Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1889-03-15
HARRISON'S INAUGURAL.
The Presidents Views Upon I'm.
pOrtant Public Questions.
Discussing the Tariff, Civil Ser
vice, the Surplus, Etc.


President Harrison:
There is no constitutional or legal require
ment 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 SOL
emn 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 faithful execution of the
laws, SO that they may be the unfailing de-
fence and security OF those who respect and
observe them. and that neither wealth and
station nor the power Of combina tons shall
be able 20 evade their just penalties or to
wrest them from a benefcent public purpose
70 serve the ends of cruelty or seltishness.
My promise IS spoken; yours unspoken,
but not the less real and solemn. The
people of every State have their repre-
terpret the spirit Of the occasion
whom | assume that the whole body of the
people covenant with me and with each other
to day TO support and defend the Constitu-
ton and the Union of the States, to yield
willing obedience to all the laws, and each to
every other citizen his equal civil and poiti-
cal rights Entering thus solemnly in COW
Auant with each other, we may reverently
and help of Almighty God-that He will
give to me wisdom, strength and fidelity, and
10 our people a spirit of fraternity ard 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
Constitution. The first Inauguration Of
President Washington took place in New
York, where Congress was then sitting, on
the 10th day of April, 1889, having been de-
ferred by reason of delays attending the or
ganiZation 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 in
stltutlon OF the second great department OF
our Constitutional scheme of Government.
When the centennial OF the Institution of the
judicial Department. by the organization of
the Supreme Court, shall have heen suitably
observed, as [ trust it will be, our nation
will have fully entered its second century. l
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 undaunt-
edly down Tia 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 gov
eminent under the Constitution, or to
find inspiration and guidance in the
ington and his great associates,
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 frlnged our Atlantic seaboard.
The Territory of Dakota has now a popu-
lation greater than any of the original
States except Virginia., and greater
States in 1890. The centre of popula-
ton, when our National Capital was
located. was east Of Baltimore and it was
argued by many well-informed persons that it
would move eastward rather than westward.
Yet in 1880 it was found to be near Gin
cinnatl, and the new census about to be
taken will show another stride to the West
ward. That which was the body has come
to be only the rich fringe OF the nations
robe. But our growth has been limited to ter
ritory, population, and aggregate wealth,
marvellous it has been III 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 general
ly ditfused. The virtues of courage and pa
triotiSm have given recent proof of their con-
hnLed presence and increasing power in the
hearts and over lives of our people. The in
Etuences Of religion have been multlplied and
strengthened. The sweet offices of charity
have greatly increased. The virtue of tenn
perence is held in higher estimation
We have not attained an ideal condi-
tion. Not all of our people are happy and
prosperous; not all Of them are virtuous and
law abiding. But, on the whole, the oppor-
tunitieS 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 TARIFF POLICY.
The surrender Of large measure OF sove-
reignty to the general Government effected
by the adoption of the Constitut ton, was not
accomplished until the suggestions of reason
were strongly reinforced by the more i'm
peratiye voice of experience. The divergent
interests of peace speedily demanded a
more perfect union" The merchant,
discovered and disclosed to our states
men and to the people that COM
mercial emancipation must be added to the
political freedom which had been so hravely
Won The commercial policy Of the mother
country had not relaxed any Of its hard and
oppressive features. To hold in check the de-
velopment OF our commercial marine, to pre-
vent retard the esGa oliShment and growth
Of manufactures in the States. and so to SO.
cure the American market for their shops
and the carrying trade for their ships, was the
policy of European statesmen, and was pur-
sued with the most selfish vigor Petitions
poured IN upon Congress, urging the IMPOSE
tion of discriminating duties that should
encOurasN the pro iucrion of needed things at
home The patriotism of the people, which
no longer found a field of exercise in war,
was energetically directed to the duty of
eQulpplng 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 peo~
pie were organized in many Of the States.
The revival at the end of the century of
the same patriotic interest in the preservation
and development of domestic industries, and