The Delta independent., 1889-03-12
THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS.

The INAUGURAL ADDRESS,.
There Is no constitutional or legal
requirement that the President shall take
the oath OF office in the presence of
the people, but there is SO manifest an ap-
propriateness in public induction 10 Of
nee of the chief executive officer Of the Ma
ton that from the beginning Of the govern
mcnt, people, TO whose service the
Official oath consecrntes the officer
have been called 10 witness the sol
emn ceremonial oath taken in the presence
Of the people, which becomes mutual COW
cnant. The officer covenants to serve the
whole body of the people by faithful exc
cation 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 power Of com
binations shall be able 10 eyadc their Just
penalties, or wrest them from beuetcent
public purpose To serve the ends of cruelty
or selfshness.
My promise Is spoken. Yours is un-
spoken, but not less real and solemn. The
people of every State have here their repre-
scntatiycs. Surely do not misinterpret the
spirit OF the occasion when i assume that
the whole body OF the people covenant
with mo and with each other today 10 sup.
port and defend the Constitution and the
union OF States, 10 yield willing obedience
TO all laws and to give To every other citi-
zen his equal civil and political rights, En-
tcring thus solcmnly into covenant with
each other, we may rcNcrcntly invoke the
aid ana confidently expect the favor and
help Of Almighty God that he will give to
me wisdl:n, strength and fidelity, and to
our people spirit OF fraternity and love of
Righteousness and peace.
GROWTH or THE REPUHLiC.
This occasion derives peculiar interest
from the fact that the Presidential term
which begins this day, is the twenty y-sixth
under our Constitution. The first inaugu-
ration Of President Washington took place
In New York where Congress was
then sitting on April 80, lIsg, having beeu
deferred BY reason Of delays attending the
organization of Congress and the CANVASS
Of the electoral vote. Our people have al
ready worthily observed the ccntennials Of
the Declaration Of Independence, Of the
battle OF Yorktown, and 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; and when the cen
tonnial of the judicial department by the
organization of the supreme Court shall
have been suitably observed, as ! trust it
will be, our Nation viii have fully en-
tered the second century. j Will not ut
tempt TO note the marvellous, and in great
part, happy contrasts between our country.
as 1t steps over the threshold into its second
century of organization and existence un-
der the Constitution, and that weak but
wisely ordered young nation that looked
undauntedly down the first century, when
all its years stretched before IT. Our pco-
pie win not fail at this time to recall the
incidents which accompanied the ins,itu-
tion OF the government under the constitu-
ton, or TO find inspiration and guidance in the
teachings and example of Washington, and
his great associates, and hope and
courage In the contrast which thirty-cight
populous and prosperous States offer to the
thirteen States. weak in everything except
courage and love Of liberty, that then
fringcd our Atlantic seaboard. The Terri
tory Of Dakota has now u population
greater than any of the original States
tcxcept Nirginia) and greater than the ag
srcgatc of five of the smaller States In
i1a0, The center of population when our
National Capital was located was east of
Baltimore, and 1t was argued by many well
informed persons that il would sinovo
eastward rather than westward; yet, in
1850, IL was found TO be near Cincinnati.
and tho new census about TO be taken will
show another stride 10 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 10 terri
tory, population and aggregate wealth.
marvellous as IL has been in each OF these
directions. Tho masses of our people are
better fed. clothed and housed than their
tion have been vastly enlarged aud
and more generally d!Gused; the
virtues OF courage and patriot
ism haze gwen recent proof OF
their continued presence and Increasing
power In the hearts and over the lives of
our people; influences OF religion have been
multiplied and strengthened; the sweet of
fees of charity have generally increased.
and the virtue OF temperance held in higher
estimation. We have not obtained nn ideal
condition. Not all of our people are happy
and prosperous; not all of them virtuous
and law abiding, but on the whole the op
portunities offered to individuals TO secure
the comforts of life arc better than found
elsewhere, and largely better than they
were here 100 years ago.
Tho surrender of n large measure OF SOW
ercignty to tho general Government, Of
fected by the adoption of the Constitution.
was not accomplished until the suggestions
of reason were strongly reinforced by the
more imperative voice of experience.
Tho divergent interests of peace speedily
demanded n moro perfect union. Merchant,
shipmaster and manufacturer discovered
and disclosed to our statesmen and to the
people that commercial emancipation
must be added to political freedom which
had been so bravcly won. The commercial
policy OF the mother country had not rc-
iaxcd any Of its hard md oppressive feat
urcs 10 hold In check the development of
our commercial marine, to prevent or re
tard tho establishment and growth of man
ufactures In tho States, and to secure an
American market for their shops and car
rying trade, and for their shipments, was
the policy OF European statesmen and wns
pursued with selfish vIgor, Petitions in
of discriminating duties that should cncour-