The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-03-10
THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS.

Fellow Citizens: In obedience to the
will OF the people, and in their presence,
by the authority vested in me by this
oath, / assume the arduous and respon-
stbfe duties 0f President of the United
States, relying on the support of my
countrymen and invoking the guidance
Of Almighty God. Our faith teaches us
that there is no safer reliance than upon
the God of our fathers, who has so singu-
larly favored the American people in ev-
cry national trial. and who will not for
sake us so long as we obey his command
ments and walk humbly in his footsteps.
The responsibilities of the high trust
to which l have been called-always or
grave importance-are augmented by
the prevailing business conditions, en-
failing idlenesS upon willing LABOR ana
loss to useful enterprises. The country
is suffering from industrial disturb
ances, 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.
It should all be put upon an enduring
basis, not subject to easy attack, nor lts
stability to doubt or dispute. our cur
rency should continue under the super
vision of the government. The several
forms of our paper money offer, in my
Judgment, a constant embarrassment to
the government, and to a safe balance
in the treasury. Therefore, l believe 1t
necessary to devise a system which,
without diminishing the circulating me-
dunn or offering a premium for its con-
traction, will present remedy for these
arrangements, which, temporary in their
nature, might well, in the years of our
prosperity, have been displaced by wiser
provisions. With adequate revenue Sc
cured, but not until then, we can enter
upon such changes In our finance laws
as will while insuring safety and volume
to our money, no longer impose upon the
necessity of maintaining so large gold
reserve, with it's attendant and inevita-
BILE temptations to speculation. MoSt or
our financial laws are the outeroWth or
experience and trial, and should not be
amended without investigation and DEM
onstration of the wisdom OF the pro-
posed changes. We must "be sure we
are right" and make haste slowly
IF, therefore, congress, in its wisdom,
shall deem it expedient to create con-
mission to take under early considera
ton the revision of our coinage, bank
ing and currency laws and give them
ate examination that their choice de-
rlands, shall cordially concur in such
action If such power is vested in the
president It Is my purpose to appoin
a commission of prominent wel-in-
formed citizens of different rfrtics VII
will command public confidence both on
account of their ability and special fit
ness for the work. Pus'coss tvperieurr
and public training nov tlu~ he cclr
bined, and the par:iotic zeal Of I've
friends of the country ice 50 dIc, ted Tia
such a report will be made as to receive
the support of all parties, and our lnan-
ces cease to Ice the subject Of mere par
tisan contonti,n. The experiment IL, at
all events, worth trial and, in my opin-
ioIl, it can but prove beneficial to the en-
tire country.
The question of international bimetal-
ism will nave early and earnest atten-
ton. 1t Will be my constant endeaVoI
to secure 1t by cooperation with the
other great commercial powers of the
world. Until that condition is realized
when the parity between our gold and
silver money springs from, and is sup
ported 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 al
par with gold by every resource at oui
command. The credit of the govern
ment, the integrity of its currency ant
the inviolabllity of its obligation mus
be preserved. This was the command
Ing verdict of the people, and it will MOI
be unheeded.
Economy is demanded in every branch
OF the government at all times, but es
pecially in periods like the present of de
preston in business and distress anon,
the people The severest economy mus
be observed in all public expenditures
and extravaganza stopped wherever 1t /.
found, and prevented wherever in tn,
future it may be developed. If the rev
enues are to remain as now, the only re
lief that can come must be from de
creased expenditures. But the presen
must not become the permanent condi
a