The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1893-03-09
" nc sTONE- GAP WISE COUNTY. Va THURSDAY. M
THE INAUGURAL.
Grover Cleveland Again PresI-
dent of the United States.
He Defines the Policy Of His Ad-
minlstratIon-More Reforms
Demanded.

The U0TtnSS C1S FOHCy VI mo f1o'
! minlstratIon-Mor Reforms
Demanded.
NY Fellow -citizens-In obedience te
the mandate of my countrymen, an
about 10 dedicate myself to their service
ander the sanction Of solemn oath
Deeply moved by the expression of conf
dence and personal attachment which has
called me to this service, am sure my
gratitude can make no better return than
the pledge / now give before God and
these witnesses Of unrescrved and COM
plcte devotion to the interest and welfare
of those who have honored me.
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 cer-
tain conditions md tendencies among our
people which seem to menace the intcgri-
ty and usefulness Of their government.
While every American citizen must con-
template with the utmost pride and en-
thusiasm the growth and expansion OF our
| country, the suificiency Of our institutions
to stand against the rudest shock Of vio-
lepce, the wonderful thrift and enterprise
of our people. and demonstrated superior
! ity of our free government, it behooves us
to constantly watch for every symptom OF
insidious ntirmity that threatens our ma
tional vigor.
The strong man who in the confidence
of sturdy health courts the sternest activ-
tiles of life and rejoiccs in the hardihood
of constant labor, may still have lurking
near his vitals the UNDECIDED disease that
dooms him to sudden collapse. 1t is not
to be doubted that our stupcndous achieve
ments ms people and our couutry's ro-
bust strength have given rise to heed
ossness of those governing our national
| health, which we can no more evade than
| human life can escape the laws OF God and
nature.
Munifestly nothing is more vital to our
supremacy az nation and TO the bench
cient purposes OF our government than
a sound and stable currency. Its expos
uro to degradation should at once arouse
to activity the most enlightened states
manship, and the danger Of depreciation
| in the purchasing power of the wages paid
to toll should furnish the strongest nccn-
tive to prompt and conservative precau-
| ton.
In dealing with our present embarrass-
! ing situation, as related to this subject,
| wa will be wise if ne temper our conn
dence and faith in our national strength
and resources with the frank concession
that even these will not permit us TO DEFY
With impunty the exorabic laws OF hnance
and trade. At the same time in our efforts
! to adjust differences of opinion we should
| be free from intolerance or passion, ana
our judgments should he unmoved by al
Turing phrases and unvcxed by selfish in
! tcrests.
am confident that such On approach to
the subject will result in prudent and ef-
fectiye 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 DO
Withheld when their exercise Is deemed
| necessary to maintain our national credit
or avert financial disaster. Closely relat-
ed to the exaggerated confidence in our
country's greatness which tends to dIS-
regard of the rules OF national s"fcty an
other danger cOnfronts us not less serious
| refer to the prevalence of popular dis,
position to expect from the operation OF
the government especial and direct indlv'd-
ual advantages.
PROGENY or pATERHALIsM.
The verdict of our voters, which con-
demned the Injustice Of minimizing protec-
ton for projections sake, cnJoihs upo"
the peoples servants the duty OF exposing
and destroying the brood of kindred cviis
which are the unwholcsome progney OF
paternalism. 1t is the branc OF RepnbiI-
can institutions and the constant peril OF
our Government by the people. 1t de-
grades to the purpose OF willy craft the
plan of rule our fathers established ana
beoueated to US as an object OF our love
and venerntion. 1t perycrts the patriotic
| sentiment of our countrymen and tempts
them to = pitiful calculation of the sordid
grain to be derived from their Government 3
maintenance. IT undermines the self re-
lance Of our people and substitutes in Its
place dependence upon governmental favor
itism. it stiles the spirit OF true Amer!-
canism and stupefes every ennobiinS trait
of American citizenship.
The lessons of paternalsm ought to ne
unlearned and the better lesson taught
| that while the people should patiriotically
and cheerfully support their government,
its functions do not include the support OF
| the people.
The acceptance of this principle leads
to n refusal of bounties and subsidies,
which burden the labor aud the thrift OF
norton of our citizens to aid ill-advlsed
or languishing enterprises in which they
! have no concern. 1t leads also to chal-
lense of wild and reckless pension e1pen-
diture, which overleaps the hounds OF
creatful recognition of patriotic service
and prostitutes to vicious uses the people
nrompt and generous impulse to aid those
disabled in their country's defense.
Every thoughtful American mnst real
izc the Importance Of checking at ITS he
ginning any tendency, in public stations,
to regard frugality and economy as virtues
which we may safely outgrow. The foler-
alton of this idea results in the waste OF
the peoples money by their chosen SER
wants, and encourages prodigalify anu cx-
trayacance in the home life OF our couh-
trymen.
Under our scheme Of Government the
waste of public money is a crime against
the citizen, and the contempt ofour people
for economy and frugality in thier person,
al affairs deplorably saps the strength aho
sturdiness of our national character.
tits plain dictate of honesty and GOOD
government that public cxpenditures
Should be limited by public necessity ana
that this should be measured by the rules
all mn