The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1893-03-16
CLEVELhND'S INAUGURAL
ADDRESS

delivered without notes:
"lNq Felton, citizens:
"in obedience to the mandate OF
my cOuntrymeD, am about to ded-
icate myself to Their service under
the sanction of solemn oath
Deeply moved by the expression
OF confidence and personal attach
meEt which has called me to this
service, | am sue my gratitude can
make 10 better return than the
pledge / now give, before God and
these witnesses, OF unreserved and
complete devotion to the interests
ana welfare of those who have hon
ored me.
s.! deem 1t fitting on this occasion,
while indicating the opinions hold
concerning public questions Of pres
sing Importance to all, briefly to re-
fer to the existence Of certain con-
dltlOns and tendencies among our
people, which seem to menance the
integrity and usefulness Of their
government.
"Wbile every American citizen
must contmplate, with the utmost
pride and enthusiasm, the growth
and expansions of our country, the
sufiiclency of our institutions to
stand against the rudest shock OF
violence, and the wonderful thrift
of enterprise Of our free govern
men., 1T behooyes US to constantly
watch for every symptom OF lnsld-
ions infirmity that threatens our ma
tional vIgor.
"Tnat strong man, who IN the
confidence of sturdy health, courts
the sternesU activities Of life and re
lOices in tie hardiboOd Of constant
labor, may still have lurking neal
h,s vitais the UNDECIDED disease that
dooms him to a sudden collapse
1t cannot be doubted that Oul
stupendous achievements as PEG
pie aud our cOuntrys robust strength
have given rise to a heeGlessnes.
OF those laws governing OR nation
al health, which we can NJ
more evade than human life can es
capa the laws of God and nature.
SOUND CURRENCY NECESSARY.
"Manifestly nothing is more vita
TO our supremacy as a nation ant
the beIeticent purposes of our gov
eminent than sound and Stapl,
currency. It's exposure to degreGa
ton should at once arouse to actor
the most enlightened statesman.
ship, and the danger Of deprecia
ton in the pu: chasing power o
wages pad to toni should furnish
the strongest incentive to prompt
and conservative perception.
''In dealing with our present en-
baIassing situation as related t,
this subject, we will be wise if W,
temper our confidence and faith il
our national strength and resource!
with the frank concession that ever
these will not permit us to defy
with lmpanity, the memorable law
OF finance and trade.
"And at the same time, in our eff
forts to adjust differences of oplD
ion, we should be free from lntoler
ance Or passion, and our judgmen
should be unmoved by allurln,
phrases and unvexed by selfish III
terests. / am confident that suci
an approach to the subject will re
suit III prudent and effective rene,
Glal legislation. In the meantime
SO far AS the executive branch o
the government can intervene, none
Of the powers With which it is in
vested wlEl pe Withheld, when thel1
exercise is deemed necessary, t,
maintain our national credit Cl
avert financial! disaster
THE EVIL OF PATERNALISM.
''uloseiy related to the exsgaera,
ted confidence in our country's
greatness which tends to the disre.
gard OF the rules Of national safety
another danger contents US not
less serious. retrr to the preva>
lence OF the popular disposition tC
expect from the operation o: TIE
government especial aud u.r ct IL.
GiE!Guii advantages.
"iie v,Idtct OF our voters, which
condemned the injustice of mains
tanning protection for p1Otection's
sake, enjo!ns upon the peoples
servants tae duty of exposing and
destroying the brood OF kindred
evils which are the unwholesome
progeny OF paternallsm. This is
the Dane OF republican institutions
and the constant peril Of our gov
ernmtnt DY the ue0nia 1t dauradoS