The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1885-03-14
PRESIDENT cLEvELAND'S IN
AuGURAL ADDRESS,

delivered ut Warrington, March 4, 1880.
FELLOW CITIZENS: In the presence of
this vast assemblage of my countrymen, /
am about to supplement and seal by the
oath which shell take the manifestation
Of the will of great and free people. In
the exercise of their power and right OF
self government they have committed to
one of their fellow citizens supreme and
sacred trust, and he here consecrates him.
self to their service. This impressive cere-
mony adds little to the solemn sense of re-
sponsibility with which I contemplate the
duty owe to all the people of the land'
nothing can relieve Ine from anxiety lest by
any act of mine their interests may suffer,
and nothing is needed to strengthen my res
olution 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 circum-
stances have demonstrated anew the
strength and safety of Government by the
people. In each succeeding year it more
clearly appears that our democratic prin-
ciple needs no apology, and that in it's tear
less and faithful application is to be found
the surest guaranty of good government.
But the best results in the operation of
Government wherein every citizen has
share largely depend upon proper limita
tion Of purely partisan zeal and effort and
a correct appreciation of the time when
the heat Of the partisan shopld be merged
in the patriotism of the citizen.
To-day the executive branch of the Gov
ernment is transferred to new keeping.
But this is still the Government of all the
people, and it should be none the less an
object of affectionate solicitude. AT this
hour the animosities of political strife, the
bitterness of partisan triumph should be
supplanted by an ungrudging acquiescence
in the popular will and sober, conscien-
tious concern for the general veal. More
over, if from this hour we cheerfully and
honestly abandon all sectional prejudice
and distrust and determine, with manly
confidence in one another, to work out 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 found
ers of the Republic and consecrated by
their prayers and patriotic devotion, has
for almost century borne tho hopes and
the aspirations Of a great people through
prosperity and peace and through the shock
of foreign conflicts and the perils of do
mestic strife and vicissitudes. By the Fa-
ther of his Country our Constitution was
commended for adoption as " the result of a
spirit of amity!and mutual concession" In
that same spirit it should be administered,
in order to promote the lasting welfare
of the country and to secure the full meas
ure of its priceless benefits to us and to
those who will succeed to the blessings of
our national 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 II, in
I the halls of national legislation, that spirit
of amity and mutual concession should
prevail in which the Constitution had its
birth. If this involves the surrender or
postponement of private interests and the
abandonment of local advantages, compen-
sation 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 aud un-
strained construction of the Constitution
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
especially assigned to the executive branch
of the Government. But he who takes the
oath to-day to preserve, protect, and de-
fend the Constitution of the United States
only=aasnmes the solemn obligation which
every patriotic citizen, on the farm, in the
I workshop, in 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 fos time il
yours; the suffrage which executes the viii
tof freemen is yours; the laws aud the entire