The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-03-09

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PRESIDENT CLEVELAND DELIVERING HIS
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
Mr.. Cleveland in his inaugural address,
| said
my FELLOW CITIZENS obedience
to the mandate of my cOuntrymen l am
about to dedicate myself to their service
under the sanction of a solemn oath.
Deeply moved by the expression of con-
fidence and personal attachment which
has called me to this service, l am sure
my gratitude can make no better return
than the pledge | now give before God
| and these witnesses OF unreseryed and
complete devotion to the interests and
welfare OF those who have honored me.
II deem it fitting on this occasion,
while indicating the opinions | hold con-
corning public questions of present i'm
portance, also to briefly refer to the ex-
istence of certain conditions and tendea-
cies among our people which seem to
menace the integrity and usefulness OF
their government. While every Ameri-
can citizen must contemplate with the
utmost pride and enthusiasm the growth
and expansion Of our country, the suffi-
cheney of our institutions to stand against
the rudest shocks of violence, the won
derful thrift and enterprise OF our people,
| and the demonstrated superiority OF our
| free government it behoOyes us to con-
stantly watch for every symptom OF in
sidious infirmity that threatens our ma
tiOnal vigO:.
"The strong man who in the confidence
of sturdy health courts the sternest ac-
tivities of life and rejOices in the hardl-
hood of constant labor may still have
lurking near his vitails the the unheeded dis
ease that deems him to sudden collapse.
1t caail not be doubted that our stipend
i Gus achievements as a people and our
country's robust strength have given
rise to a heedlessness of those laws gov
erning our national health, which we can
no more evade than human life can es-
cape the laws of God and nature.
Manifestly nothing is more vital to
our supremacy as nation and to the
beneficent purposes OF our government
than a sound and stable currency. Its
exposure to degradation should at once
arouse to activity the most enlightened
craftsmanship, and the danger OF depre-
citation in the purchasing power OF the
wages paid to toll should furnish the
strongest incentive to prompt and con-
sentative precautiOn.
"In dealing with our present embar-
RAISING situation as related to this sub
ject we will be wise if we temper our con-
tidence 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 efforts to adjust the differences of
opinion. we should be free from intOler-
ance and passion and our judgments
should be unmOvdd by alluring phrases
and unvexed by selfish interests. | am
confident that such an approach to the
subject will result in prudent and effective
remedial leg islatiOn. In the meantime,
so far as the executive branch of the gov
eminent can intervene, none OF the pow
ers with which it is invested will be with
held when their exercise is deemed neces-
sary to maintain our national credit or
avert financial disaster.
"ClOseiy related to the exaggerated
confidence in our country's greatness
national safety, another danger con-
fronts us not less dangerous. l refer to
the prevalence of a popular disposition
to expect from the operation OF the gov
eminent especial and direct individual
advantages. The verdict 81 our voters
which condemned the I'M Justice of MAIN
tanning protection for projections sake,
enj oins npOn the peoples servants the
duty of exposing and destroying the
brood of kindred evils which are the un-
wholesome progeny OF paternalism.
''This is the bane of republican insti-
buttons and the constant peril of our
government by the people. 1t degrades
for the purpose of willy craft the plan Of
rule our fathers established and be-
queathed to us as an object Of love and
generation. 1t perverts the patriotic
sentiment of our countrymen and tempts
them to pitiful calculation of the sordid
gain to be derived from their govern
ment's maintenance. 1t undermines the
sef-reliance OF our people ard substitutes
in its place dependence upon govern
mental favoritism. 1t stiles the spirit
of true Americanism and stupefies every
enrolling 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 bOuntips
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 a challenge of wild and reckless
pension expenditure, which overleaps the
bounds of grateful recognition OF patri-
otto service, and prostitutes to vicious
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 its beginning, any tendency
in public or private station to regard
frugality and economy as virtues which
We may safely OutgrOw. The liberation
of this idea results in the waste of the
peoples money by their chosen servants
and encourages prodigality and extrav-
agance in thehOmes of our cOuntrymen.
Under our scheme of government the
waste of public money is a crime against
the citizen; and the contempt of our
people for economy and frugality in their
personal affairs deplorably saps the
strength and sturdiness of our national
character. 1t is a plain dictate of honesty
and good government that public eXpen-
ditures should be limited by public neces-
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 guarantee of a con-
tented and strong support OF free lnsti-
tutiOns.
Zone mode OF the misrepresentation 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 fair
return of work for the eompensation paid
to them. To secure the fitness and COM
potency of appointees to Office. and to
remove from political action the demon
alizing madness for spoils, civil service
reform has found place in our public
policy and laws. The benefits already
gained through this instrumentality and
the further usefulness it promises entitle
it to the hearty support and encourage
ment OF all who desire to see our public
service we'll performed, or who hope for
the elevation of political sentiment and
the publication of political methods.
1.-The existence OF immense aggrega-
| lions of kindred enterprises and combi-
l