Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-03-04
THE PRESIDENTS INAUGURAL


east end of the Capitol to-day before an
immense assemblage. Chief Justice
Fuller administered the oath of Office.
The proceedings of the day were
characterized by all the imposing spec
tacular effects and demonstrations of
popular interest which have become a
growing feature of inaugural ceremonies
as the nation has advanced in popula-
ton and wealth. About 10000 men
formed in procession-partly military,
partly civic-and escorted the Presi-
dent and President-elect to and from
the Capitol.
At least 10000 people witnessed the
administration of the oath of Office on
the eastern portico of the Capitol, and
listened, or attempted to listen, to the
delivery of the new Presidents inau-
gural address, and at night gorgeous
state ball, at which the President and
Vice President will be present, will
close the proceedings.
Major Mckinley began his address as
follows:
"Fellow Citizens In obedience to
the will of the people and in their pres
ence by the authority vested in me by
this oath, assume the arduous and re-
sponsible duties of President of the
United States, relying in the support of
my countrymen and invoking the
guidance of Almighty God. Our faith
teaches that there is no safer reliance
than upon the God of our fathers, who
has so singularly favored the American
people in every national trial, and who
will not forsake us so long as we obey
His commandments and walk humbly
in His footsteps. The responsibilities
OF the high trust to which [ have been
called-always of grave importance
are augmented by the prevailing bust
willing labor and loss to useful enter
prise. The country is suffering from
industrial disturbances from which
| speedy relief must be had. Our fnan-
cial system needs some revision; our
money is all good now, but its value
must not further be threatened. 1t
should all be put upon an enduring
basis, not subject to the least attack,
nor its stability to doubt OF dispute.
Our currency should continue under
the supervision of the government. The
several forms of our paper money offer,
10 my judgment, q constant embarrass-
ment TO the government and safe bal
ance in the Treasury. Therefore l be-
lieve it necessary to devise q system
which, without diminishing the circu
lating medium, or Offering g premium
for its contraction, will present RENE
DIV for those arrangements, which, tenn
porary in their nature, might we'll in
the years of our prosperity have been
displaced by wiser provisions. With
adequate revenue secured, but not un-
til then, we can enter upon such
changes in our fiscal laws as will,
while insuring safety and volume
to our money, no longer impose
upon the government the necessity
of maintaing so large gold reserve,
with its attendant and inevitable temp
tations to speculation. Most of our fl
oancial laws are the outgrowth of ex-
perience and trial, and should not be
amended without investigation and
demonstration OF the wisdom of the
proposed changes. We must be both
sure we are right and make haste
slowly If, therefore, Congress in its
wisdom shall deem it expedient to
create q commission to take under
early consideration the revision of our
coinage, banking and currency laws,
and give them that exhaustive, careful
and dispassionate examination that
their Importance demands, shall cor
daily concur in such action. If such
\
my purpose to appoint commission OF
prominent, well-informed citizens of
| different parties who will command
public confidence both on account OF
their ability and special fitness for the
work. Business experience and public
training may thus be combined, and
the patriotic zeal of the friends Of the
country be so directed that such re
port will be made as to receive the sup
port of all parties, and our finances
cease to be subject of mere partisan
contention. The experiment is, at all
events, worth trial, and, in my
opinion, it can but prove beneficial to
the entire country. The question of
international bimetallism will have
early and earnest attention. 1t will be
nv constant endeavor to secure it by
cooperation with the other great COM
mercial powers of the world. Until
that condition is realized when the pari-
ty between our gold and silver money
springs from and is supported by the
relative value of the two metals, the
value of the silver already coined, and
OF that which may hereafter be coined
must be kept constantly at par with
gold by every resource at our command.
| The credit of the government, the in
tegrity of its currency and the inviola-
bility of its obligations must be pre-
served. This was the commanding
verdict of the people and it will not be
UNDECIDED" Mr.. Mckinley then ad-
vocated economy in every branch of
the government at all times, but es-
pecially in periods like the present of
depression in business and dis.
tress among the people, and re-
ferred to the fact that in recent
years the expenses of the government
had been greater than the receipts.
Loans, he said, are imperative in great
emergencies to preserve the govern
mept or its credit, but failure to sup
ply needed revenue in time of peace
for the maintenance of either has no
justification. The best way for the gov
eminent to maintain its credit is to pay
as it goes-not by resorting to loans,
hnt nv keaninp ont of deht-thronph |