The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-01-23
HASTiNGS'S ADDRESS.
Public Questions From The EeW Gov
ernor'S Staac point.

Inc inaugural address of Governor
Hastings was ~ follows:
Our constitution requires that the
chief executive of the commonwealth,
''shall take care that the laws he f,,itb-
fully executed. Having been entrusted
by the people Of Pennsylvania with the
administration OF that Office for the
next four years, have in your pres
ence taken upon myself the prescribed
oath of cliice. Profoundly Impressed
with the esponsibility Of the new r.
lation which 1 sustain to All the people
Of the commonwealth, / ask their help
in the performance Of my dJtics, while
/ viii constantly rely upon The Su-
preme Ruler for all strength and guild
ancc. Not unmiGdIGl Of the uaprccC-
dented vote OF confidence given by the
electors, ! shou,d be guilty of insiuccr-
ity if | did no; HOW express ms great
appreciation OF the unusual honor, and
| should be lac&ing in the qualities that
belong TO manly gratitude IL this did
not strengthen every purpose Of mind
and heart 10 the end that the conf
denca prove not to be misplaced. At
the same time / fully recognize the
truth that honest differences Of iuds-
ment OF public questions and candi-
dates constitute one of the essential safe
guards of free government, and de-
niand Of the sgcccssful competitor that
unqualified recognition OF the conslitu-
tional and legal rights Of every citizen
which i above partisanship.
The recent election disclosed or the
part OF the electors q gratifying and
unusual desire for the intelligent dis
cussion and determination OF princi-
pies and issue5, and pJrposc to ex-
ciude from the campaign that clement
Of personal abuse and vituperation
which excites prejudice, inilames pas
sion and misguides the judgment. The
high standard set and maintained by
the distinguished leader of the party
opposed to my election, has demon
strated not only the feasibility, but also
the wisdom Of making election record
the public viii, freed from all inau-
ences which pervert patriotic Judgment.
Two POLITICAL REVOLUTIONS.
The people OF the State and Of the
country are now happily emerging
from q period of financial and indus
trial embarrassment which has wrought
great injury and distress among all
branches OF indust trv and employment.
Two political Revolutions have taken
place within two years that severely
tested the stability of the form Of gov
ernment under which we live. From
both, the country has come forth
stronger and grander, and the people,
with more c0plidance in the future OF
oar political institutions.
\ great body of legislation which,
during "a constructive growth OF thirty
years has become almost a part Of our
organic system, was apparently over
turned III the results of single cleo
ton. Two years later . lar more en-
phatic and decisive revolution of public
Judgment restored the principle Of
American Protection. l. may BE- safe
" declared, - Il sequence, that the
wage earning people Of the United
States, while willing that the conten-
tions and competitions of supply and
demand in this country may fix the
wLge-rate here, VIII never permit that
wlgc-rate 10 be reduced by any legisla-
ton that Involves cbnD.::siol from
those who are not their political equals.
While the American wage-r1te Is almost
as distinctive 4 feature Of our national
system as oGr Declaration Of Indepand-
encc or or ilag, and production - oar
own industries a settled conviction of
or people, yet conservative judgment
will always demand that legislation
upon this sabject be Of such character
as will be just to all sections ofOar COM
mon country, all industries and occd-
pations, and that with changing con-
ditions, the schedules OF protective rates
shall be - modified as 20 preven, mon
opoly or oppression OF any class of our
people by the power of aggregated
wealth.