The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1889-03-08
FREDERICK w. BAKER, Editor.
Ii r. l. A r, M d.
Friday Morning, March 8, 1889.
Inauguration OF President Harrison.

Inauguration OF President Harrison.
Gen. Benjamin Harrison, twenty-sixth
President of the United States, was formally
inaugurated at Washington, on Monday.
The beautiful city had put on it's gayest at
tire in honor Of the occasion, but driving
and continuous rain destroyed the brightness
of the decorations and gave everything
draggled appearance. The crowds of
sight-seers were drenched with rain, but
everybody insisted that they were having a
good time.
President Harrison and ex-President
Cleveland rode in an open carriage, under an
umbrella borne aloft by Mr. Cleveland The
Inauguration took place on the East front of
the Capitol aud was witnessed by an i'm
mense crowd Of people, very few of whom it
is safe to say, heard a word of the Presidents
inaugural address.
THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
lfany of President Harrison's enthusiastic
admirers expected a spread-eagle inaugural
address from him they were mistaken 1t
was plain, sensible speech, but one which
emanated from person less conspicuous
than TIE President.
He first spoke o!the growth of the country
during the last century, and Gaid that while
not all our people are happy and prosperous
nor virtuous and law-abiding, on the whole,
the opportunities TO the individual to secure
the comforts OF. life are better here than else.
where.
He eulogizes the protective policy and
urges the protectionists of the South to avow
their real convictions and make the black
man their efficientSand safe ally. Perhaps
he meant that the usual course should be
adopted of the black man doing the voting
and the white Republicans getting the Of
fees.
Il have altogether" lie says, rejected the
suggestion of special executive policy for
any section Of our country" The laws are
general and their administration should be
uniform and equal. This may mean that he
does not favor a raid on the South, but lie
does not commit himself to any particular
policy.
He recommends revision of our naturalzl-
ton laws so as to make careful and search.
ing inquiry into the character and good dis.
position of persons applying for citizenship
On the subject of European interference
with the rights ofthe United States he speaks
in no uncertain or wavering tone, and serves
notice that under his administration Ameri.
can citizens will be protected in any part of
the world.
The greatest anxiety, perhaps, was felt as
to President Harrison 3 views upon civil SER
vice reform and appointments to Office, and
what he says will send cold shiver down
the spinal vertebig oft truly loyal who ex-
pectcd good fat offices at his hands He CON-
forts them with the assurance that honor
able party service will not be deemed by him
disqualification for public office, but it will
not shield the incompetent or negligent.
lie seeks to spare himself annoyance by
telling the oflice-seekers that persistent I'M
portunity will not help their cause He de-
clares unequivocally that "heads of depart
ments, bureaus and all other public officers
having any duty connected Herewith, will be
expected to enforce the civil service law fully
and without evasion" This sentence will
read like funeral dirge to the bummers and
camp followers, who will begin to wonder
why they ever spent their money and time in
such cause.
What President Harrison has TO say on the
surplus might almost have been written by
Cleveland He recognizes the evil of sur
plus in the treasury and recommends reduc-
ton in our revenues.
He favors the rebuilding of our navy, so
well begun under Cleveland, and election law
reform, and winds up with Qualification of
the future of our great country.
Taken al.egee.hhee:--iit is aata brilliant docu-
ment and is more remarkable for what 1t does
not say than for frank and forcible express
sion of policy on the various questions in
which the American people are now inter-
ested.