Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-02-14
Governor Fleming Inaugurated.

Qay. he was tSCOTtcu w Vic iioi.'
door of the Capitol by the Governors
Guard, a military company, followed
bv fully three thousand people. The
ceremonies were simple AID short.
PRAYER was offered by Rev. ii. w.
Terrence, after which ex-Gov. Wilson
introduced Mr.. Fleming in a short
speech, in which he said 1: ut gives
Ine great pleasure to present to you
our Governor, A. b. Fleming. L wish
from the bottom of my heart that his
administration may be one OF har-
mony and prosperity"
Governor Fleming followed with
his inaugural, after which Judge
English, of the Supreme Court OF APP
peals, administered the oath OF Office.
Then followed rush of handshaklng
and for two hours the Governors
reception rooms were filled with
friends. The ceremonies closed at
night with grand ball in the State
Armory ""hich was attended by the
members oI the Legislature and thou
sands of friends of the new Governor.
THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
Gov. Fleming's inaugural address
was as follows
Ladies and gentlemen, the usual
time for the Inauguration having long
since passed, delayed as ii has been
by contest that has produced some
bitterness OF feeling, all will recognize
the propriety OF brevity upon TINS oc-
casion and the improperly OF utter
ances calculated toprolong or increase
political animosities. The present
should not be employed to Keep open
election wounds. 1t is better tnat
these be healed as speedily as posi-
BILE. that the people of our State may
again address themselves, undisturb-
ed and embarrassed by politics, to the
successful development of our woo
rous Young Commonwealth and TO
secure theirshare OF the wealth which
n beneticient Providence has so boun-
teously placed within Its borders.
Our millions of acres OF timber, grow
ing upon a fertile soil, underlying
which are hundreds OF thousands OF
acres Of the choicest steam, gas ana
coking Goals, and undetermined and
possiblv unlimited quantity OF petro-
ieum and vast mineral deposits, all In
the infancy of development, present
a most inviting field for both capital
and labor.
And whilst we welcome capital,
and promise it safe and profitable in
yestlnent, it is equally needful that
bv wise avs, fairly administered, we
lend helpful hand TO labor and en-
courage those who earn their bread
by the sweat of their faces TO make
their home among us. Labor should
not be regarded as the Legitimate
nrev of ayaricious seltishness, or de-
MED any safeguard which the laws
can give to secure to it an equitable
norton of the fruits of our common
industry and enterprise.
"In the administration of local gov
eminent the strictest economy should
he maintained. The extent in which
the people are now burdened by I'M
necessary discriminating and oppres-
siye federal taxation through the ope-
rations of our monopoly-breeding and
class enriching tariff increases the
necessity for making our local tax
burdens as light as possible.
But | do not desire to speak at
greater length upon these general
Subjects. l am urged by a sense of
public duty to more important mat
fer. one that concerns the whole peo-
pie, and which it is particularly ar-
propriate that | should discuss on
this occasion. Under q Republican
form of government such as ours,
where all the powers reside with the
people, who through the ballot choose
their own public servants, and thus
dictate public policy and direct and
control their own governmental al
fairs, all must recognize the supreme
Importance of free, honest and I'M
purchased elections, and the danger
to our political institutions from
crimes against the suffrage. Isolated
cases of illegal and improper voting
NAV occur despite the greatest care
and watchfulness. But these occa-
sional crimes against honest elections
do not seriously affect and cannot
really epdanger our political system.
1t is i'm organized fraud and in sys-
tematized efforts by political organl-
cations in close and pivotal States
and throughout the nation to carry
elections by fraud and purchase that
positive peril and imminent danger
TO our form of government exists.
The popular tendency to adopt the
methods of the Quays and Dudleys
for the achievement of party victory
is a menace to free institutions and
free government that challenges the
thoughtful attention and serious con-
sideration of patriotic citizens of all
parties.
The property and personal liberty
of the citizen should be protected and
held sacred in the eyes of the law and
of the people, but it is vastly more
important, looking to the broader
consequences, that the power of his
vote aud its free exercise should be
safely guarded and kept inviolate.
This constitutes the basal struct
ure of our government, and upon 1t
rests our entire political system as de-
signed and fashioned by the fathers
of the republic. Without a free bal
lot we cannot have free govern
ment; without an honest ballot we
cannot have an honest government.
We may as well expect wholesome,
perfect fruit and grain from tainted
seed or defective germ, as good and
honest government from unfair, cor
rupt elections.
Having these cardinal principles
in mind, considering the cloud that
nuuS ONtl Jul SNdtO VlCIiiOllcs NOhcAN
ering the charges of illegal voting
and general corruption preferred by
the people and The press of the State,
and now, in the light of what has been
clearly proven, considering also the
finding Of the joint committee
and the final action of the joint As
sembly, let all the people say whether
or not the contest was honestly or
wisely undertaken; whether or not
this successful resistance to an assault
on the purity of the ballot in West
Virginia was not an imperative duty
enjoined by a true regard for the
rights of the people; whether or not
|, rightfully and as the choice of a
majority of the electors Of this State,
stand here about to assume the duties
Of the office of Governor. The par
ties who conceived, planned and exc
cuted, so far as they were able, the
scheme of fraudulent voting in the
certain counties so nearly achieved