Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-03-11
The Inaugural Address.

ments. 1t was much such day and such
scene as that of four years ago when
President Harrison insisted upon reading
his inaugural from the east portico ex-
posed to the elements as 1t Ii, instead of
In the comfortable Senate chamber. Mr.
Cleveland accompanied Mr.. Harrison to
the portico then as Mr.. Harrison accom-
panied Mr.. Cleveland now. Mr.. Cleye-
land pronounced his address in a clear,
resonant voice and without the slightest
nervousness or trepidation. At its con-
clusion there was general commentator
and applause. Mr.. Cleveland said
My fellow-citizens: In obedience to the
mandate Of my countrymen, 1 am about
TO dedicate myself to their service under
the sanction of solemn oath. Deeply
moved by the expression of confidence
and personal attachment which has called
me to this service. am sure my gratitude
can make no better return than the
pledge. l now give before God and
these witnesses Of unreserved and com
plete devotion to the interests and well
fare of those who have honored me.
I deem 1t fitting on this occasion; while
indicating the opinions 1 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 govern.
n,tnt.
While every American citizen must
contemplate with the utmost pride and
enthusiasm the growth and expansion
of our country. the sufficiency of our in
stitutions to stand against the fudest
shocks of violence, the wonderful thrift
and enterprise of our people, and the
demonstrated superiority OF BUR free
Government. 1t behooves us to constantly
watch for every symptom of insidious in
tA..t
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
lurking near his vitals the unheeded
disease that doons him TO sudden COL
lapse.
1t cannot be doubted that our stupen-
dous achievements as a People and our
country's robust strength have given
rise to a heedlessness of tfose 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 a nation and to the benefi-
cent purposes of our Government than
sound and stable currency. Its exposure
to degradation should at once arouse to
activity the most enlightened statesman
ship; and the danger 81 depreciation In
toll should furnish the strongest incentive
to prompt and conservative precaution.
In dealing with our present embarrassing
situation as related to this subject. we
will be wise II we temper our confidence
and faith In our national strength and
resources with the frank concession that
even these will not permit us to defy with
impunity the memorable laws of finance
and trade. At the same time. in our eff
~ f,,tN
should be free from intolerance or pas
sion, and our judgments should be I'M
moved by alluring phrases and unvexed
by selfish interests.
l 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 ma
| tional credit Or avert financial disaster.
Closely related to the exaggerated conf
| dence 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 a popular disposition to expect from the
| operation of the Government especial and
| direct Individual advantages.
| The verdict of our voters, which con-
! demned the injustice of maintaining pro-
| lection for protection'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 Republi-
| can institutions and the constant peril of
! our Government by the people. II de-
grades to the purposes Of willy craft the
| plan of rule our fathers established ana
| bequeathed to us as an object Of our love
| and veneration. 1t perverts the patriotic
sentiment of our countrymen. and tempts
| them to pitifu calculation Of the sordid
| gain to be derived from the Govern
ment's maintenance. 1t undermines the
| self-reliance of our people and substitutes
| in its place dependence upon government
al favoritism. 1t stiles the spirit of true
Americanism and stupeies every en-
nobling strait Of American citizenship.
The lessons OF paternalism ought to be un-
| learned 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
| refusal of bounties and subsidies, which
| burden the labor and thrift of portion
| of our citizens. to aid ill-advised or Ian
| gushing enterprises In which they have
| no concern. 1t leads also to a challenge
/ of wild and reckless pension expenditure.
| which overlaps the bounds of grateful
| recognition OF patriotic service and pros
| titutes to vicious uses the peoples prompt
| and generous impulse TO aid those disabled
| in their countrys defense.
Every thoughtful American must real
! ize the Importance of checking at its be-
| ginning 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 public money is a crime agains,
! chosen servants and encourages prodi-
| gality and extravaganza IN the home life
| of our countrymen.
Under our scheme of government the
! waste OF public money is srime against
| the citizen and the contempt of our peo-
pie for economy and frugality in their
| personal affairs, deplorsbly saps the
strength and sturdiness OF our national
| character.
| 1t is plain dictate OF honesty and
good government that public expsndi-
lures should be limited by public neees-
! sity, 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 con
tented and strong support Of free insti-
| buttons,
| One mode OF the interpretation of
| public funds is avoided when appoint
| ments to Office. instead of being the re-
\ wards of partisan activity. are awarded
| to those whose efficiency promises a fair
\ return Of work for the compensation paid
| to them. To secure the fitness and COM
| potency of appointees 10 office, and &c
| remove from political action the de-
moralizing madness for spells. civil ser
| vice reform has found a place In our
| public policy and laws. The benefits al
| ready gained through this instrumental
ity a1d the further usefulness 1t promi-
ses. entitle 1t to the hearty support and
encouragement OF all who desire to see
our public service well performed or who
hope for the elevation of political senti-
ment and the publication of political
methods.
The existence Of immense aggresstions
of kindred enterprises and combinations
Of business interests. formed for the pur-
pose Of limiting production and fixing
prices, Is inconsistent with the fair field
which ought to be open TO every indie
pendent activity. Legitimate strife In
business should not be superseded by an
enforced concession to the demands of
combinations that have the power 10 de-
stroy; nor should the people to be served
lose the benefit Of cheapness which usu-
ally results from wholesome competition.
These aggregations and combinations fire.
quently constitute conspiracies against the
interests Of the people and IN all their
phases they are unnatural and opposed
10 eur American sense Of fairness. To
the extent that they can be reached and
constrained by Federal power. the gen
eral Government should relieve our citf-
ina M