Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1889-03-08
President Harrison's Inaugural.

ol VIC uay W tne uiStlhy Vi inc HulIltuueS
that thronged the national capital to wit
ness the ceremonies of the occasion. The
fact that the change of administration was
to be also turning point of the politics and
policy OF the country was well calculated
10 impress the Imagination of the assembled
thousands, and every incident that betoken-
ed the incoming of the new order of things
was observed and discussed with the closest
attention. The inaugural address delivered
at the Capitol was listened to with the ut.
most care, as being likely to disclose, in out
line at least, the main purposes and aims
of the new administration. The address
compares favorably with like compositions
in matter and form. 1t is characterized by
an engaging moderation Of statement, dig
nifty of style and sincerity that must chal-
lenge the approval even of those who strong
| ly oppose the views it expresses. President
Harrison aludes in the outset to the fact that
his term is the twenty sixth under our consti.
tuition, though Washington's Inauguration
was delayed until the Both of April, 1889. He
| is led by this circumstance to review the
changes and contrasts of the first century of
the organized existence of this government.
We have now thirty eight States, populous
and powerful, as against the thirteen OF
Washington's time. The centre of popula.
ton when the national capital was located
was east of Baltimore. In 1880 it was near
| Cincinnati, and the next census will show
a long stride to the westward. The com
parson of the condition of our people now
and then is, in the Presidents opinion, much
TO the advantage Of our own time. We have
grown marvelously in territory, popula-
ton and wealth, but we have grown also in
other things. The masses are better fed i,
clothed and housed. There is more of edu-
cation, courage, patriotism, temperance, re-
ligion and charity, and the opportunity to
secure the comforts of life are better than
| 100 years ago. Yet the earlier day had this
feature, that it was interested in the devei.
opmcnt of home manufactures, and Presi-
dent Harrison finds in the purpose of his
party To raise the average of tariff taxes
above AZ per cent.-as against the Is per
cent. of Washngton's time-"a revival OF
the same patriotic interest in the preserva
ton and development of domestic indus
tries" There was opposition then, as now, he
Comedies to the protective policy, but it was
due chiefly, in his opinion, to the existence
of the slavery in some of the States" The
freeing of the slaves has happily eliminated
the sectional element from the tariff dis
custom All the States may now engage
in manufacturing, and this circumstance
points, in his view, to the growth of the
protectionst sentiment in the South. An
alliance Of the manufacturing interest in the
South with the colored element is suggested
Southern men who accept the tariff views
OF Clay have only, it is suggested, to cour.
agcously avow and defend their real con-
victions, and may hope "by friendly in
struction and cooperation to make the black
man their efficient and safe ally" not only
in securing the future OF protection, but also
in preserving for their local communities the
benefits of social order and economical and
honest government" President Harrison
rejects the suggestion of u special executive
| policy for any section of our country, but
indicates disposition to welcome legisla-
ton looking to federal supervision of con-
gressional elections. He deprecates the eff.
forts of individuals, corporations or com.
munities to nullify inconvenient laws, and
points to the evil effects of such course.
His purpose, it is intimated, is to put down
"violent interference" with rights. A re.
form of election laws is strongly urged, with
the object of securing "the freedom of the
| ballot" Congress has not hitherto taken
control of elections in cases where the con
stitution gives il jurisdiction, but "the inef-
| ficency of the State laws" or the "unIair
or partisan administration of them," de.
mands, in the Presidents view, that it should
now do 50. In the South the inefflciency OF
certain class of voters is much spoken of.
I'll" says the President, sin any of the States
ened by ignorance among the electors, the
obvious remedy is education" He does not,
however, suggest that Congress should de-
fer It's legislation to bring out the coored
vote until the required degree of education
Is obtained. Election frauds, such as those
Of New York and Indiana, are deprecated
in severe terms, and the just view is ex-
pressed that party success achieved by un.
fair methods, or by practices that partake Of
revolution, is hurtful and evanescent even
from party standpoint" Turning from
these great issues, the President advises
modification of our naturalization laws with
the object of restricting the gift of citizen.
ship 70 worthy immigrants; insists upon
the assertion of American predominance
| over the lsthmian canal and the mainte-
nance of rights acquired by this government
in Samoa discredits the idea that treas.
ury surplus is the greatest of evils, and sug.
gests that so much of it as remains after suit.
able reduction ofour revenues may be wisely
spent or used in the purchase of govern
ment bonds. The enlargement of the navy,
the need of more liberal pension laws, and
the admission Of four new States are topics
that are briefly treated.
In regard to the enforcement of the civil
service law, he says 1.-THE duty devoved
by law upon the President TO nominate and
by and with the advice and consent of the
Senate to appoint all public officers whose
appointment is not otherwise provided for
in tbeiconstitution or by act of Congress has
become very burdensome and its wise and
efficient discharge full of difficulty. The
civil list is so large that personal knowl
edge OF amy large number OF applicants is
impossible. The President must rely upon
the representations of others, and these are
often made nconsideratey and without any
Just sense OF responsibility. l have right
/ think, 10 insist that those who volunteer
or are invited to give advice as to appoint
ments shall exercise consideration and fidel-
ity.. A high sense of duty and an ambition
To improve the service should characterize
ail public officers. There are many ways
In which the convenience and comfort of
those who have business with our public
offices may be promoted by a thoughtful
and obliging officer, and shall expect those
whom may appoint to justify their selec.
ton by conspicuous efficiency ia the dis.
charge OF their duties Honorable party
service will certainly not be esteemed by me
disqualification for public office, but IL
will in no case be allowed to serve as a
shield of official negligence, incompetency
or delinquency. 1t is entirely creditable to
seek public Office by proper methods and
with proper motives, and all applicants will
be treated with consideration. But shall
need, and the heads Of departments will
need, time for inquiry and deliberaten. Per
sistent importantly will not, therefore, be
the best support OF an application for office
Heads of departments, bureaus and all other
public officers having any duty connected
Herewith will be expected to enforce the
civil service law fully and without evasion.
Beyond this obvious duty hope to do some
thing more to advance the refor m of the
civil service The ideal or even my own
ideal shall probably not attain. Retro.
spect will be safer basis of judgment than
promises. We shall not, however, am
sure, be able to put our civil service upon
non partisan basis until we have secured an
incumbency that fair minded men of the
opposition will approve for impartiality and
integrity. AS the number of such in the
civil list is increased removals from Office
will diminish"