Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-04
EXTRA!
THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
BRIEF AND PATRIOTIC.
A Century's Growth Of the Nation.
PROTECTION OF AMERICAN INDUSTRY.
And of American Interests Abroad

nent that the President shall take the oath
Of Office in the presence of the people. But
there is so manifest an appropriateness
in the public induction to Office Of the
chief executive officer of the nation that
from the beginning Of the government
the people. to whose service the official
oath consecrates the officer, have been called
to witness the solemn ceremonial The oath
taken in the presence of the people becomes a
mutual covenant-the officers covenant to
serve the whole body of the people by faith
full 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 combinations
shall be able to evade their just penalties
or to wrest them from a benefcent public pur-
pose to serve the ends of cruelty or selfshness
Ny promise 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 sup
port and defend the Constitution and the Union
Of the states, to yield willing obedience to all
ne laws and each to every other citizen his
equal, civil and political rights. Entering 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 wisdom, strength and fidelity,
and to our people a spirit of fraternity and a
love of righteousness and peace.
This occasion derives peculiar interest from
the fact that the presidential term, which be-
gins 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 sitting, on the 3Oth day of
April, 1888, having been deferred by reason of
delays attending the organization of the
Congress and the canvass of the electoral
vote. Our people have already worthily
observed the centennials of the Declaration 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 second grest Department of our constitu-
tional scheme of government. When the CEN
tennial of the institution of the Judicial de-
partment, by the organization of the Supreme
Court, shall have been suitably observed, as 1
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 contrasts between our
country as it steps over the threshold into its
second century of organized existence under
the Constitution, and that weak but wisely or
dered young nation that looked undauntedly
down the first century, when all its years
stretched out before it.
Our people will not fail at this time to recall
the incidents which accompanied the institution
of government under the Constitution, or to
nd ina, 81
and example of Washington and his great asso-
ciates, and hope and courage in the contrast
which thIrty-eight populous and prosperous
states offer to the thirteen states, weak in every
thing except courage and the love of liberty,
that then fringed our Atlantic seaboard
The territory of Dakota has now a population
greater than any Of the original states Except
Virginia.. and greater than the aggregate Of
hve of the smaller states in 1880. The center
OF population, when our national capitol was
located vas east Of Baltimore, and IL was
argued by many well-informed persons that it |
would move eastward rather than westward |
Yet, IN 1880 il was found to be near Cincin- |
nan and the new census, about to be |
taken. viii 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, popu- |
lation, 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 education have been |
vastly enlarged and more generally diffused. |
The virtues of courage and patriotism have |
given recent proof of their continued presence |
and increasing power in the hearts and over
the lives Of our people. The influences of re- |
igion have been multiplied and strength |
ened- The sweet Offices of charity have |
greatly increased. The virtue of tenn
peranee 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 elsewhere and largely |
better than they were here one hundred years |
ago.
The surrender Of large measure Of sover-
signify to the general government, effected by |
The adoption Of the Constitution, was not ac-
eomplished until the suggestions of reason
we're strongly reinforced by the more i'm
perative voice Of experience. The divergent |
"a fco~S sf<cahy aCAAonacQ - /
more perfect union" The merchant, the |
shipmaster, and the manufacturer discovered |
and disclosed to our statesmen and to the peo-
pie that commercial emancipation must be Id
ded to the political freedom which had been 20
oravely won- The commercial policy Of the
mother country had not relaxed any Of it, hard
and oppressive features. To hold in check the
development Of our commercial marine, to
prevent or retard the establishment and growth
d manufactures in the states, and TO
secure the American market for their
'nops, and the carrying trade for their ships,
vas the policy Of European statesmen, and was
pursued with the most selfish vigor Petitions
poured In upon Congress urging the imposition
81 discriminating duties that should encourage
'ne production Of needed things at home. The
patriotism of the people, which no longer found
neid Of exercise in war, was ensrgetically
directed to the duty Of equipping the
young republic for the defence Of its
Independence BY making its people sslf-ds-
pendent. Societies for the promotion of home
nAnafAeturss and for encouraging the uss Of
aomestics In the dress Of the people we're or
sAnazed IN many Of the states. The revival 81
.ls end of the century Of the same pa-
8x0l1c iutHPoaf in H. Il .