Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1893-03-15

CleVelandland'S inaugural address, is a
model. 1t contains many truths,
though we think along with some fall
lacies.
my Fellow Citizens: In obedience
to the mandate of my countrymen l
am about to dedicate myself to their
service under the sanction of solemn
oath. Deeply moved by the expression
of confidence and personal attachment
which has called me TO this service /
am sure my gratitude can make no bet
ter return than the pledge l now give
before God and these witnesses of IN
reserved and complete devotion to the
interests and welfare Of those who
have honored me.
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 suf1iciency 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
government, it behooves us to constant
ly watch for every symptom of insidi
Gus in6rmity that threatens our nation
al vigor.
The strong man who, in the conf
dence of sturdy health, courts the
sterneSt activities of life aud 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 he doubted that or stupen-
dous achievements as people and ouI
countrY's robust strength have given
rise to heedlessneess 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 supremacy as nation and to the
benefcent purposes Of our govern
ment than sound and stable currency.
Its exposure to degradation should at
once arouse to activity the most en-
| lightened craftsmanship; and the dan
ger of depreciation in the purchasing
power of the wages paid to toll should
furnish the strongest incentive to
prompt and conservative precaution.
In dealing with our present embar
RAISING situation as related to this sub
| ject we will be wise If we ten per cur
confidence and faith in our national
strength and resources, with the frank
concession that even these will not per
nit us to defy with inpunity the mex
orable laws Of finance and trade. AT
the same time, III our efforts to adjust
differences of opinion, we should be
free from intolerance of passion, and
our judgments should be unmUYed by
alluring phrases and unvexed by selfish
| interests.
l 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 II
is invested will be withheld when their
exercise Is deemed necessary to main
| 10 in ~ Enn
cial disaster.
Closely related to the exaggerated
confidence in our country's greatness
which tends to q disregard of tho rules
of national safety, another danger cen
fronts us not less serious. 1 refer to
tbs prevalence of popular disposition
to expect from the operation of the
government especial and direct individ-
ual advantages.
The verdict of our voters which con-
demned the injury of maintaining pro-
lection for projections sake, enjolns
upon the peoples servants the duty .of
exposing and destroying the brood of
kindred evils which are the unwhole-
some progeny Of paternalism. This is
the bane of republican institutions and
the constant peril Of our government
by the people. 1t degrades to the pur-
poses of willy craft the plan of rule our
fathers established and bequeathed to
us an object of our love and venera-
tion. 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
ernment's maintenance. 1t under
mines the self reliance of our people
and substitutes in its place dependence
upon governmental favoritlsm. II
stifes the spirit of true Americanism
and Supplies every enobling trait OF
American citizenship. The lessons of
paternalism ought to be learned and
the better lessons 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 refusal of bounties and subsidies
which burden the labor and thrift of q
portion of our citizens to aid i'll advised
or lanGuishing enterprises in which
they have no concern. 1t leads also to
challenge of wild and reckless pen
sion expenditures, which oyerleaps the
bounds OF grateful recognition of pa.
triotic service and prostitutes to yici-
Gus uses the peoples prompt and gen.
erous 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 pubic or
private station to regard fru gality and
economy as virtues which we may safe