Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1890-03-06
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
Gov. Boies FavOrS Australian
Ballot Reform.
Advocates Repeal of the Prohib-
tory Law, and Return to
License.
Discusses the Tariff Question as
Wen as Matters of State
Policy Generally.


Policy Generally.
FELLOW CITIZENS, GENTLEMEN or THE
SENATE AND HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES,: =
The circumstances under which was elected
to the Office of chief magistrate of my state
naturally impr, SIS INC with an unusual weight
OF responsibility.
am net ut liberty 10 regard my election
as purely partisan victory. | recoruizo the.
fact that my position is due to the united
action OF men OF every different political
parties, and assume the duties OF the high
Off 20 TO which l have been called conscious
that the people OF ny state have right TO
expect at my hands an administration OF
their affairs as broad and as liberal as the
spirit they have manifested toward me.
Prof nndly grateful AS am for the honor
81 generously bestowed, will have greater
reason still for gratitude II at the end OF my
term ! can feel that no act OF mine has weak,
ened the faith or betrayed the confidence OF
those who have trusted me. As accept
fiom their hands the symbol OF power, and
assume the duty 1t brings, devou,ly pray
for wisdom which shall enable me TO perform
the great work to which | am called, that no
hour of my lie will be panied with the re-
Election that have proved unequal TO, or I'M
worthy of the task sss'gue me.
The legislature will have for its aid the
message Of our retiring governor, whose long
aud faithful service In the Office he has go
highly honored and whose thorough ia nliar-
ity with the wants OF the state Will entttle his
surgt stiohs to most careful consideration and
relieve me from obligation to discuss many
OF the subjects to which he has so ably re-
ferred
Sin je, however. the executive of the state
is necessarily CO ordinate branch OF the law
making power, i will be permitted to sug-
a. t. ,luN
utes be wise than II is that they be numer
Gus.
II is, In the judgment OF many, misfor-
tune rather than IA blessing that we have so
many statuatory regulations. They believe
that too much virtue Is ascribed to such en-
set nents and too little to those unwritten
laws which, having their source in the very
fountains of nat Iral right, peryade all
countries ard in many instances define bet
ter than statutes can do the obligations and
privileges of men.
do not wish TO suggest that the duties OF
legislators are light. No greater responsible
ity is imposed upon man. Upon their wis.
dom, sagaCity and sense Of Justice depends
the welfare of those for whom they legisl ate.
II they act wisely they may build for them
selves monument OF fame, crowned with
the blessings Of those they serve. IL they
fail they must walk In the shadows Of the
misfortune their own hands have wrought.
Important public questions agitate our
people: some are OF local application, others
involve the nation, of which we are part.
Among these Is the question OF ballot re-
form. Tho safety of republic necessarily
depends upon the intelligence Of its electors
and faithful discharge by them Of their
duties at the polls.
Ignorance as we'll as corruption Is incom-
patiblc with stability in q government that
derives its powers from the people. If any
A., kA IL - Int
eminent, IL lies In the fact that, ignoring the
question of intelligence, the elective fran
chise has been extended beyond the limits OF
reasonable safety.
Our own constitution Axes the distinction
between those who are and those who are not
entitled to this privilege at the point where
the lowest order OF rat onal intelligence,
twenty. one years Of age, touches the bound.
airy line OF helpless idiocy or maniacal delu-
sion.
In localities where the masses are as intelli-
gent as the people OF Iowa even this liberality
is not beset with Imminent danger, but it
forces upon thoughtful minds the necessity
for unceasing care In guarding the purity OF
q franchise that shapes with AN iron hand the
destiny OF our state.
The duty of the clec,or IL plain; By the
most sacred of human obligations he is bound
to bring 10 the aid OF the government of
which he Is q member the weight of his un-
biased intelligence upon every political issue
his vote helps to determine. And yet In
countless ways the state Is deprived of that
which so Justly belongs to it. Men go to the
polls and deposit their votes in blind obedi.
ence to lrty ties they will not sunder. The
empty name of political organization Is Too
often the embodiment of their faith, and they
follow 1t, unmindful of constantly changing
Issues which deman nd impartial consideration.
Self constituted overseers pursue those who
nr rcfa
their reason in the discharge of one of the
most important of duties. The strong over
come the weak employers too often control
employees, the rich direct the poor and all of
these rob the nation and the state OF thas
upon which their safety depends-the de-
lberate judgment of many of those who ex-
ercse the almost sacred privilege OF the elect
i've franchise.
If we could stop here In the enumeration OF
dangers which Cow from a faithless ballot,
the situation would not call SO loudly for
safeguards around the polls.
It Is a humIlisting fast and yet one that IL
is criminal negligence TO ignore, that some
men are corrupt enough to buy, and others
base enough to cell, the noblest blrthright OF
an American citizen.
No duty Is more plain than that which de-
mands OF the legislative department OF every
government the enactment of laws which
shall to the utmost limit of utility surround
tie ballot box with safeguards that will ban
fish from all elections the corrupt use OF
money and secure to the state unbiased
judgment OF each eiector. This can, as l
believe, be most eftctuslly accomplished
through statutes which compel the deposit
of secret ballot, the contents OF which can
never be made known except by bin who de-
posts 1t, and then without evidence TO cor
roborate his statement. Such laws put 1t be-
yond the power OF others to criticise the
electors ballot who desires to keep 1t secret,
and compels those disposed to use money
corruptly to rely upon the uncorroborated
word OF men base enough to sell their votes.
Great interest naturally attaches 10 the
subject OF rates fer railway transportation.
In the present depressed condition OF prices
1t 10 natural that those whose pecuniary In
terests are affected thereby should demand
that these be fixed at the lowest possible
point attainable without actual injustice TO
the carrier.
Prior to our present lava on this subject
tho purchaser of transportation was at the
mercy OF railway companies. Their uncon-
tioled will, however arbitrarily exercised,
was final decree from which there was no
appeal and for which there was no redress,
Their managers we're mortals only. They
abused their power, as pesrly all men do
OF right and wrong.
They were not satisfied with renumeratlve
dividends upon the money actually invested
In the great enterprises over which they pre-
sided, but they watered the stock OF their
corporations. sold IL At prices far below It's
face value and then undertook TO conduct
business on basis tina. would return diyi'