South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1889-03-15
THEINTELLlGENCER
FRIDAY, MARCH Is, 1889.
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
Of President BENZ. Harrison

President Benjamin Harr:sons
There is no constitutional or legal
requirement. that the President sail
take the oath of Office in the presence
Of tho people. But there Is so mat.
ifest an appropriateness in the pub.
lie induction to office of the Chief Elk.
ecutive cAcec Of the nation that from
the beginning Of the government the
people, TO whose service the official
oath consecrates the officer, have
been called to witness the solemn
ceremonial. The oath taken in the
presence Of the people becomes q
mutual covenant-the officer cove
mantle to serve the whole body of the
people by faithful execution of the
laws, so that they may be the un-
failing defense and security OF those
who respect and observe them. and
that neither wealth, station. nor the
power OF combination shall be able
to evade their just penalties or to
wrest them from q beneficient public
purpose TO serve the ends Of cruel
ty or selfslness. My promise is
spoken; yours unspoken, but not the
less real and solemn. The people of
every State have here their represent
tatives. Surely do not misinterpret
the spirit Of the occasion wheL as.
sumo that the whole body Of the people
covenant with me and with each oth-
or to.dsy to support and defend the
Constitution and the Union Of the
States, 10 yield willing obedience to
all the laws aud 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 Almight.
y God tina, He will give to me wisdom
strength and fiieli'y, and to our peo-
pie spirit o! fraternity and love
OF righteousness and peace.
THE CENTENNIAL YEAR.
This occasion derives peculiar in
tetest from the fact that the presi-
Dental term. which begins this day,
is the ;wenty-s:xlh under our Con-
slilution. The frs, Inauguration of
President Washington took place in
New York, where Congress was then
sitting, on the S0th day of April,
1859, having been deferred by reason
of delay attending the organization
of Congress and the canvass of the
electoral vote. Our people have al
ready worthilY observed the centen-
mails of tue Declaration of Indcpend,
ence. of the battle of Yorktown and
the adoption of the constitution, and
will shortly celebrate in New York
the institution OF the second great
of our constitutional
scheme of government. When the
OF the institution Of the jus
dlcial department by the orsanizae
ton Of the Supr, me Court snail
have been suitably observed. rs l
trust it will he, our nation will have
fully entered its second century.
i will not attempt to note the mar
velous and, in great part, happy
between our county as it
steps over the threshold into its sec.
ond century OF organized existence
under the Constitution, and ,lrat weak
but wisely ordered young nation
that looked undauntedly down the
frs. century, when oil its years
stretched out before it.
GROWTH OF THE COUNTRY.
Our people will not fail at this
time TO recall the instance which &C.
companied the institution of our
under the Constitution,
or TO find inspiration and guidance
in the teachings and example OF
and his great associates,
and hope and courage in tue contrast
which thirty.eigbt populous and pros.
porous States offer to the thirteen
States, weak in everything except
courage and The love Of liberty, that
then friDged our Atlantic seaboard.
The Territory OF Dsko.o has now
a population greater than any Of the
original States Except Virginia. and
greater than the aggregate Of five of
the smaller States in 1890. The
center Of population when our nation.
al capital was located was east OF
and it Was argued by
well Uniformed persons that 1t would
move eastward rather than westward.
Yet in 1880 it was found to be near
and the new census, soon
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 TO
territory, population and aggregate
wealth, marvellous as it has been in
each OF those directions. The masses
Of our people are better fed, clothed
and housed than their fathers we're.
The facilities for popular educa.
ton have been vastly enlarged and
more generally diffused. The vir-
tues of courage and patriotism have
given recent proof Of their continued
presence and incl easing power in the
hearts and over The lives Of our peo-
pie. The influences of religion have
boen multiplied and strengthened.
The sweet Offices Of chsrity have
greatly increased. The virtue OF
is held in higher esti-
nation. We have not attained an
deal condition. Not oil OF our peos
pic are happy and prosperous; not
MI OF them are virtuous and lava.
Diding But, on the whole, opprtu-
1itics offered 70 the individual to
jecure the comforts Of life are better