The Brookhaven leader., 1889-03-14

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Pr.sident II rriSon.
beginning Of the Government the people TO
whose service the One al oath consecrates the
officer, have been called to witness the solemn
ceremonial The oath taken in the presence
OF the people becomes mutual covenant the
officer covenants to serve the whole body OF
the people by II faithful execution Of the laws
that they may be the unfailing defense
and security OF those vino respect and observe
them. and that neither wealth, station nor the
power of combination shall be able to evale
their just penalties, or to wrest them from a
beneftcent public purpose to serve the ends OF
cruelty or seltlshuess. My promise is spoken:
yours unspOken, but not the less real and
solemn. Tae peop e of every State have here
their repr sentatves Surely l do not misn-
terpret the spirit OF The occasion when l as
sumo that the whole bodyOf the people covenant
with me and with each other to-day 10 support
and defend the Cons tuition and the Union OF
the States; to yield willing obedience to all
the laws and each to every other clti-
rights. Entering thus solemniy into
covenant with each other, we may reverently
invoke and confidently expect the favor and
help OF Aim ghty God, that He will give to me
wisdom, strength and fidelity, and TO our peo-
pie spirit of fraternity and a love OF right
eousness and peace.
This occasion derives peculiar interest from
the fact that the pres Dental term, which be
gins this day, the twenty-sxth under our
Constitut on. The first inauguration OF Presi-
dent washington look place IN new OFA,
where Congress was then slit NJ, on the thir-
t;eth day OF April, 1179 having been deferred by
reason of delays attending the organization OF
the Congress and the canvass OF the electoral
vote.
Our people have already wprthily observed
the centennlalS OF the Declaration of Independ-
Cnce of the Battle OF Yorktown and Of the Adop-
tion of the Const tuition; and viii shortly cele-
brate, in New York, the institution OF the sec
ond great department OF our constitutional
scheme Of government. When the centennial
Of hn in CT of npnuPtmnnt
by the organization OF the Supreme Court,
shall have been suitably observed, as trust 1t
will be, our Nation will have fully entered its
second century. will not attempt to note the
marvellous and in great part happy contrasts
between our country, as 1t steps over the
threshold into its second century of organized
existence under the Constitution, and that
weak but wisely-ordered young Nation that
looked undaunted down the first century, when
all its years stretched out before it,
Our people will not fail at this time TO recall
the inc dents which accompanied the institu-
t on OF government under the Constitution, or
find insp ration and guidance in the te 4chings
and example Of Washington and his great as
sociates, and hope and courage in the GOntras,
which thirty ght popuious and prosperous
States offer TO the thirteen States, weak in
every thing except courage and the love OF
liberty, that then fr nged our Atlantic
sea-board. The Territory OF Dakota has
now IA population greater than any of the
original States, except Virginia, and greater
than the aggregate OF five OF the smaller States
in l79J. fhe center OF population, when our
National capital was located. was east OF Bal
timore; and Il was argued by many welf-in.
formed persons that 1t would move eastward
rather than westward. Yet, in 1880 IL was
found TO be near Cincinnati and the new CEN
sus, about to be taken, will show another stride
t0 the Westward. That which was the body
has come to be only the rich fringe OF the Ma
tons robe.
but our growth has not been limited TO ter
ritory, popul ,tion and aggregate wealth, mar
velOus as II has been in each Of these direc-
I ons. 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 diff
fused. The virtues OF courage and patriot SIN
have given recent pro OF their continued
presence and increasing power in the hearts
and over the lives OF our people The infiu-
ences of religion have been multiplied and
strengthened. The sweet offlces OF charity
have greatly increased. The virtue Of temper
ance is held in higher estimation. We have
not attained an ideal coIditlon. Not all OF our
people are happy and pro porous not oil of
them are virtuous and law-abiding; but on the
whole. the opportunities offered to the indi-
vidual 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 a large measure OF snver-
eighty to the General Government effected by
the adoption OF the CoHstitutioa. was not ac-
complisn until the suggestions OF reason
were strongly reinforced bv the more impera-
tive vo,c &c of exper ence. Tne divergent inter-
ests OF peace speedily demanded "nore per
feet union" The merchant, the ship-Inaster
to our statesmen and TO the people that com
mercial EN- N -ipat on must be added to the po-
litlcal freedom which had been SO br ,vely won.
The commercial policy OF the m ther coun-
and oppressive features. To hold IN check
the development OF our commercial
and growth OF manufactures IN the States, and
so to secure the American market for their
shops, and the carrying trade for their ships,
was the pol cy OF European statesmen. and was
mn ed Wit ia ma sell oh Y
poured in upon Congress urging the impos tion
OF discriminating duties that snoul encourage
the production OF needed things ut home The
patriotism OF the people, which no longer found
field OF exercise in war, was energetically di-
rected to the duty Of equipp'Qg the young
Republic for the defense OF its independence by
making Its people self-dependent. Societies
for the promotion OF home manufactures and
for encouraging the use OF dOmestics In the
dress OF the people were organiZed n many of
the States. The revival, ut 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 fore gn competition, is an in
cident worthy of attention. 1t is not a de-
parture, but a return, that we have witnessed.
The protective policy had then its opponents.
The argument was made, as now, that
its benefits Injured 10 particular classes. or
sections. III the question became in any sense
or at any time sectional, IL was only because
slavery existed in some parts OF the States.
But for this, thsre was no reason why the cot
ton producing States should not have led or
walked abreast with the New England States
in the production of cotton fabrics. There was
this reason only why the Statos that divide
with Pen nsylvania the mineral treasures of the
great Southeastern and Central mountain
ranges should have been so tardy In bringing
TO the smelling furnace and TO the mill
the coal and iron from their
opposing hillsides. Nj II hres were lighted
at the funeral pile OF slavery; the
Emancipation Proclamation was heard III
the depths OF the earth rs well as in the sky
men were made free. and material thiEgs be-
came our better servants.
The sectional element has happily been elimi-
mated from the sarin discussion, We have no
longer States that are necessarily only plant
ing Stales.s None are excluded fron achieving
saf shaar