser-
viency or the surrender of honest political be-
lief.
In the administration of a government
pledged to do equal and exact justice to all
men there should be no pretext for anxiety
touching the protection of the freedmen in
their rights or their security in the enjoyment
of their privileges under the constitution and
its amendments. All discussion as to their
fitness for the place accorded to them as
American citizens is idle and Improbable ex-
cept as it suggests the necessity for their i'm
provement The fact that they are citizens
entities them to all the rights due to that re-
lation, and charges them with all its duties,
obligations and responsibilities.
These topics, and the constant and ever
varying wants Of an active aud enterprising
may wellreceive the attention and
the patriotic endeavor of all who make and
f,1n 1,4,oc
practical, and call for industrious application,
an intelligent perception of the claims of pub
lie office, and, above all, firm determination,
by united action, to secure to all the people |
of the land the full benefits of the best form
of government ever vouchsafed to man. And
let us not trust to human efforts Alone but
humby acknowledging the power and good
ness of Almighty God, who presides over the |
destiny of nations, and who has at all times |
been revealed in our country's history, let US
invoke His aid and His blessing upon our
labors.
TAKING THE OATH OF OFFICE.
As the President-elect concluded his adj |
dress, which occupied about twenty four
minutes in its delivery, he turhed towards the
Chief Justice with the announcement that he I
was ready to take the oath Of office, Every
body uncovered their heads, and a remarkable |
stiffness followed as the Chief Justice read
the oath of office. The President repeated
every word of the oath, and when he kissed
the Bible did so with an earnestness charae-
teristie of the man..
The Bible used was one that has belonged
to the family of President Cleveland for many
years. 1t is a small Bible, of plain binding,
with giIded edges, about three by FIVE inches
in size. There was no intention of the Chief
Justice to open the book at any particular
place, and no desire of President Cleveland
that there should be anything prearranged
about the ceremony in any way The partic-
llar place where he kissed therefore, was the
result of accident entirely. As the type used
IN the Bible is small, the lips of the President
.ouohed FIVE verses of the 18TH Psalms from
verse s to verse 10, inelusiva They arc az
follows!
ga good man showeth favor and lendeth;
ne will guide his affairs with discretion.
'Surely he shall not be moved forever; the
righteous shall be in everlasting remem.
Oranee.
ale shall not be afraid of evil tidings; his
1eart is fixed trusting in the Lord.
''His heart is established; he shall not be
sfraid, until he see his desire upon his enc
MES
d''He hath dispersed, he hath given to the
poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his
lorn shall be exalted with honor.
''The wicked shall see it, and be grieved;