The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-03-11
President Cleveland's Inaugural
Address.

This impressive ceremony adds little to
he solemn sense of possibility with
which contemplate the duty owe 10 ali the
people Of the land; nothing can relieve me
from anxiety lest by any act of mine their
interests Say suffer. and nothing Is needed +
10 strengthen my resolution 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 cir I
cumstances have demonstrated anew the
strength and safety of a government by /
the people. In each succeeding year 1t
more clearly appears that our democratic
principle needs no apology, and that In its
fearless and faithful application Is to be
found the surest guarantee Of good govern
ment.
But the best results n the operation of a
government, wherein every citizen has a
share largely depend upon proper limi-
tation OF purely partizan 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 gov
eminent Is transferred to new keeping
But this Is still the government of all the
people, and 1t should be none the less an
object of their affectionate soicitude. At
this hour the animosities of political strife,
the bitterness of partisan defeat, and the
exultation of partisan triumph should be
supplented by an ungrudging acquiescence
in the popular will and a sober. couscien-
tons concern for the general veal. More
over, If from this hour we cheerfully and
honestly abandon all sectional prejudice
and distrast, and determine with manly
confidence in one another to work ont har-
moniouslY the achievements of our national
destiny. we shall deserve to realize all the
benefits which our happy form of govern
ment can bestOw.
On this auspiciOus occasion We may we'll
renew the pledge Of our devotion to the
Constitution. which. launched by the fouu-
ders OF the Republic and consecrated by
their prayers and patriotic devotion, 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 the perils of
domestic strife and vicIssitudes.
BY the Father of his Country our Consti-
tuition was commended for adoption as
the result of a spirit of amity aud mutual
concession" In that same spirit it should
1 be administered in order TO promote the
| lasting welfare of the country, and to Sc
cure the full measure of its priceless ben
4 eats to US and to those who viii succeed to
1 the blessings 81 our national life. The
| large variety of diverse and competing IN
| terests subject to Federal control, persist
emily seeking the recognition of their
claims, need give us no fear that 1.-The
| greatest good to the greatest number" will
| fail to be accomplished if in 5he halls of
national legislation that spirit of amity
and 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 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 just and
unstrained construction of the Constitu-
| ton, a careful observance of the distinc-
| ton between the powers granted to the
Federal Government and those reserved tC
the State or to the people, and by a cautious
appreciation of those functions which, by
the Constitution and laws, have been es
pecially assigned to the executive 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, il
the busy marts of trade, and everywhere
should share with him. The Constitution
which prescribes his oath, my countrymen
| is yours; the Government you have chosen
| him to administer for a time is yours; the
suffrage which executes the will of freemeI
is yours; the laws and the entire scheme O
our civil rule, from the town meeting t.
the State apitols and the National Capitol
Is yours. Your every voter, as surely al
your Chief Magistrate, under the sans
high sanction, though in a different sphere
exercises a public trust. Nor is this all
Every citizen owes to the country vigilan
watch and close scrutiny of its public ser
wants, and a fair and reasonable estimat,
of their fidelity and usefulness. Thus j
the peoples will impressed upon the Who'll,
framework of our civil polity-municipa
State, and Federal-and this is the price o
our liberty and the inspiration of our faitl
in the Republic.
/ It is the duty of those serving the PEG
pie in public place to closely limit publ
expenditures to the actual needs of tn
Government economically administered
because this bounds the right of the Gov
eminent to exact tribute from the earning
of labor or the property of the citizen
and because public extravaganza beget
extravaganza among the people. W
should never be ashamed of the simpIicit-
and prudential economies which are hes
suited to the operation of a republican
form OF government, and most com patibl
with the mission of the American people
Those who are selected for limited tim
to manage public affairs are still of tn
people, and may do much by their example
to encourage, consistently with the dignit
of their official functions, that plain wa,
of life which among their fellow citizen
aids integrity and promotes thrift ant
prosperity.
The genius of our institutions, the need
of our people in their home life, and tn
attention which is demanded for the settle
ment and development of the resources O
our vast territory, dictate the scrupulou
avoidance of any departure from tina
foreign policy commended by the history
the traditions, and the prosperity of our Re
public. 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 ou
interests. 1t IS the policy of neutrality
rejecting any share in foreign broils anC
ambitions upon other continents, and re
polling their intrusion here. It Is the pol
icy of Monroe and of Washington anC
Jeferson-''Peace, commerce, and homes
friendship with all nations; entanglin1
alliance with none"
A due regard for the interests and pros
perity of all the people demand that oul
finances shall be established upon such
sound and sensible basis as shall secur,
the safety and confidence of business in
terests and make the wage of labor sur,
ff.f
shall be so adjusted as to relieve the people
of unnecessary taxation, having due re.
gard to the interests of capital invested
and workingmen employed in American
industries, and preventing the accumula
ton of a surplus in the Treasury to tempt
extravaganza and waste. Care for the
property of the nation and for the needs
of future settlers require that public do
main shall be protected from purloinine
schemes and unlawful occupation.
The conscience of the people demands
that the Indians within our boundarie.
| shall be fairly and honestly treated a.
wards of the Government, and their educa-
ton and civilization promoted, with view
TO their ultimate citizenship; and that po-
lygamy in the Territories, destructive oil
the family relation and offensive to the
moral sense of 1.-THE civilized world, shall
1 De fepressed. The laws should be rlgldlJ
enforced which prohibit the immigration
of seryile class to compete with American
labor, with no intention of acquiring citi-
zenship, and bringing with them and re-
| tanning habits and customs repugnant to
our civilization
The people demand reform in the admin
istration of the Government and the appli-
cation of business principles to public af-
/ fairs. AS a means to this end, civil service
reform should be in good faith enforced.
Our citizens have the right 10 protection
from the incompetency of public employees
who hold their places solely as the reward