Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1889-03-09
ERN sTANDAEp- McMlNNVLLE UNCONSTITUTIONAL 1885,

w ~ w iSNO''1 'NiNhRNi N'N NANNY
and to our people spirit offraternity
and love of righteousnessand peace.
This occasion derives peculiar in
terest from the fact that the presiden-
tial term which begins this day is
the twenty sixth under our constitu.
ton. The first Inauguration of Presi-
dent Washington took place in New
York, where congress, was then sit
ting, on the 30th day of April, 1889,
having been deferred by reason 0fde-
lays att, nding the organization of the
congress and the canvass of the elec
tOral vote. Our people have already
worthily observed the centennials of
the declaration of independence, of
the battle of Yorktown and of the
adoption of the constitution, and will
shortly celebrate in New York the
Institution of the second great depart
ment of our constitutional scheme of
government. When the centennial
of the institution Of the judicial de-
partment, by the organization of the
supreme court, shall have been
suitably obser we'd, as i trust it will
be, our nation will have fully entered
its second century.
] will not attempt to note the
marvellous and, in great part, history
contrasts between our country as it
steps over the threshold into its second
century of organized expense under
the constitution and that weak but
wisely-ordered young nation that
looked undauntedly down the first
century, when all its years stretched
out before it.
The territory of Dakota has now a
population greater than any of the
original states Except Virginia) and
greater than the aggregate of five of
the smaller states in 1890. The centre
of population, when our national
capital was located, was east of Balti-
more, and it was argued by many
well-informed persons that it would
move eastward rather than westward.
Yet in 1880 it was found to be near
Cincinnati, and the new census about
to be taken will show another stride
to the westward. That which was
the body has come to be only the
rich fringe Of the nations robe. But
our growth has not been limited to
territory, population and aggregate
wealth, marvellous as it has been il
each of those directions. The masses
of our people are better fed, clothed
and housed than their fathers were.
The facilities for popular education
have been vastly enlarged and more
generally diffused. The virtues Of
courage and patriotism have given
recent proof of their continued
presence and increasing power il the
hearts and over the lives of oul
people. The influences of religion
have been multiplied and strength
ened. The sweet offices of charity
have greatly increased. The virtue
of temperance is held in higher
estimation. We have not attained
an ideal constitution. Not all OF oul
people are happy and prosperous; no
all of them are virtuous and law
abiding. But on the whole, the op
pOrtunities offered the individual t
secure the comforts Of life are bette
than are found elsewhere, and ar,
largely better than they were hun
dred years ago.
/ have altogether rejected TIN
suggestion of special eXecutiv
: policy for any section of our country
1t is the duty of the executive to ad
minister and enforce, in the method
and by the instrumentalities pointe'
out and provided by the constitution
all the laws enacted by, congress
These laws are general and their ad
ministration should not elect wha
laws he will obey, neither may tn
: executive elect which he will enforce
The duty to obey and to execut
2 embraces the constitution in its er
| tirety and the whole code of law
! enacted under it. The evil eXampl
= of permitting individuals, corporf
lions or communities to nullify tn
: laws because they cross some selfis
g or local interests or prejudices is flu
of danger, not only to the nation q
I large, but much more TO those VIII
e use this pernicious expedient t
escape their just obligations or [
r obtain an unjust advantage owe
: others. They will presently then
T selves be compelled to appeal to tn
law for protection, and those VIII
e would use the law as a defense mus