The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-03-09

interests. Its members are the agent,
OF the people, and their presence at Tho
seat OF government In the executios
OF the sovereign will should not operate
as an injury, but benefit. There
could be no better time to put the gov.
ernment supon q sound financial and
economic basis than now.
The people have only recentIy voted
that this should be done, and nothing
Is more binding upon the agents oI
their will than the obligation of i'm
mediate action. 1t has always seemed
TO me that the postponement of the
meeting OF Congress until more than a
year after 1t has been chosen deprived
Congress too often of the inspiration of
the popular will and the country of
corresponding benefits. 1t is evident,
therefore, that to postpone action la
the presence OF so great necessity
would be unwise on the part of the
executive, because unjust to the inter-
est OF the people. Our actions now will
| oe freer from mere partisan considera-
tlon than II the question of tariff revis-
Ion Is postponed until tho regular .ses.
sion of Congress.
We are nearly two years from con-
gressional election and politics cannot
SO gr eatly distract us as IL such con-
test was immediately pending. We
can approach the problem calmly and
patriotically without fearing it's effect
upon an early election. Our fellow.
citizens who may disagree with us upon
the character of this Legislation prefer
TO nave the question settled now, even
against their pre-cOnceived views, and
perhaps settled 90 seasonably, as 1 trust
and believe it will be, as to insure
great permanence-than to have un-
certainty. menacing the vast and varied
business interests Of the United States.
And whatever action Congress may
take, given fair opportunity for trial
before the people are called to pass
judgment upon it, and this I consider a
great essential to the rightful and last
ing settlement of the question.
IN view OF these Considerations, I
snail deem 1t my duty as president to
convene Congress in extraordinary
session on Monday, the fifteenth day
of March, 1897.
In conclusion, I congratulate the
country upon the fraternal spirit of the
people and the manifestation of good
Will everywhere so apparent The re-
cent election not only most fortunately
demonstrated the obliteration of sec
tlonal or geographical lines, but to
some extent also the prejudices which
Tor years have distracted our councils
and marred our true greatness as q ma
tion. The triumph of the people whose
verdict Is carried into effect to-day is
not the triumph OF one section, nor
wholly of one party, but of all sections
and OF the people. North and South
no longer divide upon the old lines,
put upon principles and policies, and
In this fact surely every lover OF the
country can find cause for rue felicita-
tion. Let us rejoice in and cultivate
this spirit; it is ennobling, and will be
both gain and a blessing to our be-
loved country. 1t will be my constant
aim to do nothing and permit nothing
to be done that will arrest or disturb
this growing sentiment OF unity and
cooperation, this revival of esteem and
afiliation which now animates 40 MANY
thousands in both the old antagonistic
sections, but l shall cheerfIlly do
everything possible to promote and in
crease it.
Let me again repeat the words of the
oath administered by the Chief JUS
tice, which, In their respective spher,
es, so far as applicable, 1 would have
all my countrymen observe:
will faithfully execute the Office
OF President of the United States,
and will, to the best of my ability,
preserve, protect and defend the con.
stltntion of the United States"
This Is the obligation have rever-
emily taken before the Lord most high.
10 keep it will be my single purpose {;
my constant prayer-and | shall con-
hdently rely upon the forbearance and
assistance of all the people in the dis
chargo OF my solemn esponsibilities.