Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1893-03-09
THE INAueuRAL ADDRESS.
President Cleveland Announces the Poll
of His Administration.


President Cleveland Announces the Policy
of His Administration.
Theinaugural address of President Cleve-
land before taking the oath of office was as
follows:
my FELLOW CITIZENS: In obedience to
the mandate of my countrymen, 1 am
about to dedicate myself to their service
under the sanction Of a solemn oath.
Deeply moved by the expression of conf
dence and personal attachment which have
called me to this service, am sure nv
gratitude can make no better return than
the pledge now give before God and these
witnesses of unreserved and complete de-
votion to the interests and welfare of those
who have honored me.
II deem it fitting on this occasion, while
indicating the opinions hold concerning
public questions of present Importance, to
also briefly refer to the existence Of certain
conditions and tendencies among our
people which seem to menace the integrity
and usefulness of their government.
while every American citizen must
| contemplate with the utmost pride and
enthusiasm the growth and expansion
of our country, the suficiency Of our in
stitutions to stand against the rudest
shocks of violence, the wonderful thrift
and enterprise of our people, and the dem
onstrated superiority of our free govern
ment, it behooves us to constantly watch
for every symptom of insidious infrmity
that threatens our national vigor.
1.-THE strong man who, in the confidence
of sturdy health, courts the sternest
activities Of life and rejoices in the hardi-
hood Of constant labor, may still have
L - II
ease that dooms him to sudden collapse
"It cannot be doubted that our stupen-
dous achievements as a people and our
countrys robust strength have given rise
to heedlessness of those laws governing
our national health, which we can no more
evade than human life can escape the laws
of God and nature
'Manifestly nothing is more vital to our
supremacy as anation and to the beneficent
purposes of our government than sound
and stable currency. Its exposure to deg
radiation should at once arouse to activity
the most enlightened craftsmanship; and
the danger Of depreciation in the purchas-
ing power of the wages paid to toll should
furnish the strongest incentive to prompt
and conservative precautions
TN dealing with your present embar-
rassing situation as related to this subject
we will be wise if we temper our confidence
and faith in our national strength and re-
sources with the frank concession that
even these will not permit us to defy with
impunity the inexorable laws of finance
and trade. At the same time in our eff
forts to adjust differences of opinion we
should be free from intolerance or passion,
and our judgments should be unmoved by
alluring phrases and unvexed BY selfish
interests
II am confident that such an approach
to the subject will result in prudent and
effective remedial legislation. In the mean
time, so far as the executive branch of the
government can intervene, none of the
powers with which it Is invested will be
withheld, when their exercise is deemed
necessary to maintain our national credit
or avert financial disaster
"Closely related to the exaggerated con-
fdence in our country's greatness, which
tends to a disregard of the rules of ma
tional safety, another danger confronts us
not less serious. refer to the prevalence
of popular disposition TO expect from the
operation of the government especial and
direct individual advantages.
1.-THE verdict of our voters, which con-
demned the injustice of maintaining protec-
ton for projections s sake, enjoins upon the
peoples servants the duty of exposing and
destroying the broods of kindred evils
which are the unwholesome progeny of
paternalism.
This is the bane of our institutions and
the constant peril of our government by
the people. It degrades to the purposes of
willy craft the plan Of rule our fathers
established and bequeathed to our love
and veneration. 1t perverts the patriotic
sentiment of our countrymen, and tempts
them to pitiful calculation of the sordid
gain to be derived from their govern
ment's maintenance.
'Tt undermines the self reliance of our
people, and substitutes in its place de-
pendence upon governmental favoritism.
1t stiles the spirit of true Americanism,
and stupefies every ennobling trait OF
American citizenship.
1.-THE lessons of paternalism ought to be
unlearned, and the better lesson taught
that while the people should patriotically
and cheerfully support their government,
its functions do not include the support Of
the people
1.-THE acceptance Of this principle leads
to refusal Of bounties and subsidies,
which burden the labor and thrift Of
portion Of our citizens to aid i'll advised or
languishing enterprises in which they have
no concern.
"It leads also to challenge of wild and
reckless pension expenditure, which over
leaps the bounds of grateful recognition Of
patriotic service, and prostitutes to vicious
uses the peoples prompt and generous i'm
pulse to aid those disabled in their coun-
try's defense.
"EverythoughtfulAm american must realize
the Importance Of checking at its begin
ming any tendency, in public or private
station, to regard frugality and economy
as virtues which we may safely outgrow.
The federation of this idea results in the
waste of the peoples money by their chosen
servants, and encourages prodigality and
extravaganza in the home life Of our coun-
trymen
sUnder our scheme Of government the
waste of public money is a crime against
the citizens; and the contempt Of our peo-
pie for economy and frugality in their per-
sonal affairs deplorably saps the strength
and sturdiness of our national character.
ut is plain dictate of honesty and good
government that public expenditures
should be limited by public necessity, and
that this should be measured by the rules
of strict economy; and it is equally clear
that frugality among the people is the best
guaranty Of eontented and strong sup
port Of free institutions
"One mode Of the misappropriation Of
public funds isavoided when appointments
to office, instead Of being the rewards of
partisan activity, are awarded to those
whose efficiency promises fair return of
work for the compensation paid to them.
To secure the fitness and competency Of
appointees to Office, and to remove from
political action the demoralizing madness
for spoiIs, civil service reform has found a
place in our public policy and laws. The
benefits already gained through this in
strumentality and the further usefulness
it promises entitle it to the hearty support
and encouragement of all who desire to
see our public service well performed or