Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1893-03-09

DELIVERED AT WASHINGTON
BY PRESIDENT CLEVELAND.
Full Text OF the Customary Speech OF the
Incoming Executive-says Tariff and FL
nanoes should Receive Attention to Avert
Dangers That Menace the Country.
Talked to Thousands.

raj address. IL was as totioWS:
My fellow citizens. in obedience to the
mandate ofIny countrymen am about to deui-
cate myself to their service under the sane
tion of q solemn oath, Deeply moved by the
expression OF confidence and personal sttscn,
ment which has called me TO this service am
sure my gratitude can make no better return
than the pledge l now give before God and
these witnesses of unreserved and COM
plete devotion to the interests and well
fare of those who have honored me. Il
deem Il fitting on TINS occasion Tnais ,,
questions of present Importance, TO also
briefly refer to the existence OF certain condl-
seem TO menace the integrity and usefulness
of their government. While every American
citizen must contemplate with the utmost
pride and enthusiasm the growth ana expan-
zion of our country, the sufficiency OF our IN
stitutfons TO stand against the rudest shocks
of violence the wonderful thrift and enter.
prise of our people, and the demonstrated
superiority of our free government IL be-
hooves us to constantly watch Tor every
symptom of insidious infrmity that threatens
our national vigor. The strong man who, In
the confidence of sturdy health, courts the
sternest activities of life and rejoices In the
hardihood of constant labor, may still have
lurking near his vttals the UNDECIDED disease
that dOoms him TO sudden collapse lt cannot
be doubted that our stupendous achievements
as people and our country's robust strength
have given rise to heedlessness OF those laws
governing our national health which we can
no more evade than human life can escape the
laws of God and nature.
Tackles the Money Question.
Manifestly nothing is more vital to our SUI
premacy as a nation and 10 the benehcent pur-
poses of our government than sound and
stable currency. It's exposure to degradation
should at once arouse to activity the most en-
lightened statesmanship; and the danger OF de-
probation in the purchasing power of the wages
paid to toll should furnish the strongest In
centive to prompt and conservative action
In dealing with our present embarrassing sit
uation, as related TO this subject, We Will be
wise If we temper our confidence and faith In
our national strength and resources with the
concession these
nit us TO defy with impuntty the inexorable
laws Of finance and trade. AT the same time
we should be free from intolerance or passion |
and our judgments should be unmoyed by al |
Turing phrases and unvexed by selfish inter
eets j am confident that such en- approach to
the subject Will result IN prudent and enectlve
remedial legislation. In the meantime, so far
as the executive branch OF the government can
intervene none of the powers with which II is
invested will be withheld when their exercise
is deemed necessary TO maintain our national
credit or avert financial disaster.
Concerning the Tariff.
Closely related to the exaggerated confidence
in our country's greatness which tends TO a dis
regard of the rules OF national safety, another
danger confronts us not less serious. REFER TO
the prevalence of popular disposition TO ex-
pect from operation of the government especial
and direct individual adventages' The verdict
of our voters, which condemned the injustice
of maintaining protection for projections
sake, enjoins upon the peoples servants the
duty of exposing and destroying the brood OF
kindred evils which are the unwholesome prog
eny OF paternalism. This is the bane OF re-
Publican institutions and the constant peril of |
S NJ By the 2eopls s r II esETssss 10
fathers established and bequeathed to us
as an object of our love and veneration. 1t
perverts the patriotic sentiment OF our coun-
trymen and tempts them to pitltul calcula-
tion of the sordid gain TO be derived from their
governments maintenance. IL undermines the
self-relRnce Of our people and substitutes in
its place dependence upon government favor
itism. 1t stiles the spirit of true American
ism and stupefies every ennobling trait of
The lessons of paternalism ought TO be un-
learned and the better lesson taught that
while. the people should patrioticaly and
cheerfully support their government, its func-
Pension Expenditures.
The acceptance of this principle leads to a
refusal of bounties and subsidies which bur
den the labor and thrift Of portion of our
citizens to aid ill-advised or languishing en-
leads also to a challenge of wild and reckless
pension expenditure, which overleaps Ae |
bounds of grateful recognition of patriotic ser
vice 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 I
Importance of checking at its beginning any
tendency in public or private station TO regard |
frugality and economy % as t,, virtues which nc w, we
idea results in the waste of the peoples
money by their chosen servants and encourages |
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. IL is plain dictate of honesty and |
good government that public expenditures |
should be limited by public necessity, and |
that this should be measured by the rules OF
frugality among the people is the best guaranty |
Of a contented and strong support OF free in
Etitutions.
stands by Civil Service Reform.
One mode of the misappropriation of public |
funds is avoided when appointments TO office, |
instead of being the rewards Of partisan activ- !
ity are awarded to those whose efficiency prom |
ises a fair return OF work for the compensation |
paid TO them. To secure the fitness and COM |
potency of appointees TO offce, and TO remove !
from political action the demoraliZing madness |
for spoils, civil service reform has found |
a place in our public policy and laws. The hen
efts already gained through = TINS insIrnmien, nins
entftle IL to the hearty support and encourage |
ment of all who desire TO see our public serv- |
ice well performed or who hope for the eleva- |
ton of political sentiment and the purifca- |
tion of political methods.
The existence of immense aggregations of
kindred enterprises and combinations of bust |
ness interests formed for the purpose OF limit |
ing production and fixing prices, lis inconsistent
with the fair field which ought TO be open to |
every independent activity. Legitimate strife |
in business should not be superseded by an |
enforced concession 10 the demands OF comoi- |
nations that have the power to destroy; nor |
should the people to be served lose the beneht |
OF cheapness which usually results from whole- |
come competition. These aRRreRations and !
combinations frequently constitute conspir- /
acies against the interests OF the people, and In
all their phases they are unnatural and OPP |
posed to our American sense OF fairness, 10 |
the extent that they can be reached and re- |
strained by federal power the general govern |
interference ana exacttons.
Loyalty TO the principles upon which our gov |
ernment rests positively demands that the |
equality before the law. which IL guarantees TO /
every citizen. should he justly and in good
faith conceded I'm all parts OF the land. The !
enjoyment of the right follows the badge OF !
citizenship wherever found. and, unimpatred
by race or color. IL appeals for recognition to |
America manliness and fairness.
Forbearance with Iodians.
Our relations with the Indians located with !
In our borders impose upon us responsibilities
we cannot escape. Humanity and consistency
require us to treat them with all forbeaTance.
and in our dealings with them TO honestly and
considerably regard their rights and interests /
Every effort should be made TO lead them,
through the paths OF civilization and education.
TO oself-supporting and independent citizenship
IT the meantime. as the nations wards, they
should be promptly defended against the GU
pidity OF designing men. and shielded from ey- |
cry influence or temptation that retards their
The people OF the United States have decreed
that on this day the control OF their govern
ment in it's legislative and executive branches
shall be given TO political party pledged In
the most positive terms TO the accomplish
ment OF tariff reform. They have thus deter
system OF Federal taxation. The agents they
have chosen to carry out their purposes are
bound by their promises not less than Dy the
command OF their masters 70 devote them
selves unremittingly to this service.
While there should be no surrender of prlnci-
pie our task must be undertaken wisely and
without vindictiveness. Our mission is not