The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-03-07

body of the people by the faithful execu-
ton 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 power of COM
binations shall be able to evade their Just
penalties or to wrest them from the
benefcent public purpose to serve the
ends of cruelty and selishress. My prom
Use 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 to-day to support and
defend the Constitution and the union of
states; to yield willing obeyanos to all
the laws and each to every other citizen
his equal, civil and political rights. En-
tering thus solemnly into covenant with
each other, we may reverently invoke and
confidently expect the favor and help of
Almighty God that he will give to me wis
dom, strength and fidelity and to our peo-
pie spirit of fraternity and love of right
eousness and peace. This occasion de-
serves peculiar interest from the fact that
the presidential term which begins this
day, is the Twenty-sixth under our Con-
stitution.
THE FIRST INAUGURATION
of President Washington took place in
New York, where congress was then sit
ting, on the Both day of April, 1889, having
been deferred by reason of delays attend
ing the organization of congress and
canvass of the electoral vote. Our people
have already worthily observed the CEN
tennials of the Declaration of Indepen-
dence, of the battle of Yorktown and of
the adoption of the Constitution, and will
shortly celebrate in New York the institu
ton of the second g:eat department of
our constitutional scheme of government
When the centennial of the institution of
the judicial department by the organiza-
ton of the supreme court shall have been
suitably observed, as trust it will be, our
nation will have fully entered its second
century. I will not attempt to note the
marvellous and, in great part, happy con-
trasts between our country as 1t steps over
the threshold into its second century of
organized existence under the Oonstitu
ton, and that weak but wisely ordered
young nation that looked undaunt-
eddy down the first century
when all is years stretched out before it.
Our people will not fail at this time to
recall the incidents which accompanied
the institution of the government under
the Constitution or to find inspiration
and guidance in the teachings and exam
pie of Washington and his great asso-
ciates, and in hope and courage in the
contrast which thirty-eight populous and
prosperous states offer to the thirteen
states weak in everything except courage
and love of liberty that then fringed our
Atlantic seaboard. The territory of Da
kota has now population greater than
any of the original states, except Virginia,
and greater than the aggregate of five of
the smaller states in 1880.
THE CENTER OF POPULATION
when our national capital was located
was east of BsltimOre,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 Gin
oinnati, and the new census about to be
taken will show another stride to the west
ward. That which was the body has come
to be only the rich fringe of the nations
robe. But our growth has not been lin
tied to territory, population and aggregate
wealth, marvellous as it has been in 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 en-
larged and more generally diffused. The
virtues of courage and patriotism nave
given recent proof of their continued
presence and increasing power in the
hearts and over the lives of our people.
The influence of religion has been multi
piled and strengthened. The sweet Of
fees 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 virtuous and law-abiding. But,
on the whole, the opportunities offered
the individual to secure the comforts of
life are better than are found elsewhere,
and largely better than they were one
hundred years ago.
sURRENDFR OF SOVEREIGNTY.
The surrender of large measure of
sovereignty to the general government
effected by the adoption of the Constitu-
ton was not accomplished until the
suggestions OF reason were strongly re-
inforced by the more imperative voice of
experience. The divergent interests of
peace speedily demanded a "more perfect
union" The merchant, shipmaster and
manufacturer discovered and disclosed to
our statesmen and to tt people that COM
mercial emancipation must be added to
political freedom, which had been 30
bravely won. The commercial policy of
the mother country had not relaxed any
: of its hard and oppressive features. To
} hold in check the development Of our
commercial marine, to prevent or retard
the establishment of the growth of manu-
features in the states and SO to secure
the American market for their shops
3 and the carrying trade for their
3 ships, was the policy of European states
men and was pursued with most selfish
vigor. Petitions poured in upon congress
T urging the imposition of discriminating
D duties that should encourage the produc
q ton of needed things at home. The pa