Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1889-03-13
THE REVIEWING STAND.

real and solemn. The people OF every
~ do not misinterpret the spirit OF the occa-
sion when assume that the whole body OF the
people covenant with me and with each other
to support and defend the constitution and
the Union OF the States, to yield willing obe-
dience 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 reveren1ly invoke and confident
~ expect the favor and help of Almighty God.
that He VIII give to me wisdom, strength and
fidelity, and to our people 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 twentysixth under our
constitution. The first Inauguration Of Presi-
dent Washington took place in New York,
where Congress was then sitting on the 5Oth
day OF April. 11sS, having been deferred by
reason OF delays attending the organization of
the Congress and the canvass Of the electoral
served the centennials OF the declaration OF
independence, Of the battle Of Yorktown and
OF the adopt on OF the constitution; and will
shortly celebrate in New York the. institution
centennial of the institution OF the judicial de-
Court shall have been suitably observed as I
trust it viii be- our Nation will have fully en-
tered its second century.
will not attempt to note the marvellous
ana IN great part, happy contrasts between
eur country as it steps over the threshold into
its second century otorganized existence under
the !constitution and that weak but wisely Or
dered young ration 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 institu-
ton OF Government under the const tuition, or
TO find inspiration and guidance in the teach
tngs and example OF Washington and his great
associates, and hope and courage in the con-
trast which th'rty-eight pOpulOus and prosper
Gus states of1er to thirteen States, weak in
every thing except courage aud the love OF lib
erty that then fringed our Atlantic seaboard.
The territory OF Dakota has now popula-
ton greater than any OF the original States
except Virginia, and greater than the aggre-
gate OF i've OF the smaller States in $780, The
center OF population. when our National Capt.
was argued by many well-lnformed persons
that it would move eastward rather than
westward. Yet IN 1880 it was found to be near
taken viii show another stride to the vest We
ward. That which was the body has come to
be only the rich fringe OF the Nations robe.
tory, population and aggregate wealth, mar
Vicious as it has been in each OF these direc-
lions. The masses OF our people are better
fed, clothed and housed than the fathers
were. The facilities for popular education
have been vastly enlarged and more generally
dlnused The virtues OF courage and patriot
presence and increasing power in the hearts
and over the lives OF our people The in
hnences OF religion have been multiplied and
have greatly Increased. The virtue of tenn
peranee is held in higher estimation. We have
not attained an ideal condition. Not all OF our
them are virtuous and law-abiding. But, on On
the whole, the opportunities offered to the in
dividual to secure the comforts OF life are bet
ter than are to be found elsewhere and largely
better than they were here 100 years ago.
The surrender OF large measure of sover-
eighty to the general Government, effected by
the adoption OF the constitution, was not &C
cOmplished until the suggestions of reason
were strongly reinforced by the more impera-
perfect union" The merchant the shipmas-
ter and the manufacturer discovered and dis
closed to our statesmen and to the people that
commercial emancipation must be added to
the political freedom which had been so brave
~ won. Tie commercial policy OF the mother
pressive features To hold in check the devel-
opment OF our commercial marine, to prevent
or retard the establishment and growth of
manufactures in tbs States, and 80 to secure
tho American market for their shops and the
carrying trade for their ships, was the policy OF
European statesmen, and was pursued with
upon Congress nrging the imposition of dis
eliminating duties that should encourage the
production Of needed things at home. The pa
field OF exercise in war, was energetically
directed to the duty OF equipping the young
republic for the defense OF its Independence by
making its people self-dependent Societies
4 for the promotion OF home manufactures and
for encouraging the use of domestics in the
0tSDo " WIG RSoPA0 ySlC OIHdulAou IL MdAy u
& the States. The revival at the end of the cent
ury of the same patriotic interest in the pres
ervation and development OF domestic indus
tries, and the defense OF our working people
against injurious foreign competition Is an In
cident worthy OF attention. It is not depart
ure but q return that we have witnessed. The
protective policy had then its opponents. The
argument was made as now that the benefits
Injured to particular classes or sections. II the
question became in any sense or at any time
sectional, 1t was only because slavery existed
\ In some parts of the States. But for this, there
was no reason why the cotton-producing States
should not have led or walked abreast with the
New England States in the protection Of cotton
fabrics. There was this reason only
why the States that divide with
Pennsylvania the mineral treasures OF
& the great southeastern and central mountain
ranges should have been so tardy IN bringing