The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1889-03-13
President HarTison's inaugural


President HarTison's inaugural.
II additional proof was necessary of
the sound craftsmanship of President
Harrison than that furnished by him
during the campaign, it was produced
in the admirable message with which
his administration was inaugurated.
Previous to our issue of last week we
had scarcely time To read IL, and no
time To digest or comment upon it..
The document is no more remarkable
than many of the hundreds of speeches
made by Mr. Harrison To visiting dele
cations; nevertheless it evinces more
clearly than any preceding utterance
his ability to rise above the partisan
and speak To the nation from the high
plane of patriotism which he occupies,
and the spirit of which he breathes in
every sentence.
In recognition of mans weakness, the
president "reverently invokes
and confidently expects the favor and
help of Almighty God-that He will
and to our people spirit of fraternity
and a love of righteousness and peace"
He has no distinctive executive policy
towards the south, but will require
that the rights of all men be respected
and the laws enforced and obeyed in all
sections. Says he:
"As a citizen may not elect what laws
he will obey, neither may the executive
elect which he will enforce"
The protective system is as old as the
constitution, and was recognized as
wise policy by the founders of the re.
public, and 1.-The
revival at the end of the century of the
same patriotic interest in the presrrva-
ton and development of domestic in
dustrieS, and the desense of our work
ing people against injurious foreign
competition, is an incident worthy Of
attention. 1t is not departure, but
return that we have witnessed"
Only because of the existence of slav-
cry was the protective policy ever made
sectional one, and there was this
reason
"only why the states that divide with
Pennsylvania the mineral treasures of
the great southeastern and central |
mountain ranges should have been so
tardy in bringing to the smelling fur
mace and the mill the coal and iron |
from their near opposing hillsides. Mill |
fires were lighted at the funeral pile of |
slavery. The emancipation proclama-
ton was heard in the depths of the |
o,.tb 10 Il
made free, and material things became
our better servants"
The Monroe doctrine, broadened TO
meet the requirements of to-day, will
be the policy of his administration and
in view of the cutting of ship canals
across the isthmus, he says
ut is so manfestly incompatible
with those precautions for our peace
and safety, which all the great powers
habitually observe and enforce i'm mat
tiers affecting them, that "A shorter water
way between our eastern and western
seaboards should be dominated by any
European government, that we may
confidently expect that such purpose
will not be entertained by any friendly
power"
While we should endeavor TO main
tain and enlarge our friendly relations
with all the great powers, yet
"they will not expect us TO look kindly
upon any project that would leave us
subject TO the dangers of hostile OBJ
servation or environment. We have not
sought to dominate or TO absorb any of
our weaker neighbors, but rather to aid
and encourage them TO establish free
and stable governments, resting upon
the consent of their own people We
have a clear right TO expect, therefore,
that no European government will seek
10 establish colonial dependencies upon
the territory of these Independent
American states"
Bismarck, and others interested will
bear in mind that the necessities Of our
navy
"require convenient coaling stations.
and dock and harbor, privileges These
and other trading privileges we will feel
free to obtain only by means that i'm no
degree partakes of coercion, howev-
CT feeble the government from which
we ask such concessions But, having
fairly obtained them by methods and
for purposes entirely consistent with
the most friendly disposition towards
all other powers, our consent will be