The Grenada sentinel., 1896-01-25
GOVERNOR MoLAuRIN.
Full Text Of the inaugural Address o
Mississlpprs New Governor.

GOVEHNOH MCAAOks4Ns
rru r.xt OF the ln.usu ursl Address Of
AiississIpprs New Govsraor.
| Jackson, Miss, Jan. ei.-The Hon. A.
IT, McLaurin delivered the following ad-
dres, upon his inauguration today as
Governor of Mississippi:
Mr.. president and Fellow Citizens OF MIS-
avaii myself Of this opportunity to e1-
press to the people Of the State OF Missis'
sinpi my gratitude and thanks for the
honor which they confer upon me- All
Who personally know me are cogniSant
of nv grateful feelings, but desire on
mi. nccasicn and In this presence to give
utterance to them In words, and in doing
a. 7 trust will not incur the charge OF
egotism or immodesty.
At the Inauguration Of q Governor !
believe it Is expected that In his inaugural
address he will give some intimation, If
NOT an outline, Of the policy he expects to
nursue IN conducting tho administration
over which he Is called to preside.
II will be my chief concern to urge and
to see. as far as it Is in my power to
accomplish it, that every law-abiding citi-
gen Of the State shall be protected In his
life, liberty. property and pursuit Of hap
plness, and that policy which will best
conduce to this end and at the same time
impose the least governmental authority
upon the citizen will commend itself in
the highest degree to my judgment and
will most influence my course of conduct.
1t will be my aim also to so administer
the office confided to me that its tend
ency will be toward the reclamation and
| reformation of the law-breaker.
am mindful of the fact that no one
man. whatever his influence or position.
can effect these results. l am mindful of
the fact that under our form of govern
ment the entire authority Is not commit
ted to one man, and that one man is not
rightfully held responsible for the admin
istration of our government. l am mindful
of the fact that we have three separate
departments of government with their
separate powers. duties and responsible
ties. Nor do the powers, duties and re-
sponsibilities pertain only to those in au-
! thority in these departments. Upon every
citizen, however humble or exalted, rest
duties and responsibilities. To the legislat-
i've department we look for just and
equitable laws; to the judiciary we look
for their impartial exposition; and to the
executive we look for their faithful en-
forcement, but in order that these expcc-
tations may be fulfilled it is absolutely es
sential that the people give their material
and moral support.
1t has been said that government, like
dress, is badge of lost innocence" Ever
since the fall of man, government in some
form has been necessity. This necessity
has been seized as pretext upon which is
predicated the claim OF a divine right of
kings to rule. This claim was the source
of tyranny, wars and ineffable horrors
that blackened the pages of history for
thousands of years, while the blood and
tears of countless myrads were coined
into fame to garland the brows of heart
less tyrants.
To escape such expressions and dire
calamities fearless band in whose
bosoms the spirit of liberty unfolded it.
self, suffered self-assumed expatriation
and braved all the dangers and endured
all the tolls and privations incident to
pioneer life that laid the foundation of
the purest democracy and grandest people
in the career of time. Pursued, by the
hand of persecution in their new acquir-
ed homes, they took refuge in the asser-
ton of a truth which, though dormant for
centuries, was and is automatic, that gov
ernment was made for man and not man
for government.
10 maintain this principle and assertion
cost them eight years Of war, into which
were crowded ages of suffering, suspense
and dangers, as well as bloodshed and
dea.i. Yet the benefits and advantages
were not inadequate to the cost Indeed,
gold and silver and blood are not to be
weighed against liberty. If it is true. as
believe and assert, that government il
made for the people, and not the people
for government it follows that the poo
pie ought to make the government. It
follows also that every one of the people
has an equal interest in the government,
and should enjoy an equal share of its
protection and blessings. When one Of
the people, or a class, is granted privi-
leges or protection not given to others, It
Is at the expense of all who are not 30
favored. There may be tyranny in re-
PAAAS0 90 "CAA AS III uOA0ACulc NC
power of the majority may be used for
purposes of oppression ~ calling as the
yoke of the despot. The greatest good
to the greatest number generally spoken
for an apothegm in democratic govern
| ment. is falIacious, and l enter my pro-
test against it. It has in it the germs of
injustice, not to say despotism. The
greatest good with perfect equality Of
law to all Is the only safe and sound doc
trine and the only principle upon which
democratic government can be per- etu-
ated =
Government being made for tho 8, opie
who are the authors Of its existence, they
should exert every effort and take every
care to secure its greatest efficiency. II
should be reduced as near a. possible to
science. Every citizen being alike inter-
ested In securing its equal protection and
blessings, owes alike the duty to uphold
Its laws and institutions. This Is not all;
he owes the duty to give the benefit of his
thought and study to the enactment Of
the best laws. and bis efforts to sRect
their impartial enforcement.
II government was made for man and
not man made for government every
citizen ought to feel that it IL his govern
ment and bis laws II %. pride will make