The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1889-03-08
THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS.

He Deals with Protection. American
Citixenship, Pensions, Civil Service aud
Purity Of Elections aud Other Matters,
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
il SO manifest an appropriateness IN the pub
lie induction to office OF the chief executive
officer of the nation that from the beginning
of the governm, mt the people, tn whose serv-
ice the official oath consecrates the officer,
have been called to witness the solemn cere'
monial. 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 defense
and security Of those who respect and observe
them. and that neither wealth and station,
nor the power of combinations shall DO able
to evade their Just penalties, or to wrest them
from beneficent public purpose to serve the
ends of cruelty or selfishness.
Nv promise is spoken, yours unspoken, but
not the less real and solemn. The people Of
eyery 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 support and defend the
constitution of the union of the states, to
Weld willing obedience to all the laws and
each to every other citizen his equal civil and
political rights Entering thus solemnly in
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 spirit of fraternity and love of
righteousnt IS and peace.
The Nations Progress.
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 Pres
ident Washington took place in New York,
where congress was then sitting, on the 30th
day of April, 1889, 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 con-
stitution. and will shortly celebrate in New
York the institution of the second great de-
partment of our constitutional scheme Of
Government. When the centennial of the
institutions of the Judicial department by the
organization of the supreme court shall have
been suitably observed, as I trust it 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 it steps over the Threshold
into its second century of organized existence
under the const tuition, and that weak, but
wisely ordered young nation that looked I'M
dauntedly down the first century, when all its
wears stretched out before it. Our people
will not fail at this time to recall the Incl
dents which accompanied the institution of
government under the constitution, or to find
inspiration and guidance in the teachings 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
everything except courage and the love OF
liberty, that then fringed our Atlantic sea-
board
The territory of Dakota has now popula-
ton greater than any of the original states
Except Virginia) and greater than the aggre-
rate of five of the smaller states in 1890. The
center of population, when our national
Capitol was located, was east of Baltimore,
and it was argued by many wellinformed
persons that it would move eastward rather
than westward. Yet, in 1880, it was found
to be near Cincinnati, end the new census.
about to be taken. will show another stride
occupied seat at the right of the presiding
officer. and the committe, Of arrangements
sat on the left.
Shortly before 10 o'clock the members Of
the house of representatives and members
to the westward Thnt 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, population and aggre-
gate wealth, marvellous as it has been in
each Of these 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 pres
ence and increasing power in the hearts and
over the lives of our people. The influences
of religion have been multiplied and strength,
ened, The sweet offices Of charity have
greatly increased 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 outside 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 100 years ago
The surrender Of large measure Of SOW
ereignty to the general government affected
BY the adoption of the constitution was moi
accomplished until the suggestions Of reason
were strongly REINFORCED by the more i'm
perative voice of experience.
Commercial Emancipation.
The divergent interests of peace speedily
demanded "more perfect union" The mer
chant shipmaster and the manufacturer dis
covered and disclosed to our statesmen and tt
the people that commercial emancipation
must be added to the political freedom which
had been so bravely won. The commercial
policy of the mother country had not relaxed
any of its hard and oppressive features. Tt
hold in check the development of our com
mercial marine, to prevent or retard the es
tablishment and growth of manufactures il
the states, and so to secure the American
market for their ships, and the carrying
trade for their ships, was the policy of Euro
pean statesmen, and was pursued with thu
most selfish vigor. Petitions poured in upor