The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-03-11
INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT MCKINLEY.
AN IDEAL DAY FOR THE OCCA.
SION.

SION.
All Exhaustive Statement OF His Views
in the Inaugural Addrcss-Ths
Fourth President from Ohio.
The inauguration Of President VIM
Mckinley, of Ohio, was very lurgcl,
attended from all perts OF tho United
States, and tho ceremonies wcro i'm
prcssive and beautiful that marked his
elevation to tho highest Office within
the gift of tho American people. He
Is the fourth President from the Buck
ego State, and VIM Henry Harrison
OF North Bond, O., was the first, with
Rutherford B. Hayes and James A
Garfield as tho others. Cen. Grant
was Il native OF Ohio, but his legal
residence at the time of his Inaugural.
tion was Galena, III.
Ex-President Cleveland was able to
take part in tho Inauguration of his
successor, although he hai been suf-
lerlng Tor several days with rheumatic
gout. Ho left Immediately after tho
public ceremonies on Il duck hunt in
| the waters OF North Carolina, using Il
government transport wh"n ne r~n"h.
cd Portsmouth ".
The following is the main portion of
The inaugu: III address Of President
McKinley:
fELLOW-C IrIZENS In obedience to
the will Of tle people and in their pres
ence, by the authority vested in me by
THIS oath, l assume the arduuus and re-
sponsible duties of prcsi idcnt OF the Uni
ted States, relying upon the support of
my countrynlcn aud invoking the guild
anco 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 obcy
his commands and walk humbly in his
| footsteps.
The responsibilities Of the high trust
to which / have been callcd-always Of
grave mportancc-arc augmented by
the prevailing business conditions, en-
failing idleness upon willing labor and
great loss to useful enterprises. Tho
country is suffering from Industrial dis
turbanccs from which speedy relief
must be had. Our financial 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
easy attack, nor its stability to doubt
or dispute. Our currency should con-
t!nue under supervision Of tho govern
mont. The several forms OF our paper
money offer, in my Judgment, a con
slant embarrassment to the govern.
mcnt and q safo balance in the treasury.
Therefore, | believe it necessary to de-
wise system which, without dimin-
lshlng the circulating medium, or Offer
ing premium for its contraction, will
present "a remedy for these arrange.
montS, which, temporary in their ma
n hS ,>f,
prosperity have been displaced iN
wiser provisions. With adequate re-
venue secured, but not until then, we
can enter upon such changes in our
fiscal laws as will, while insuring safe
ty and volume to our money, no longer
impose upon tho government the ne
ces5ity of maintaining so large Il gold
reserve, with its attendant and newt
able temptations to speculation.
INTERNATIONAL BIMETALLIsM.
Most Of our financial laws are the
outgrowth of experience and trial and
should not be amended without invcsti-
CATION and demonstration OF the wis
dom OF the proposed changes. We must
be both sure we are right" and "makc
haste slowly" If, therefore, congress
in its wisdom shall deem it eXpedient
TO create commission to take under
early consideration and vision Of our
coinage, bankin' and currency laws,
and give them that exhaustive, careful
and dispassioEate examination tina,
their Importance demands, ] shal
cordially concur in such action. |
such power is vested in tho prcsi
dent, it is my purpose to appoint com
mission of prominent, wcll-informct
citizens OF different parties, who viii
command public confidence both on &C
count Of their ability and special fitness
for the work. Business experience an(
public training may thus be com bined
and the patriotic zeal OF the friends o
the country be so directed that such a
report will be made as to receive the
support Of all parties and our finances
cease to be tho subject OF mere partisan
contention. The experiment is at all
events trial, and in my opinion, it can
| but prove beneficial to tho entire coun-
J try.
| The question Of international bimct-
alism will have early and earnest at
tentiOn. 1t will be my constant en-
dcavor to secure it by cooperation with
the other great commercial powers Of
tho world. Until that condition is real
| lied when the parity between our gold
and silvcr money springs from and is
supported by tho relative value Of tho
| metals, tho valuo OF tho 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 tho govern
ment, the integrity of its currency and
the inviolability OF it's obligations must
| be preserved. This was the command
ing verdict OF the people and it will not
be unhccded.
| ECONOMY IS DEMAN DED.
Economy is demanded in every
branch OF the government at all times,
but especially in periods like the pres.
cnt OF depression in business and dis
trcss among the people. The scvcrcs,
economy must be observed in all public
expenditures and extravaganza stopped
wherever found and prevented wher.
ever in tho futurc it may nc developed
III the revenues arc to remain as now,
the only relief that can come must be
from decreased expenditures. But the
present must not become the permanent
condition OF the governments IT, ba.