Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-03-04

lily augmented for eeyerai days, the trains
and boats having been kept busy, and to-
day Pennsylvania avenue presented mass
of moving humari!y The decorations have
been Of the most elaborate character, and
nothing was omitted calculated to render
Gen. Harrison's inauguration q memorable
occasion. The weather, though, had de
pressing eGsci upon everybody and every
thing. Gen Harrison, after taking the oath
of oilice to day, delivered the following nd
dress
THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
There is no constitutional OF legal require
ment that the President shall take the oath
of office in The presence of the eople. But
there is so manifest an appropriateness in
the public induction to cilice of the Chief
Executive officer of the Nation that from
the beginning Of the government the pso-
pie, to whose service the official oath conse
crates the officer, have been called to wit
uess the solemn ceremonial. The oath
taken In the presence of the people becomes
mutual coVenaat-the officer covenants to
serve the whole body OF the people By
faithful execution of the laws, so 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 combiuaiiors shall be able to eVade their
lust penalties or TO wrest them from bene
licent pubic purpose TO serve the ends of
cruelty or seifi-hness. My promise is
spokei; yours unspoken-but not the less
real ana solemn. The people OF every State
tn
dc not misinterpret the spirit Of the occa
sion when | assume that the whole body oi
the pc ople covenant with me and with each
o. her 10 day 10 support and defend the Con-
stitu,ion and the Uuion of the States 10
weld willing obedience to all the laws and
each to every other citiZ-n his equal civil
and political rights Catering thus solemnly
into covenant with each other We may
reverently hope and confidently expect the
favor and help of almighty God-thst he
will give to me wisdom, strength and lidel-
| i,y, and to orr people spirit Of fraternity
aad love OF Righteousness and peace.
This occasion derives peculiar interest
f. ON thu fact that the Presidential term
hch begins this day, is the twenty sixth
under our Constitution. The first inaugu
ration Of President Washington took place
in New York, where Congress was then sit
ting, on the so h dag OF April, 1889, having
been deferred by reason Of delays attending
the organization Of the Congress and the
canvass of the electoral vote. Our people
have already worlhily observed the centen-
mails Of the Declaration OF Independence, OF
the Battle OF Yorktown, and OF the adop
ton of The Constitution; and will shortly
celebrate in New York the institution of the
second great department OF cur constitu-
!onal 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 OBJ
served, as trust it will be, our nation viii
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 exist
ence under the Constitution, and that weak
but wisely ordered young nation that looked
undauuledly down The first century, when
all its years stretched out before it.
Our people will not fail al this time to re-
call tho Incidents which accompanied the
institution of government under the Con-
stituiOn or to find inspiration and guidance
in the teachings and example OF Washing
ton and his great associates, and hope and
courage in the contrast which thirty EIGHT
popuious and prosperous States cfier TO The
thirteen States, weak in everything except
courage and the love OF liberty, that then
f,ineed our Atlantic seaboaTd.
TIE territory OF Dakota has now p0pu
ialion greater thau any Of the original
States except Virginia and greater than
he aggregate of five of the smaller States
in 1880. The centre OF population, when
cur national Capital was located. was east
Of Baltimore, and it WAS argued by many
we'll informed persons that il would move
eastward rather than west ward. Yet IN
1850 it YVES found to be near Cincinnati. and
the new census, about to he taken, will
show another stride 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, popula
ton and aggregate wealth, marvellous as il
has been in each Of those directions. The
masses If our people are better fed, clothed
and housed than their fathers were. The
facilities for popular education have been
yasily enlarged and more generally diff
fused. The virtues Of courage aud patriot
ism have given recent proof OF their con-
tinued presence and increasing power in
the hearts and over the lives Of our people.
The i, nlences OF religion have been multi
piled and strengthened. The sweet Offices
OF charity have greatly increased.
The virtue OF temperance is held in higher
estimation. We have not attained an ideal
condition. Not all OF our people are happy
and prosperous; not all Of them are virtu
Gus and law abiding. BIT, on the whole.
the opportunities oflsred to the individual
to secure the comforts OF life are better
than are found elsewhere and largely bet
ter than they were one hundred years ago
The surrender of large measure Of SOW
ereigny to the General Government effect
ed By the adoption of the Constitution, was
not accomplished until the suggestions OF
reason were strongly reinforced by the more