Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-03-06
CLEVELAND'S ADDRESS.
The Presidents Inauguration Speech
Touched on Finance, Economy, Civil
Service, PaternalIsm and the Tariff.

WASHINGTON, March 4-President Cleve-
lands inaugural address, which was deliv-
cred in an impressive manner, was, despite
the nasty weather, attentively listened to
by the vast audience and was literally ap-
plauded. The speech was as follows:
MY FELLOW CITIzENs-In obedience to the
mandate of my countrymen, am about to ded-
icate myself to their service under the sanction
of a solemn oath. Deeply moved by the eX-
preston of confidence and personal attachment
which has called me to this service, l am sure
my gratitude can make no better return than
the pledge l now give before God and these
witnesses of unreserved and complete devotion
to the interests and welfare of those who have
honored me. l deem it fitting on this occasion,
while indicating the opinions l hold concerning
public questions of present Importance, to also
briefly refer to the existence of certain con-
ditions and tendencies among our people which
seem to menace the integrity and usefulness of
their government.
While every American citizen must contem-
plate with the utmost pride and enthusiasm
the growth and expansion of our country, the
sufficiency of our institutions to stand against
the rudest shocks of violence, the wonderful
thrift and enterprise of our people. and the
demonstrated superiority of our free govern
ment, 1t behooves us to constantly watch for
every symptom of insidious infirmity that
who, in the confidence of sturdy health, courts
the sternest activities of life and rejoices in the
hardihood of constant labor may still have
lurking near his vitals the unheeded disease
that dooms him to sudden collapse.
1t cannot be doubted that our stupendous
achievements as people and our country's
robust strength have given rise to a Needless
ness of those laws governing our national
health which we can no more evade than hu-
man life can escape the laws of God and ma
ture. Manifestly nothing is more vital to our
supremacy as nation and to the beneficent'
purpose of our government than a sound and
stable currency. Its exposure to degradation
should at once arouse to activity the most en-
Hghtened craftsmanship, and the danger of
depreciation in the purchasing power of the
wages paid to toll should furnish the strongest
incentive to prompt and conservative precau-
ton.
In dealing with our present embarrassing sit.
uation as related to this subject we will be
wise if we temper our confidence and faith in
our national strength and resources with the
frank concession that even these will not per-
init us to defy with impunity the ineXorable
laws of finance and trade. At the Same time,
in our efforts to adjust differences of opinion
we should be free from intolerance of passion
and our judgments should be unmoved by al
Turing phrases and unveXed by selfish inter-
ests. | am confident that such an approach to
the subject will result in prudent and effective
remedial Legislation, In the meantime 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.
Paternalism and Economy.
Closely related to the exaggerated confidence
in our country's greatness, which tends to a dis
regard of the rules of national safety, another
danger confronts us not less serious. | refer to
the prevalence Of popular disposition to ex-
pect from the operation of the government spe-
cial and direct individual advantages The
verdict of our voters, which condemned the in
justice of maintaining protection for protec-
tion's sake, enjoins upon the peoples servants
the duty of exposing and destroying the brood
Of kindred evils which are the unwholesome
progeny of paternalism This is the bane of re-
publican institutions and the constant peril of
our government by the people.
II degrades to the purposes of willy craft the
plan of rule our fathers established and be-
queathed to us as an object of our love and VEN
GRAFTON. II perverts the patriotic sentiment of
our countrymen and tempts them to a pitiful
calculation of the sordid gain to be derived
from their governments maintenance. 1t un-
dermines the self reliance of our people and
substitutes in its place dependence upon gov
ernmental favoritism. 1t stiles the spirit of
true Americanism and stupefies every emo
bling trait of American citizenship.
The lessons of paternalism ought to be un-
learned and the better lesson taught that while
the people should patriotically and cheerfully
support their government its functions do not