Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-04
A Century's Growth Of the Nation.
PROTECTION OF AMERICAN INDUSTRY.
And of American Interests Abroad


the people. to whose service the official
oath consecrates the officer, have been called
to witness the solemn ceremonial The oath
taken III the presence Of the people becomes a
mutual covenant-the officers covenant to
serve the whole body of the people by faith
full 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. station, nor the power of combinations
shall be able to evade their Just penalties
or to wrest them from benefcent public pur-
pose to serve the ends Of cruelty or selfshness.
My 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 the spirit of the
occasion when / assume that the whole
body of the people covenant with me
/ end with each other to-day to sup
port and defend the Constitution and the Union
| of the states, to yield willing obedience to all
the laws and each to every other citizen his
equal, civil and political rights. Entering thus
solemnly into 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,
end to our people spirit of fraternity and q
/ 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 under our Con-
stitution. The first Inauguration of President
/ Washington took place in New York, where
Congress was then sitting. on the 3Oth day Of
/ April, 1883, 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 will
shortly celebrate in New York the institution Of
the second great department of our constitu-
tional scheme of government. When the GEN.
tennal of the institution of the judicial de-
partment, 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 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 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 every
thing except courage and the love of liberty,
hot he, fri
The territory of Dakota has now a population
greater than any of the original states Except
ylrginia) and greater than the aggregate 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 well-informed persons that it
would move eastward rather than westward
Yet, in 1850 it was found to be near Cincin-
natl 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 been1imited to territory popu-
lation, and aggregate wealth, marvellous
il 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 diffused
The virtues of courage and patriotism have
given recert proof Of their continued presence
and increasing power in the hearts and over
the lives Of our people. The influences of re-
ligion have been multiplied and strength
ened. The sweet Offices of charity have
greatly increased The virtue of tenn
peranceSis 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 opportunities 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 wears
ago.
The surrender Of large measure Of sover-
eighty to the general government effected by
the adoption Of the Constitution. was not ac-
complished until the suggestions of reason
were strongly reinforced by the more i'm
perative voice of experience. The divergent
interests Of peace speedily demanded a
more perfect union" The merchant. the
shipmaster, and the manufacturer discovered
and disclosed to our statesmen and to the peo-
pie that commercial emancipation must be ad-
ded to the political freedom which had been 30
bravely won. The commercial policy of the
mother country had not rela<ad any of its hard
and oppressive features. To hold in check the
development of our commercial marine, to
prevent or retard the establishment and growth
of manufactures in the states, and 10
secure the American market 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 discriminating duties that should encourage
the production 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 equipping the
young republic for the defense Of its
independence by making its people self-de-
pendent. Societies for the promotion Of home
manufactures and for encouraging the use Of
domestics in the dress Of the people were Or
ganized in many of the states. The revival at
the end Of the century Of the same paS
triotic interest in the preservation and de-
yelopment of domestic industries, and
defense Of our working people against in
furious foreign competition, is an incident
worthy of attention. 1t is not departure, but
a return that WE haya vitneasad The vrokac.