Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1889-03-05
The Oath a Mutual Covenant Be-
tween Him and the People.
OUR CoUNTRY's PROGRESS.
1t Begins lis Second Century with a
Good Record.
HE SPEAKS FOR PROTECTION.
No Special Executive Policy for ANY
Section Of the Land.

cit Is the Duty of the Executive to Adj
minister and Enforce All the Laws En-
acted by Congress" - He Thinks the
Naturalization Laws should BE Amend
ed-The Foreign PolIcy-Necessity for
the Neutrality of the Panama Canal.
The Rights OF American Citizens, wher-
ever They May lie. should BE Protect
ed, and the Star spangled Banner Must
Be Treated with Respectable Civil
Service Laws to he Enforced-A Good
Navy Needed-The Admission of the
New states-Other Matters.
There is no constitutional or legal require
ment that the president shall take the oath of
Office in the presence of the people. But there
Is 50 manifest an appropriateness in the public
induction 10 office of the chief executive officer
of the nation that, from the beginning of the
government the people, to whose service the
official oath consecrates the officer, have been
called TO witness the solemn ceremonial. The
oath taken in the presence of the people be-
comes a mutual covenant-the officer cove
nants TO serve the whole body of the people
by faithful execution of the laws so that
they may be the unfailing defense and secur-
ity of those who respect and observe them,
and that neither wealth. station nor the power
of combinations shall be able to evade their
just penalties or to wrest them from benef-
Gent public purpose to serve the ends of
cruelty or selfshness.
My promise is spoken; yours unspoken, but
not the less real and solemn. The people of
every state have here their representatives.
Surely do not misinterpret the spirit of the
occasion when / assume that the whole body
of the people covenant with me and with each
other today to support and defend the consti-
tuition and the union of the states, to yield
willing obedience to all the laws and each to
every other citizen his equal civil and polit-
ical rights. Entering thus solemnly into COW
enant with each other, we may reverently in
woke and confidently expect the favor and
help of Almighty God-that he will give to
me wisdom, strength and fidelity and to our
people a spirit of fraternity and love of
Righteousness and peace.
THE TwENTY-sIxTH PRES IDENTIAL TERN.
This occasion derives peculiar interest from
the fact that the presidential term, which be-
gins this day, is the twenty-sixth under our
constitution. The first Inauguration of Presi-
dent Washington took place in New York,
where congress was then sitting, ON the 30th
day of April, 1882 having been deferred by
reason Of delays attending the organization
of the congress and the canvass of the elect
oral vote. Our people have already worthily
opened the centennials of the declaration of
independence, OF the battle of Yorktown, and
OF the adoption of the constitution, and win
shortly celebrate in New York the insti tuition
of the second great department of our consti-
tutional scheme of government When the
centennial of the institution of the judicial
department, by the organization of the SUI
preme court, shall have been suitably observed,
as trust it viii be, our nation will have fully
entered its second century,
/ will not attempt to note the marvellous,
and, in great part, happy contrasts between
our country as it steps over the threshold into
its second century of organized existence
under the constitution, and that weak but
wisely ordered young nation that looked UNI
dauntedly down the first century, when all
its years stretched out before il.
Our people win not fail at this time to re-
cali the incidents which accompanied the in
stitution of government under the constitu-
ton or to find inspiration or guidance in the
teachings and example of Washington and
his great associates, and hope and courage in
the contrast which thirty-eight popular and
prosperous states offer 10 the thirteen states,
weak in everything except courage and the
love of liberty, that then fringed our Attain
tic seaboard.
PROGRESS OF THE COUNTRY.
The territory of Dakota has now popula-
ton greater than any of the original states
texcept Nirginia), and greater than the ag-
gregate of the five smaller states in 1890
The center of population, when our ma
tional capital was located, was east of Balti-
more, and it was agreed by 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, viii show another stride TO the
westward That which was the body has
come to be only the rich prize of the nations
robe.
But our growth has not limited itself to
territory population and aggregate wealth,
marvellous as it has been in each Of those
directions The masses of our people are bet
ter fed. clothed aid housed than their fathers
were The facilities for popular education
have been vastly enlargeCfand more generally
diffused The virtues of courage and patriot
ism have given recent proof of their continued
presence and increasing power IN the hearts
and over the lives of our people. The infiu-
ences of religion have been multiplied and
strengthened.
Thesweet Offices of charity have greatly
increased. The virtue of temperance Is
held in higher estimation. We have not at
tanned an ideal condition Not all Of our
people are happy and prosperous: not al Of
them are virtn1us ami Law abiding. But, On
the whole. tie opportunities offered = the In
dividnal O. secure Tire cumforts q life are
better Than are fcunl elsewhere and largely
better than they were hczu Ono huukned
ysaungu