Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-03-04
MI. CIeveIands Inaugural Address.

.
vious to taking the oath of office:
by Feiiow-Cf;izens:
In obedience to the mandate of my
countrymen, am about to dedicate my
self to their service under the sanction
of a solemn oath. Deeply moved by
the expression of confidence and per-
sonal 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 unreserved and complete
devotion to the interests and welfare
of those who have honored Inc.
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 certain conditions and ten
denotes among our people which seem
to menace the integrity and usefulness
OF their Government.
While every American citizen must
contemplate with the utmost pride and
enthusiasm the growth and expansion
of our country, the sufliciency of our
institutions to stand against the rucest
shocks of violence, the wonderful thrift
and enterprise of our people, and the
demonstrated superiority of our free
Government, it behooves us to constant
~ watch for every symptom of insidi-
Gus inlirmity that threatens our national
vigor.
The strong man who i'll the conf
dence of sturdy health. courts the stern
est activities of life and rejoices in the
hardihood of constant labor, may still
have lurking near his vitals the un-
needed disease that dooms him to sud
den collapse.
1t can not be doubted that Our stu
pendous achievements as people and
our country's robust strength, have
given rise to a heedlessness of those
laws governing our national health,
which we can no more evade than hui
man life can escape the laws of God
and nature.
Manifestly nothing is more vital to
our supremacy rs nation and to the
bcncficent purposes of our Government
than sound and stable currency. Its
exposure to degradation should at once
arouse to activity the most enlightened
craftsmanship; and the danger of de-
probation in the purchasing power OF
the wages paid to toll should furnish
the strongest incentive to prompt aud
conservative precaution.
In dealing with our present emhar-
RAISING situation as related to this sub
lcct, 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 in
eXorablc laws oflinance and trade. AT
the same time, in our efforts to adjust
differences of opinion we should be free
from intolerance or passion, and our
judgments should be unmoyed by allur-
ing phrases and unveXed by selfish in
terests.
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 inter
vene, 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.
Closely related to the exaggerated
confidence in our country's greatness
which tends to a disregard of the rules
of national safety, another danger con-
fronts us not less serious. refer to
the prevalence of a popular disposition
to expect from the operation of the
government especial and direct indi-
vidual advantages.
The verdict of our voters which con-
demned the injustice of maintaining
protection for projections sake, en-
joins upon the peoples servants the
duty of exposing and destroying the
brood of kindred evils which are the
wholesome progeny of paternalism.
This is the bane of republican institu-
tons and the constant peril of our gov
eminent by the people. 1t degrades to
the purpose of willy craft the plan ofrule
our fathers established and bequeathed
to us as an object of our love and ven
Grafton. 1t perverts the patriotic senti-
ment of our countrymen, and tempts
them to pitiful calculation of the sor-
did gain to be derived from their gov
ernments maintenance. 1t undermincs
the selfreiance of our people, and sub
stitutes in its place dependence upon
governmental iavoritism. II STILES the
spirit of true Americanism and stupe
iies 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 checrfully 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 Il
portion of our citizens, to aid ill-ad-
vised or languishing enterprises in
which they have no concern. 1t leads
also to a challenge of wild and reckless
pension expenditure, which oyerleaps
the bounds of grateful recognition of
patriotic service and prostitutes to vi
cious uses the peoples prompt and
generous impulse to aid those disabled
in their country's defense.
Every thoughtful American must
realize the importance of checking at
lis beginning any tendency in public or
private station, ito regard frugality and
economy as virtues which we may safe
ly outgrow. The liberation of this
idea results in the waste of the peo-
pies money by their chosen servants,
and encourages prodigality and eX-