Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-03-05
SUNDAY. ......... MARCH 8, 1898.
The Now prosident's Inaugural


sage ought TO contain. but he wrote the
entire document himself. General JACK
son when President of the United states
wrote his own messages, but allowed his
Cabinet to touch them up" For exam
pie. he wrote. 1.-The blessings Of govern
,nent should fall alike upon the
rich and the poor" but permitted the SEN
tence 10 be changed so as TO read, The
blessings Of government. Ike ne deics OF
Hsapen, should fall alike upon the rich and
the poor" Mr.. CLEyELAND's messages need
not even such revision as General JACKSON
allowed. As he writes them they are mark
ed by vigorous English. striking phrases,
and hard common-sense. The ono before
us will please the people. 1t has not q
word in it which was employed to tickle
the ears of the groundhngs." 1t has not
one expression Of doubtful purport. He
desired 10 communicate with the people,
IND be succeeded.
The President expresses his deep sense
of the debt of gratitude he owes the peo-
ple who @ second time elected him to the
presidency, and makes solemn pledge
before God that be will servo them to the
utmost extent of his ability. We said the
other day that he was ready to do his part
of the good work Of purgiDg the pension
roll. In his inaugural he makes this fact
manifest by both declaring and arguing
against "the wild and reckless pension
expenditure" He also says, as we believe
L, he had said before. that the people should
,,eupport the government but should not
regard it as one of the functions of tho
government TO support the people--a les
'.son which cannot DO too thoroughly
learned.
The President declares for "a sound and
tetsble currency and against degrading y
our circulating medium. We have never
supposed that be would oouutenaDce any
~pf the wildcat schemes Of the would-be
currency-retormers, or, as they ought TO
be styled, "curroncy-tinkers." He does
not mention specifically the silver ques-
ton, not that he is not still opposed to the
free coinage Of silver. but for othor rea-
sons-we would fain hope because he ex-
poets an opportunity to offer itself for him
TO "fnd or make" a way out of our
sinancial troubles. Possibly he may have
had the silver question in mind when he
spoke of the purchasing power" of our
currency and "the memorable laws of
finance and trade"
The President SAYS that the public have
decided againt tariff for protection
Protection is n sort of paternalism which
de does not approve Of any moro than be
does of the other kinds OF paternaism
which he descrbesi in such appropriate Ian
Cuage. Public expenditure" he save,
"must be limited by public necessity"
SInsidious infirmity" is fine phrase.
He speaks out boldly for civll-ser-
vice reform. He does not countenance
The policy of using the public offices to re-
ward partisan service. but says that the
men should be selected for the Offices who
are best qualified to fill them.
The President says that be will exercise
oil the powers Of the government to pre-
vent financial disaster and preserve the
nations credit. This must. not be tor
tured into threat to use the veto power.
Waste of public money is o crime against
the CITIZEN" and contempt for economy
and frugalty in our peoples personal af-
fairs deplorably saps the strength and
sturdiness of our national character.
He is very pronounced against combina-
tions and trusts organized to limit pro-
duction and fix prices" and declares that
ITO the extent that they can be reached
and restrained by Federal power the Gen
eral Government should relieve our citi-
gems from their interference and ex-
actions"
He insists that equaity before the law
should be cheerfully conceded in good
faith 10 oil men IN ell parts of the land
and that 1t should be unimpaired by race
OF color, and that in our dealings with the
Indians we should regard their rights
and interests" and lead them through
paths of civilization to seli-supporting and
independent citizenship lie speaks OF
them rs the nations wards"
On tho subject on tariff reform his utter
nnces are very emphatic. He says that the
people have determined in favor of more
5ust and equitable form Of Federal tax
alton, and the agents they have chosen
20 carry out their purposes ara bound by
their promises. not less than by command
of their masters. to devote themselves un-
yenittingly 70 this service This task, he
fsys, should be undertaken wisely and
without vindietiveness Our mission is not
punishment, but rectihcation OF wroDgs."
Further on he SAYS tina, 10 the best OF
his ability aud within his sphere OF duty
he Will endeayor 10 preserve the Constitu-
tion by Loyalty protecting every grant of
Federal power that il contains. by defend
ing ali Of It's restraints when attacked by
impatienee and restlcssness, and by en-
forcing its limitations in favor of State
and People"
The closing words Of the message. or ad-
dress express aconsciousness Of the gravi-
~ Of the duties that confront him; but be
Is saved from discouragement" by re-
membering that he viii have the support
OF the patriotic men who will stand at
his side in Cabinet places, or will represent
the people in the legislative halle" Above
ell, he relies upon the goodness aud mercy
OF the Supreme Being.
The President makes no deliverance on
the subject Of the annexation Of Hawaii.
That he has strong opinions one way OF
the other We may safely guess: but the
expression OF them can only DO properly
made st this time in communication 10
the senate. And II IS his right TO withdraw
from the Senate the pending treaty and
10 substitute therefor any plan or propo.
sfion which may seem TO him to he better
adapted 10 the demands Of the situation.
Nor does he give IN his address any h.n,
a. 10 bus purpose with reference 20 the
innch-islked-of extra session of Congress
Jpe contingency has not yet arisen which
demands decision from him ON this
point, aud the inaugural was. therefore
not The place 70 discuss the subject. His
general remarks. however, indicate biz
purpose 70 DO whatever may Do necesssr,
- protect tAe Gnarcial interests Of thu
eountry.
AtoesshsF tho message 4 a. sduirabl,