Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-03-08
A Csntuy's Growth OF the Nation.
Protection of American Industry,
AND OF AMERICAN INTERESTS ABROAD.

enant--the officers covenant TO serve the
whole body Of the people by a 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 pow
er OF combinations shall be able to evade
their just penalties or to wrest them from
a beneficient public purpose to serve the
ends OF cruelty or selfishness. My prom
Use is spoken yours unspoken-but not
the less real and solemn. The people OF
every state have here their representa-
tives. 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 the State. to yield willing
obedience to all the laws and each other
citizen his equal, civil and political rights.
Entering thus solemnly into covenant
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 aid fidelity,
and TO our people spirit OF fraternity
and love OF righteousness and peace.
This occasion derives peculiar interest
from the fact that the presidential term,
which begins this day. is the twenty-sixth
under our Constitution. The first inaug-
uraton Of President Washington took
place in New York, where Congress was
then sitting. on the Both day OF April,
1889. having been deferred by reason OF
delays attending the organization OF the
! Congress and the canvass OF the electoral
vote. Gu. people have already worthily
observed the centennials Of the Declare
ton 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 sec
ond great department. OF our constitutions
al scheme OF government. When the
centennial OF the institution OF the judi
cial department, by the organization Of
the Supreme Court, shall have been suit
ably observed, as trust it will be, our
nation will have fully entered its second
century.
will not attempt to note the marvel
GUS and, in great part, happy contrasts
between our country as 1t steps over the
threshold into its second century Of or
ganized existence 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 il.
Our people will not fail at this time to
recall the incidents which accompanied
the institution Of government under the
Constitution, or 10 find inspiration and
guidance in the teachings and example
Of Washington and his great associates,
and hope and courage in the contrast
which thirty-eight populous and prosper
Gus states offer TO the thirteen states. !
weak in everything except courage and !
the love Of liberty, that then fringed our
Atlantic seabOard.
The territory OF Dakota has now pop !
ulation greater than any Of the original |
states Except Virginia. and greater than
the aggregate Of five OF the smaller states |
in 1890. The center Of population, when |
our national capitol was located, was
east Of Baltimore. and it was argued by |
many well-niormed persons that it |
would move eastward rather than west
ward. Yet, in lSS0it 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 il
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 cduca-
ton have been vastly enlarged and more
generally diffused. The virtues Of cOur-
age and patriotism have given recent
proof OF their continued presence and in
creasing power in the hearts and over
the lives OF our people. The influences
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 virtuous and law abiding. But
on the whole, the opportunities offered
to the individual to secure the comforts
Of life are better than are found else
where and largely better than they were
here one hundred years ago.
The surrender OF a large measure Of
sovereignty to the general government,
effected by the adoption OF the Constitu-
ton, was not accomplished until the sug-
gestions OF reason were strongly rein
forced by the more imperative voice of
experience. The divergent interests Of
peace speedily demanded more per-
fect union" The merchant, the ship
master, and the manufacturer discovered
and disclosed 10 our statesmen and to the
people that commercial emancipation
must be added TO the political freedom
which had been so bravcly won. The
commercial policy Of the mother country
mad not relaxed any Of its hard and OPP
pressive features. TO hold in check the |
development OF our commercial marine,
10 prevent or retard the establishment
and growth OF manufactures in the states.
md to secure the American market for ,
heir shops, and the carrying trade for
heir ships, was the policy OF European ,
statesmen, and was pursued with the {
most selfish vigOr. Petitions poured in |
Ipon Congress urging the imposition OF {
duties that should encour- {
lge the production OF needed things at I
home. The patriotism Of the people, {
which no longer found field OF exercise {
n war. was theoretically directed to the I
luty OF equipping the young republic for Z
he defense OF its independence by 1
making its people self-dependent. Soci- Z
tiles for the promotion Of home manu- {
actures and for encouraging the use OF !
lomestics in the dress Of the people were I
organized in many OF the states. The I
'evival at the end OF the century Of the I
anne patriotic interest in the preservation {
md development OF domestic industries,
md defense Of our working people I
Igainst injurious foreign competition, is I
IN incident worthy Of attention. 1t is !
lot departure, but return, that we ]
lave witnessed. The protective party t
lad then its opponents. The argument /
vas made as now that its benefits enured !
o particular classes or sections. II the |
question became in any sense or at any {
ime sectional 1T was only because slavery I
existed in some OF the states. But for Q
his, there was no reason why the cotton j
Producing states should not have led or
walked abreast with the New England |
tates in the production Of cotton fabrics. {
There was this reason only why the states a
hat divide with Pennsylvania In the !
mineral treasures OF the great southeast i
I'm and central mountain ranges should Q
lave been so tardy in bringing to the il
melting furnace and to the mill the coal
md iron from their near opposing hill a
ides. Mill fires were lighted at the b
uneral pile Of slavery. The emancipa-
ion proclamation was heard in the 4
lepths Of the earth. as well as in the sky. n
Zen were made free and material things j.
became our better servants. The section r
Il element has happily been eliminated V
rom the tariff discussion. We have no a
onger states that are necessarily only 81
PLANTING states. None are excluded d
rom achieving that liberalization OF 81
pursuit among the people which brings I
wealth and contentment. The cotton V