The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-03-09
Current Events.

no postponment ION account OF the wealth
err although a meaner day could naIdIy
have been made for such august cefe-
monies and festivities. The rain iell IN
torrents all day long the procession march
ed In the rain, every participant soaked 70
the skin ami chilled 10 the marrow; the
the inaugural was read from under an
umbrella and listened 10 by thousands re-
cardess of future colds, influen2sr and
feyers. The history of the day, elaborated
upon the daily press, reads like that OF any
Inauguration of late years (barrlng the
rain, only a change of names being nee
cessary. 1t was great day" for Washing
ton and republicanism.
The inaugural address was more leng'
thy than usual, but, on the whole an able
address To be sure some psrts sound
little common place; but all such docu'
ments do The questions they present are
policies upon which mems minds are
turned every day In the year, and no mat
Ter how great or how important the ideas
they somehow sound familiar. On the
tariff President Harrison Is positive. lie
is certain the surplus, which he thinks
is not the greatest evil, though II Is a serl
ous eyil,-Can be reduced without break
ing down our protective tariff or seriously
injuring any domestic industry" This
means, of course, that no reduction OF the
tariff Is TO take place under this admins
'ratiOn. The present rate of AZ per cent Is
20 be maintained, If not increased by the
passage of the Senate bill in the next con
gress.
Considerable space Is also given TO the
very obvious necessity Of reform in the
election law 10 throw additional safe guards
around the ballot As 10 the southern
question" the advice Is rendered the South
"use their good offices" 10 instruct. the me-
gTOes-make them then allies and COwOrkers
As TO policy, he very sensibly and patri
COtiCally says 81 have altogether rejected
the suggestion OF Especial executive policy
f0r any section Of our country. 1t Is the
duty of the executive TO administer and
enforce In the methods and by the instTu-
mentaltles pointed out and provided by
the Constitution, all the laws enacted by
Congress. These laws are general and
their administration should be uniform and
equal"
Trusts are condemned, change is
recommended in the naturalization laws to
inquire into the good character of the i'm
migrant; our fore gn policy shout avoid
meddling with foreign affairs but maintain
our rights and interests on the western
hemisphere. AS 10 one service he says
Heads OF departments, bureaus and all
other public offices having any duty con
nected Herewith will be expected 20 en-
force the civil service law fully without
evasion. Beyond this obvious duty | hope
20 do something more TO advance the re-
form of the civil service. The ideal, or
even my own ideal shall probably not
attain Retrospect will be safer basis of
judgment than promises. We shall not,
however, ! am sure, be able TO put our
civil service upon non partisan basis un-
I'll we have secured an inCum benCy that
fair minded men of the opposition will
approve for impartiality and integrity As
the number of such In the civil list Is in
creased, removals from office will dimin
ish." Party service will be no objection
in applicant for office; but il will not be
allowed to shield inCOmpetency.
There Is one thought he utters that should
be taken home by many "howling patriots"
go numerous these days. Ii is this: "Let
ms eXalt patriotism and moderate our par.
~ contentious Let those who would die
for the flag on the field of battle give a bet
ter proof of their patriotism and higher
glory to their country by promoting fra
ternity and justice A party success that
is achieved by unfair methods or by praC-
;iCes that partake of revolution Is hurtful
and evanescent, even from party stand.
point. We should hold our differing
opinions in mutual respect and having
them 10 the arbtrament of the
ballot, should accept an adverse judgment
with the same respect that we would have
demanded of our opponents, If the decision
had been In our favor
On Tuesday the names of the cabinet
were sent To the Senate and Immediately
as follows:
James G. Blaine of Maine, secretary of
state.
William Window of Minnesota, secre-
tary of the treasury.
Kedfeld Proctor Of Vermont secretary
Of war.
Benjamin F. Tracy of New York, scores
tary of the navy.
John W. Noble Of Missouri, secretary of
the interior.
John Wanamaker of Pennsylvania, cost.
master. general.
w, H. II. Miller of Indiana, attorney
general
jeremiah NJ Rusk of Wisconsin, score
lary of agricultural
Its composition is not a great surprise,
though II is passing strange that all the
big men" of the party save Blaine should
have been Ignored or cast aside.
As IA whole 1t Is credited with being an
able collection of men The appointment
Of Wannamaker will create talk, since he |
Is chiefly prominent MS a public man in |
nat he is noted as having raised an i'm |
nense sum for campaign purposes. His
lndOubted business and executive ability, |
however, should make him "A successful !
lead of department which Is all "busi |
less"-more 80 than any cabinet office if |
,ge except the treasury. Mr.. Rusk is not |
known ~ farmer, but he is |
sound on the tariff" In his party's eyes, |
and the farmer may have pointed out 70 |
hin some other way Of avoiding the evils |
which crowd upon him daily with increas-
ng force and power in some other WAY |
han by tariff reduction. As that is not |
possible now for four years TO come, Mr..
Rusk has grand opportunity before him
aside from the gracious pleasure of dis.
ributing seeds, bulbs and new kinds of |
loxtious insects that usually go with them