Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1889-03-07
synopsis Of President HarrisOn's Ina"-
gural address.

inc circumstances as respects the weather.
T6er. ,va. "a steady downpour during most
of the day. to The dismay Of the mululud's
rbat tbronsed the national capital to WIT
ness the ceremonies of the occasion. The
c,ct that the change of administration was
10 be 81 so a turning point OF the pol'I'cs ana
policy of the country was we'll calcn'a'eI 10
imnre,s the imagination of the assemO'en
thousands. and every incident that oetoken-
"a tbe incoming OF the new order OF Things
was observed and discussed with the closest
attention The inaugural address denver
ad go the Capitol was listened 70 win 'ne
utmost care. as being likely To- disclose. IN
outline at least. the main purposes ana aims
,f the new administration. The address
compares favorably with like compositions
I'm matter and form. IL Is characterized by
nm engaging moderation of statement arg
pitv off sivle and sincerity that must chal-
lenge the approval even OF those VINO
strongly oppose the views It expresses
President Harrison alludes in the outset 10
the ccr that hi, term Is the twenty slNth
under our constitution, though flashing
ron's inauguration was delayed until the
2Otb of April. 1889 He is ied by tins CIR
cumstance to review the changes ana CON
frssf. of the first century Of the organlzeu
existence of this government. We have
now thirlv-eight States, populous ana pow
-rul as against the thirteen of Washing
fon'- time. The centre OF population when
tbe national capital was located was east ol
Baltimore. In 1880 IL was near Cincinnati.
and the next census will show long stride
to the westward The comparison OF the
condition of our people now and then u, IN
the Presidents opinion, much 20 the adyan-
tece of our own time We have grown
m9rvelouslv In territory, population ana
wealth. but we have grown also IN otheI
things. The MASSES are better ied, ciolh'u
and housed. There is more OF education
courage. patriotism, temperance, religion
and charity and the opportunity 70 secure
the comforts of life are better than lOO
wear. ago. Yet the earlier day had tins
feature. that 10 was interested in the deyel-
oDnent OF home manufactures, and Presl
dent Harrison finds in the purpose OF ms
nqrtv to raise the average of tariff taxes
above A. per cent.-as against the 10 per
cent of Wl,bingtOn's time-"revlval OF the
same patriotic interest In the preservation
and development of domestic industries
There was opposition then, as now, he con
cedes. Co the protective policy, but 10 was due
chiefly. lu his opinion. 90 tue existence oil
slavery Inn "some of the states. The Tree
inr of the slave, has happily elemlnated the
sectional element from the tariff discussion.
AN the States may now engage IN manu-
Occurring, and this circumstance points, I'D
Ills view. to the growth Of the protecuonlst
sentiment in the south. An lance oi the
manufacturing interest in the South with
-h. calored element is suggested. southern
mgn who accept the 'ant views "I Clay
nave only, 10 is suggested, 10 courageou'iy
lyov and defend their real convictions. aud
may hope 'by friendly instruction and CO.
.n.rttion to make the black man their eth
lent and safe ally, not only iu securing the
future of protection, but also "ln preserving
tir their local communities the Dement'S ol
social order and economical aud honest gov
eminent" President Harrison rejects The
SUGGESTION of q special executive policy Tor
4nv section of our country, but indicates "a
,G,p1>ition to welcome legislation looking
to federal supervision OF congressional
,lsctioos We dDprncates the ellurts OF IN
lvl0u1.-, corporations OF communities I"
1u.iv announcement laws, and points
COB the evil effects of such % course. lis
purpose. it is intimated. IS to put
down violent interference with rights
A reform oft election laws is strongly urged,
with the object of securing the freedom OF
.he ballot Congress ha, not hitherto taken
control of elections in cases where the Con-
,uluuon gives % Jurisdiction, but "the lnci-
ic,eucy of the state laws, or the unfair or
partisan administration OF them, demands,
u The Presidents view, chat IL should now
10 SD. I'm the S,Utb the iuetiicieucy OF a.
certain class of voter, is much spoken Of
"lt' saws the President, Gin any OF the
states thc public security is thought TO be
threatened by ignorance among The electors,
.ue obvious remedy Is education. He does
NOT. however. suggest thal Cuusre>s should
defer it, legislation to bring out the colored
vote until The required degree of education
is obtained Election frauds, such as those
100 New York and Indiana. are deprecated
of severe terms, and the just view Is eX-
pressed that "a party success achieved 10y
unfair methods, or 10y practices that poriake
1i revolution, is buruul and evancScent
even from party standpoint Turning
from these great issues, The President ad-
,i>., modification of our naturalization
avs with the object of restricting the gift
1f citizenship To- worthy immigrants; insists
upon the assertion of American pred0ml.
nance Overthe l~thmian canal and the main
-en9uce of rights acquired by this govern
meut in Samoa di-credit, the idea that
treasury surplus Is the greatest of evils, and
suggests that SO much of it rs remains after
p suitable reduction of our revenues may
1e wisely spent 0r used 900 lhe purchas' OF
government bond, The enforcement of