The record-union., 1897-03-06
THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS.

While it is true that inaugural ad-
dresses by Presidents of the United
States are not looked upon as so clear
ly defnitive of the policy of the new
coming Administration as are messages
addressed to Congress, nevertheless the
people of the United States had reason
to expect in an inaugural from Presi-
dent Mckinley expression marked by
vigor, positiveness and assertion of pol
icies with that clearness of faith and
answering belief in them that would
in itself inspire confidence.
But the Presidents inaugural is dis
appointing throughout, since it lacks in
the very essentials We have indicated.
1t does possess, however, one distn-
gushing merit which cannot be over
looked, namely, that it is devoid Of
lurid promises to Immediately change
the conditions of the country. On the
contrary, Mr.. Mckinley makes himself
understood as looking upon the return
of prosperity as of a necessity a slow
process, while advising that we set our
faces resolutely in that direction, and
by friendly legislation aid the coming
Of better times
1t is perfectly evident that President
Mckinley does not believe that there is
any royal road to prosperity, or that
the forces which have operated to pro-
duce the financial depression existing
throughout the world can be made to
cease their operation at the command
Of Presidents, Kings or Parliaments.
THE RIVER BILL AND THE SENATE.
a State Senator who has had long
service and presumably therefore
should be able to give wisdom the bene-
fit of experience, declared in the Senate
on Tuesday that it was usually con-
sidered good policy to enact laws for
the benefit Of the entire State rather
than for particular locality. On that
proposition as a basis he proposed the
spreading Of the scheme for better
ment OF the chief navigable streams
over all water having commercial busi-
ness. each stream or estuary to receive
in proportion to the commerce done up
on il.
This is the application of q right
principle in wrong way. Legislation
should be for the general good of the
whole State. But this is not an infiex-
ible rule, since the very purpose of leg
islation often must be to relieve and
aid sections under State Jurisdiction
that have a right to appeal to the
whole social and political body for
special relief and assistance. The head
of family makes no distinction in
affection for care of it's members. But
If one is ill and weak and needs fos-
tering care of a special order, greater
consideration and expenditure is a duty
In behalf OF that member of the house
since the life and well being of that
whole
Widely different from this Senator's
position was that of Senators from
Southern California and the coast who
by their votes and voices. They rightly
conceived their duty 10 be TO favor all
wise provisions for betterment of con-
ditions along the chief waterways of
the State. though such waters do not
flow through their districts. because
whatever conserves large and common
interests, though the scene of their
greatest activity may be local, in
wolves the sympathy and concern of
the whole people. and of all sections of
the State.
These gentlemen occupy the position
that puts the legislator on the high
tableland of craftsmanship from
which to see the whole State as sub
5ect, not for the distribution of spoil,
but as the subject of beneficent legis-
lation regardless OF section or of dis
trict. The horizon Of their view was