Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-03-07
The inaugural Address.

The Inaugural Address.
A procession was formed and proceeded
to the platform on the east capitol steps
where the oath of office was administered
by Chief Justice Fuller and President
Harrison delivered the following address:
Fellow Citizens: There is no constitutional or
legal requirements that the President shall
take the oath of office in the presence OF the
people. But there is so manifest an appro
priateness in the public induction to offce OF
the chief executive officer Of the Nation that
from the beginning of the Government the peo-
pie to whose service the official oath conse-
crates the officer, have been called to witness
the solemn ceremonial.
The oath taken in the presence OF the people
becomes mutual covenant-the officer coven
ants to serve the whole body Of the people by a
faithful execution of the laws, so that they
NAV be the unfailing defense and security or
those who respect and observe them, and that
neither wealth, station, nor the power of COM
binations shall be able to evade their Just
penalties or to wrest them from beneficent
public purpose to serve the ends Of cruelty or
selfishness.
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 this occasion
when assume that the whole body OF the peo-
pie covenant with me and with each other TO-
day to support and defend the Constitution and
the Union of the States, to yield willing obedi-
ence to all the laws and each to every other Cit
iZen his equal civil and political rights.
Entering thus solemnly into covenant with
each other we may reverently invoke and con-
fdentlv expect the favor and help of Almighty
Goa-tuaL he Will give 10 me wIsuom, sJrcngrn
and fidelity and to our people spirit OF frater-
nifty 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
Constitution. The first inauguration Of Presi-
dent Washington took place IN New York
where Congress was then sitting, on the Both
day Of April, 1885, having been deferred by
reason of delays attending the organization OF
Congress and the canvass of the Electoral vote
Our people have already worthily observed the
centennial 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 great
department of our constitutional scheme OF
government. When the centennial Of the insti-
tuition of the judicial department by the organ
ization of the Supreme Court shall have been
suitably observed. rs 1 trust it will e, our Ma
ton will have fully entered its second century.
will not attempt to note the marvellous and,
in great part, happy contrasts between our
country as it steps over the threshold OF its
| second century OF OTRdIlZ6u SAlSlchCc unuCl
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 institu-
ton of government under the Constitution or
to find inspiration and guidance in the teach
ings and example of Washington and his great
associates, and hope and courage in the con-
trast which thirty -eight populous and prosper
Gus States offer to the thirteen States, weak in
every thing except courage and the love Of lib
erty, that then fringed our Atlantic seaboard.
The Territory of Dakota has now population
greater than any of the original States Except
Virginia), and greater than the aggregate OF
five of the smaller States in !790.
The center of population, 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 west
| ward. Yet, in 1850 it was found to be near Gin
cinnati 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 terri
| tory, population and great wealth, marvellous
| as it has been in each of those directions.
| The masses of our people have been better fed,
| clothed and housed than their fathers
| were The facilities for popular education
| have been vastly enlarged and more generally
| diiused. The virtues of courage and patriotism
have given recent proof of their continued pres
ence and increasing power in the hearts and
| over the lives Of our people The influences OF
| religion have been multiplied and strengthened.
| The sweet of1ces OF charity have greatly IN
creased. The virtue Of temperance 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 oppor-
tunities offered the individual to secure the
comforts of life are better than are found else
where and largely better than they were here
100 years ago.
| The surrender Of large measure OF sovereign
| ity to the General Government effected by the
| adoption of the Constitution was not accom-
\ plished until the suggestions of reason were
| strongly reinforced by the more imperative
| voice Of experience.
| The divergent interests of peace speedily de-
| manded "a more perfect union" The mer-
chant the shipmaster and the manufacturer
discovered and disclosed to our statesmen and
to the people that commercial emancipation
must be added to the political freedom which
had been so bravely won. The commercial pol
10y OF the mother country had not relaxed any
OF its hard and oppressive features. To hold in
check the development Of our commercial ma
| r1ne, 70 prevent or retard the establishment and
| growth Of manufactures in the States and so
70 secure the American market for their ships,
ana the carrying trade for their ships, was the
policy OF European statesmen, and was pur-
sued with the most selfish vigor.
feotions poured in upon Congress urging the
amposition OF discriminating duties that should
encourage the production of needed things at
nome The patriotism of the people which no
longer found field OF exercise in war was en-
-,etscally directed to the duty OF equipping the
,rouup n, nublie for the defense of its indepead-
| ,ence b, n,ak,,.- its people self dependent So
cieties for the promo,so.- Oh nome Manufactures
and Tor encouraging tins use On 49, ~ ele
ofess OF the people were organized m VI
the States Many Of the re vivals at the end O,
centuryo OF the patriotic interest in the de-
veiopment OF domestic industries and the de-
tense OF the working people against Injurious
foreign competition, is an incident worthy CT at
tehtlon 1t Is not departure but q return
| what We have Witnessed The protective pol
| icy had then its opponents. The argument was
made as now that its benefits Injured to particu-
lar classes or sections.
the question became in any sense or at any
TING sectional It was only because slavery ez-