The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-03-10
the Inaugural address.

The inaugural Address.
My Fellow Citizens:
In obedience to the mandate Of my country
men, am about to dedicate myself to the ser
| vice under the sanction of a solemn oath Deep
| ly moved by the expression of confidence and
personal attachment which has called me to
| thus service, am sure my gratitude can make
| no better return than the pledge ] now give be-
| fore God and these witnesses OF unreseryed and
complete devotion TO the interests and welfare
| of those who have hpnored me
| | deem it fitting Oh this occasion, while indi-
eating the opinions l hold concerning public
| questions of present Importance, to also briefly
| refer to the existence of certain conditions and
| tendencies among our people which seem to
menace the integrity and usefulness of their
government
While every American citizen must contem-
plate with the utmost pride and enthusiasm the
| growth and expansion Of country, the suf-
| hciency Of our institutions to stand against
| the rudest shocks of violence, the wonderful
| thrift and enterprise Of our people, and the
| demonstrated superiority of our free govern
| ment il behooyes TO watch for every symptom
of insidious innrmity that threatens our nation
al yigor.
| The strong man who in the confidence of sturdy
health, courts the sternest activities of life and
reioices in the hardihood Of constant labor, may
still have lurking near his vitas the UNDECIDED
disease that dooms him to sudden collapse.
1t can not be doubted that our stupendous
| achievements a people and our countrys ro-
bust strength have given rise to a 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,
Manifestly nothing is more vital to our
premacy as nation and to the beneficent pur-
poses of our government than a sound and
staple currency Its exposure to degradation
should at once arouse to activity the most en-
.ightened craftsmanship; and the danger of de-
probation in the purchasing power of the wages
paid to toll should furnish the incentive to
prompt and conservative preeaution In deal
ing with our present embarrassing situation as
related to this subject, we will be wise if we
temper our confidence and faith in our national
strength and resources. with the frank conces-
sion 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 differences of opinion, we should be free
from intolerance or passion, and our Judgments
should be unmoved by alluring phrases and I'M
vexed by selfish interests,
| ! am confident that such an approach to the
| subject VIII result in prudent and effective
! remedial legislation. In the meantime so far
| rs the executive branch of the government can
intervene none of the powers with which it is
| invested will be withheld, when their exercise
| S deemed necessary to maintain our national
| ,redit or avert financial disaster Closely re.
| ated to the exaggerated confidence in our
| ,ountry's greatness which tends to a disregard
If The rules of national safety, another danger
| ,onfronts us not less serious. | refer to the
prevalence of popular disposition TO expect
| from the operation of the government especial
and direct individual advantages
The verdict of our voters, which condemned
the injustice of maintaining protection for pro.
iection's sake, enjoins upon the peoples SER
wants the duty of exposing ana destroying the
brood Of kindred evils which are the unwhole-
,-.,T,
If republican institutions and the constant
peril of our government by the people. 1t de.
| grades to the purposes of willy craft the plan of
rule of our fathers established and bcquea thed
to us as an object of our love and veneraton
| II perVerts the patriotic sentiment of our coun-
| rymen and tempts them to pitiful calcula-
tion of the sordid gain to be derived from their
governments maintenance. 1t undtAmnes the
self-reliance of our people and substitutes in its
place dependence upon governmental favorit-
SIN 1t stlf1Cs the spirit of true Americanism
md stupehes every cnnobling trait of American
citizenship The lessons of paternalism ought
to be unlearned and the better lesson taught
that while the people should periodically and
,heerfully support their government its func,
lions do not include the support of the people.
The acceptance OF this principle leads to re.
.usal Of bouuties and subsidies which burden the
aDor and thrift OF u portion of our citizens,
10 aid n-Vdvsed or languishing enterprises ia
which they have no concern. 1t leads also to a
challenge o. wild and reckless pension expendi.
lure, which overleaps the bounds of grateful
recognition Of patriotic service and prostitutes
20 vicious uses the peoples prompt and generous
impulse to aid those disabled in their country :
defense.
Every thoughtful American must realize the
importance Of checking at its beginning any
tendency in public and private station to regard
trugalty and economy as virtues which we may
safely outgrow. The liberation Of this idea re.
suits in the waste of the peoples money by
their chosen servants, and encourages 1rcdiga.
lty and extravaganza in the home lite of oul
countrymen.
| Under our scheme Of government the waste
Of our public money is a crime against the citi
zens and the contempt of our people for econ.
omy and frugality in their personal affairs dc
plorably saps The strength and sturdiness o.
our national character. II is plain dictate Il
honesty and good government that public ex
pendtures should be limited by putlic neces
sity and that this should be measured by7thC
that frugalty among The people is the hes
guaranty OF q contented ana strong support q
tree ms itutions.
One more Of the misaprr prilNCr - Iub'b
funds is avoided when appe a'1Ur-e t1,flc
instead q being the wares ~ f-1 '.t
| ity are awarded to these WIS f ati-
ises fair return 81 Wolk tor L. g. ..-t, o.
paid to them 10 secG,e ,.t Gtt- ,D.
potency of appoinices 3" 81 O.. atp etf
from political action ].
for spOns, civil sers4c tt.o....
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