The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-03-06
CLEVELAND'S ADDRESS.
The New President Enunciates Pro-
nOuneed Views.
A STABLE CURRENCY THE KEY
NOTE OF HIS POLICY.


ton in Favor of ariff for Revenue
Only-Strict Construction of the Con-
stitution Foreshadowed.
WASHINGTON, March 1.-The follow
ing is the full text of President Cleve-
lands inaugural address:
M FelIo,c Citizens:
In obedience to the mandate of my
countrymen am about to dedicate my
self to their service under the sanction
of solemn oath. Deeply moved by the
expression of confidence and personal at
tachment which has called me to this
service, I am sure my gratitude can
make no better return than the pledge
/ now give before God and these witness
es of unreserved and complete devotion
to the interests and welfare of those who
have honored me. I deem it fit on this
occasion, while Indicating the opinions I
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 useful
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 insti-
buttons to stand against the rudest
shocks of violence, the wonderful thrift
aud enterprise of our people, and the de-
monstrated superiority of our free gov
eminent, it behooves us to constantly
watch for every symptom OF insldious
Infirmity that Threatens Our National
vigor.
The strong man who in the confidence
of sturdy health, courts the sternest &C
tivities of life and rejoices in the hardi-
hood of constant labor, may still have
lurking near his vitals the unheeded dis
ease that dooms him to sudden collapse.
1t cannot be doubted that our stupen-
dous achievements as people and our
country's robust strength have given
rise to a heedlessness of thpse laws gov
erning 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 nation and to the benefi-
cent purposes of our government than a
sound and stable currency. Its exposure
to degradation should at once arouse to
activity the most enlightened statesman
ship; and the danger of depreciation in
the purchasing power of the wages paid
to toll should furnish the strongest in
centive 10 prompt and conservative pre-
caution, In dealing with our present
embarrassing situation as related to this
subject, we shall 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-
NIT us to defy with impunity the inexor-
able laws of finance and trade. AT the
same time, in our efforts to adjust diff
ferences of opinion we should be free
from intolerance or passion and our judg-
ments should be unmoved by alluning
phrases and unvexed by selfish interests.
/ 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 interested
will be withheld, when their exercise is
deemed necessary to maintain our nation
al credit or avert financial disaster.
Closely related to the exaggerated con-
fdence in our country's greatness which
tends to disregard of the rules of ma
tional safety. another danger confronts
us not less serious. refer to the prev
alence of popular disposition to ex-
pect from the operation of the govern
ment especial and direct individual adj
vantages. The verdict of our voters,
which condemned the
Injustice of Maintaining Protection
for projections sake, enjoins upon the
peoples servants the duty of exposing
and destroying the brood of kindred
evils which are the unwholesome proge-
ny OF paternalism. This is the bane of
Republican institutions and the constant
peril of our government by the people.
1t degrades to the purposes of willy craft
the plan of rule our fathers established
and bequeathed to us as an object of our
love and veneration; it perverts the pat
riotic sentiment of our countrymen, and
tempts them to a pitiful calculation OF
the sordid gain to be derived from their
governments maintenance. 1t under
mines the self-reliance of our people and
substitutes in its place dependence upon
government favoritism. 1t stiles the
spirit of true Americanism and stupe,
fles every ennobling trait of American
citizenship.
The lessons of paternalism ought to be
unlearned, and the better lesson taught
that while the people should periodically
and cheerfully support their government
its functions do not include the support
of the people. The acceptance of this
principle leads to a refusal of bounties
and subsidies, which burden the labor
and thrift of portion of our citizens, to
aid ill-advised or languishing enterprises
in which they have no concern. 1t leads
also to challenge of wild and
Reckless Pension Expenditures
which overleaps the bounds of grateful
recognition of patriotic service and pros
titutes to vicious uses the people prompt
and generous impulse to aid those disa
bled in their country's defence. Every
thoughtful American must realize the
Importance of checking at it's beginning
any tendency in public OF private station
to regard frugality and economy as vir
tues which we may safely outgrow. The
| liberation of this idea results in the
waste of the peoples money by theil
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