San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1885-03-12
CLEVELAND.
OUR NEW wPRESlDENT'S INAUGURAL.

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In the presence Of this vast assem-
blage of my countrymen, am about
to supplement and seal, by the oath
which / shall take, the manifestation
of the will of great and free people,
In the experience OF their power and
right Of self government they have
committed to one OF their fellow citi-
zens supreme and sacred trust, and
he here consecrates himself to their
service. This impressive ceremony
adds little to the solemn responsible
ity with which / contemplate the
duty / owe to all the people of this
land. Nothing can relieve me from
the anxiety that by any act of mine,
their intrests may suffer- and nothing
is needed to strengthen my resolution
to engage every faculty and effort in
the promotion of their welfare. Amid
party strife the peoples choice was
made, but its attendant circumstanc-
es have demonstrated anew the
strength and safety OF governement
by the people.
THE DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLE.
In each succeeding year it more
clearly appears that our democratic
principle needs no apology and that
in it's fearless and faithful application,
is to be found the surest guaranty OF
good government But the the best
results in the operation of government
where in every citizen has share,
largely depend upon the proper limi.
tation of purely partisan zeal and
effort, and correct appreciation OF
the time when partisanship should be
merged into patriotism of the citizens.
To-day the executive branch ofgovorn-
ment is transferred to new keeping,
but this is still the government OF all
the people, and it should be on that
account none the less the object OF
their affectionate 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 un-
grudging acquiescence in the popu-
lar will and by a conscientious con
cern for the general veal. Moreover,
if, from this hour we cheerfully and
honestly abandon all sectional preju-
dice and distrust, and determine with
manly confidence in one another, to
work out tremendously the achieve
ment of our national destiny, we shall
deserve to realize all the benefits
which our happy form OF government
can bestow.
ON THIS AUspIoIoUs OCCASION
we may well renew the pledge OF our
devotion to the constitution which
was launched by the founders of the
republic and consecrated by their
prayers and patriotic devotion, and
has for almost century borne the
hopes and aspirations of a great
people through prosperity and peace,
through the shock of foreign conflicts
and the perils of domestic strife and
vicissitude. BY the Father OF His
Country our constitution was COM
mended for adoption as the ''result OF
amity and mutual concession. In
that same spirit it should be admin
istered in order to promote the last
ing welfare of the country and to
secure the full measure of it's price
less benefits to us and those who will
succeed to the blessings of our ma
tional life. The large variety OF di
verse and competing 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 the national Legislature that spirit
of amity and mutual concession shall
prevail, in which the constitution had
it's birth; if this involves the surren
der or the postponement OF private
interests, and the Abandonment of
advantages remuneration will be found
in the thought that the common in.
terest, is subserved, and the general
welfare advanced.
In the discharge of my official
duty l shall endevaor to be guided by
a Just and unstrained construction OF
the constitution, careful observance
of the distinction between thepowers
granted to the federal government
and those reserved to tue states or TO
the people, and by cautious appreci-
alton of those functions which, by
constitution and law, have been es-
pecially assigned to the executive
branch of the government But he
who takes the oath to day to preserve,
protect and defend the constitution
of the United States only assumes
the solemn obligation which every
patriotic citizen on the farm. in work
shop. and the busy man Of trade
everywhere should have with him.
The constitution which prescribes
his oath. my countryneu- Is yours
The government you have chosen
him 70 administer for q time Is yours.
The suffrage which executes the will
of freemen is yours The laws, with
the entire scheme Of our civil rule
from the town meeting 10 the state
capitols and national capitOi-are
yours. Every voter as surely as
every chief magistrate under The same
hivh sanction. though in a different
spaers. exercises . public trust Nor
j. tins AL; every citizen owes 70 the
counfrva viEilant watch aud clOse