The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-13
GOVERNOR aRAY's INAUGURAL,


The address of Hon. Isaac P. Gray upon
his Inauguration yesterday as Governor of
Indiana is 8 State paper of decided merit. 1t
Is something more than the conventional &C.
ceptance of q public trust; it deals with prin-
ciples which should permeate legislation
and exhorts the lawmakers TO their OBJ
servance. His approach to gubernatorial
duties he briefly defines is with q de.
termination to perform the duties of the
office faithfully for the public good" A
volume of promises could express no more.
He tells the legislators they are convened
Ito enact such laws as will promote educa-
ton, suppress vice and immortality, punish
crime, protect the rights of person and prop
erty, advance the general welfare of the
people and the prosperity of the 5tats;' and
tersely reminds them that "a republican
form of government can not endure longer
than simplicity, integrity and economy
characterize its administration and fidelity
msrks the conduct of its public servants"
These are true sayings and worthy of all
acceptstion. They are timely, too, remsm-
beriDg how far our National lie sislatiou has,
within recent years, veered from these ex-
allied standards and been prostituted to
venal schemes for class and individual bene-
it, rather than "for the general welfare of
the peopls." In the simplicity and direct
ness of these and succeeding utterances
there is SAVIOR of the refreshing political
atmosphere augured in the apt figure of our
ocean of politics swept by the TEMPEST OF
tbs late campaign, eliminating impure ele-
ments from the political waters.
Governor Gray puts the question "whether
legislation has not been too much in the
interest of capital and wealth and against
the industrial masses OF the country" and
in the same connection points to the de-
velopment and fostering of railway and
other corporate bodies of vast wealth By
government aid" and 1.-THE aggregation of
the money of our country in various COM
binations of power" While these evils have
been wrought in the Federal halls of legisla-
ton, it was yet for the Chief Magistrate of
the State, upon entering his office, to cite
the people TO them, that their influence may
be thrown against any continuation of such
abuses.
The several matters brought to the atten-
ton of the Legislature all deserve its con-
siderstion. The alien law, if open TO the
criticism his query indicates, should
promptly receive the careful review of the
Judiciary Committees. The same may be
said of the question raised in the address "a
to The function OF the Supreme Court Com
missioners. The strong and ever growing
sentiment IN the State for fostering her
higher institutions of learning, as we'll as
the common public system, will endorse the
recommen dation in behalf of the Indiana
University, while the honor in which the
memory of the heroes of the war is held will
appeal for prompt recognition of the sug-
gestion that Indiana mark the ground at
Gettysburg where some of our volunteer
soldiery fought and fell.
Whether Indiana, as a State, will derive
any benefit from participation in the
Worlds Exposition az New Orleans is a
question which will be subordinate to q
State pride that she be not behind her lister
States in promoting the success and grand
eur Of the enterprise which has now assumed
National importance. But should the man
agement of the Exposition, as Is now con-
templated, invite an organized reunion
of Federal and Confederate soldiers
Of the war, we sincerely trust that
Indiana shall be we'll represented
in that congregation. The spectacle
Of veterans who fought each other in that
wsr, mingliDg together as brothers amidst
the products of the arts of peace from all the
States whose sons they are, would surely tie
the tongues and render inert the pens that
would longer continue dissensions between
the sections
AL in all, Governor Grsy's inaugural ad-
dress challenges cordial approval. It is
liberal and patriotic in sentiment, wise in
its suggestions and admirable for its force
and grace of diction. Ii is paper which
wortbiiy deserves recording with the archives
of Indiana.