The National tribune., 1889-03-07

Of the free had a new ruler. The gorgeousiy-
arrayed Diplomatic Corps sought shelter from
the rain IN the Capitol, and President Harrison
delivered his inaugural address in the earnest
ringing tones OF a practiced public speaker,
occasionally aiding himself by reference to
typewriter copy which he held in his hand.
THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
There IS no constitutional or legal requirement
that the President shall take the oath oi ONCE IN
the presence OF the people. But there Is SO mani
fest an appropriateness in the pubc induction to
Oliice OF ihe Chief Executive otHcer OF the Natioh
that from the beginning OF the Government the
people 10 whose service the official oath conse-
crates the officer have been called to witness the
solemn ceremonial The oath taken IN the pres
ence of the people becomes mutual covenant
the officers covenant TO serve the whole body ot
the people by faithful execution Of the laws so
that they may be the unfailiug defense and Sc,
curity of those who respect and observe them, ana
that neither wealth. station, nor the power OF com
blnatIoBs shall be able 10 evade their Just penalties
TO wrest them from benefcent public purpose
10 serve the ends Of cruelty or sciiishness Ny
promise Is spoken; yours unspol1en-but not the
less real and solemn The people OF every Sta'e
have here their representatives
Surely DO not misinterpret the spirit Of the oc-
casi0n when ! assume that the " hole body OF the
people covenant with me and with e2eh other To-
day 10 support and defend the Constitution and the
Ouioa OF ile states, To yield willing obedience TO
Gli the laws aud each 10 every other citizen hls
equal, civil and political rights. Entering thus
sOlcmuly into covenant with each other, we may
Tcvereutly invoke aud confidently expect thetavor
wisdom, strength and fidelity, and to our people
aspirl Of fraternity and love of righteousness and
peace.
NEW CENTURY OPENS.
This occasion derives peculiar interest from the
fact that the Presidential term which begins TINS
day, is The 26th under our Constitution. The hrst
Inauguration Of President Washington took place
IN New York, where Congress was then sitting, on
the Beth day OF April I7S9 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
Constitution, and viii shortly celebrate IN New
York the institution OF the second great depart
ment OF our Constitutional scheme Of Government.
When the centennial Of the institution of the Ju-
dicIal Department, by the organization OF the Su-
preme Court, shall have been suitably observed, as
trust 1t Will be, our Nation will have fully enter
ed its second century.
] viii not attempt 10 note the marvellous and,
IN great part, happy contrasts between our country
IL steps the threshold into its second CEN
tury of organized existence under The Constitution,
and that weak but wisely ordered young Nation
that looked uudauutedly down the first century,
when all its years stretched out before it.
Our people viii not fail at this time to recall the
incidents which accompanied the institution OF
Government under the Constitution, or to find in-
spirati0R aud guidance IN the teachings aud exam
pie OF Washington and his great associates, and
hope and courage IN the contrast which 81 pros
porous and poVulous States offer to the Is states,
weak in everything except courage and the love OF
liberty, that then fringsd our Atlantic seaboard.
GROWTH OF THE COUNTRY,
The Territory of Dakota has now a population
greater than any Of the original States Except Nir
Euia and greater than the aggregate of five OF the
smaller States in 1870. The center of population,
when National Capital located, was east
of Baltimore. aud u was argued by many weii-ln-
formed persons that It would move eastward rather
than westward Vet, IN 1880, 1t found to be
near Cincinnati, and the new census, about to be
taken, will 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 territory,
population, and aggregate wealth, marvellous as 1t
has been In 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
generally GifIuseG. The virtues OF courage and
patriotism have given recent proof of their con-
tnEed presence and increasing power IN the hearts
and all over the lives OF our people The infu-
euces 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. W. have not attained an ideal
condition. Not all of our people are happy and
prosperous: not all of them are virtuous and law
lhiding But, on the whole the opportunities
otiere TO the individual TO secure the comforts of
lie are better than are found elsewhere and largely
betteT than they were here 100 years ago.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRIES.
The surrender Of Il large measure of sovereignty
70 the General Government, effected by the adopt
ion OF the Constitution, not accomplished un-
III tbe suggestions of Reason were strongly rein
forced by the more imperative voice of Experience.
The divergent interests Of peace speedily de-
Inanded more perfect union" The merchant.
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 brayely
won. The commercial policy of the mother coun-
Try hau NOT relaxed any OF rs afS ana oppressive
features. To hold IN check tAc development of our
commercial marine, 10 prtAent rsard the estab-
lishment and growth OF manufactures in the States,
and 10 secure the American mark ct for their shops
and the carrying trade for their ships, was the
policy OF European statesmen, and was pursued
with the most selfish vigor. Petitions poured
! in upon Congress urging the imposition OF
I discriminating duties that should encourage
/ the production OF needed thiags at home.
The patriotism OF the people, which no longer
] found n field of exercise IN war, was energeti-
/ caiiy directed TO the duty of equppng the
young Republic for the defense of its independence
by making It's people self-dependent. Societies for
I the promotion OF home manufactures and for en-
1 couEagng the of domesiics in the dress Of the
] people were organized IN many Of the States. The
revival al the end ol the century oi the same par-
oiic interest Ia the preservation and development
Of domestic industries and defense of our working
people against Injurious foreign competition, Is an
incident worthy Of attention. IL Is not departure
but a return tIat we have witnessed. The protect
4 i've policy had Then its opponents. The argument
/ made now, that its benefits Injured 10 par
tculsr classes or sections. II the question became
in any sense or at any time sectional, it was only
because slavery existed IN some OF the States. But
for this, there was no reason why the cotton n-pro
duciug States should not have led or walked
1 abreast with the New England States in the pro-
duction OF cotton fabrics. There was this reason
in the mineral treasures Of the great southeastern
! and central mountain ranges should have been 81
tardy in bringing 10 the smelling furnace and L
the mill The coal aud iron from their near opposing
hiilsides. Mil fires were lighted at the funera
pile Of slavery.
no DISTINCTION IN RACE.
The Emancipation proclamation heard II
the depths of the earth, well as in the sky. MeI
/ were made free and material things became ou
/ better servants. The sectional element has hap
ply been eliminated from the tariff discussion
We have no longer States that necessarily onlI
planting States. None are excluded from acllieV
Ing that diversificauOn of pursuit among the peo
Die which brings wealth and eoHtentment. Th
cotton plantation viii not be less valuable wheI
the product Is spun la the country town 10y ope
ratyes whose necessities call for diversified crops
1 aud create horne demand for garden and agri
I cultural products. Every new mine. furnace ant
factory is an extension of the productive capacil,
Of the State real and valuable than added tea
rtoTy.
Shall the prejudices and paralysis of slavery con
tinue 10 hang upon the skirts of progress? Hoy
I long glll those VINO rejoice that slavery no onge
I exists cherish or tolerate the incapacities il pu
/ ut5on their communities? / look hopefully 10 tn
I continuance OF our protective system, and TO TIA
4 consequent development OF manufacturing AM
| mining enterprises in the States hitherto who'll,
I given TO agriculture, Is potent influence in tn
! perfect unifeation Of our people. The men VIII
have invested their capital in these enterprises tn
farmers who have felt the benefit of their neigh
. l borhood, and the men who work IN shop or field
will not fail TO find and to defend community {
interest. Is 1t not quite possible that the farmer
and the promoters OF the great mining and manU
featuring enterprises, which have recently been es
tabshed in the South, may yet find that the FIRE
I ballot of the workingman, without distinction