Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-03-14
Tho inaugural Address.

A procession was formed and proceeded
to the platform on the east capitol steps
where the oath of office was administered
by Chief Justice Fuller and President
Harrison delivered the following address:
Fellow Citizens: There is no constitutional or
legal requirements that the President shall
take the oath of once in the presence Of the
people. But there is SO manifest an appro-
priateness In the public induction to office OF
tho chief executive oflcer OF the Nation that
from the beginning of the Government the peo-
pie to whose service the Official oath conse-
crates the offlcer, have been called to witness
the solemn ceremonial
The oath taken in the presence OF the people
bee, mes mutual covenant-the officer coven
ants to sew the whole body of the people by u
faithful execution of the laws, that they
may be the unfailing defense and security of
those who respect and observe them. and that
neither wealth, station. nor the power OF COM
binations shall be able to evade their just
penalties or to wrest them from benefcent
public purpose to serve the ends of cruelty or
selfishaess.
My promise is spoken, yours unspoken-but
not the less real and solemn. The people Of
every State have here their representatives
Surely I do not misinterpret this occasion
when assume that the whole body of the peo-
pie covenant with me and with each other to-
day to support and defend the Constitution and
the Union of the States. to yield willing obedi-
ence to oil the laws and each to every other cit
izen his equal civil and political rights.
Entering thus solemn!y into covenant with
each other we may reverently invoke and con-
fdentlv expect the favor and help of Almighty
GOd-that He Will give to me wisdom. strength
and fidelity and to our people spirit OF frater-
nifty and q love of righteousness and peace.
This occasion derives peculiar interest from
the fact that the Presidential tern which be-
gins this day is the twenty-sixth under our
Constitution. The first Inauguration Of Presi-
dent Washington took place New York
where Congress was then sitting. on the SJth
day Of April 1883. having been deferred by
reason OF delays attending the organization OF
COngress and the canvass OF the Electoral vote
Our people have already worthily observed the
centennial OF the Declaration OF Independence,
Uf the battle Of yorktown and OF the adoption
Of the Constitution: and viii shortly celebrate
In New York the institution of the sec0nd great
department OF our constitutional scheme Of
government When the centennial OF the insti-
tuition Of the judicial depafs1i ent by the organ
ization OF the Supreme Court shall have been
suitably observed - trust IL will ., our Ma
ton VIII have fully entered its second century.
/ win not attempt to note the marvellous and.
in great part. happy contrasts between our
country - IL steps over the threshold OF its
second century Of Organized existence under
the Constitution. and that weak but wisely or
dered young Nation that looked undsuntedly
down che nrst century, whom all its years
stretched out before it.
the incidents which accompanied the institu-
ton OF government under the Constitution or
to find inspiration and guidance In tho teach
ings and example Of Washinxtou and his great
associates. and hope and courage In tho con-
trast which thirty eight populous and prosper
Gus States ofIer 20 the thirteen States. weak In
every thing except courage and the love Of lib
ersy, that then fringod our Atlantic seaboard.
The Territory Of Dakota has now . population
gxeater than any Of the original States Except