Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-01-05
GOOD TALK BY ROOSEVELT
Impressive Address on His Inauguration
as Governor Of New York.
MUST BE A UNITY OF INTEREST
Upon the Great Issues of Good
Government.
WILL STRIVE TO SERVE The PEOPLE

Albany, N. Y, Jan. 2.-Theodore
Roosevelt was duly inaugurated
governor Of New York in the Assem-
bly, Hall of the Capitol, today.
The ceremonies, which began at 10
o'clock, were simple, but impressive.
There was u prayer by Bishop Doane
and speech by the retiring executive,
Gov. Francis s, Black. Replying to
the latter, Gov. Roosevelt said: M
II appreciate very deeply all YOU
say, and the spirit that prompts you
to say it. We have the same ends in
view; we are striving to accomplish
the same results: each Of us, according
to the light that is in him, is seeking
to advance the welfare Of the people.
"a very heavy responsibility rests
upon the governor of New York State,
o. State of 7,000,G00 inhabitants, of
great wealth, of widely varied indus
tries and with a population slngularly
diversified, not merely in occupation
but in race origin, in habits OF life
and in ways of thought 1t is not an
easy task so to frame our laws that
Justice may be done to all alike in
such q population, SO many OF whom
have interests that seem entirely
antagonistic. But upon the great and
fundamental issues of good government
there must always be a unity OF
interest among all persons who wish
we'll to the commonwealth. There is
much less need OF genius or of any
special brilliancy in the admins
tration OF our government than there
is need Of such homely virtues and
qualities as common sense, honesty
| and courage. There are very many
difficult problems Sto face, some OF
which are as old as government itself,
while others have sprung into being IN
consequence of the growing complexity
and steadily increasing tension OF our
social life for the last two generations.
| 1t is not given to any man, or to any
| set of men, to see with absolute clear
| vision into the future. All that car
| be done is to face the facts as we find
them. to meet each difficulty in practi-
cal fashion and to strive steadily fol
| the betterment both of our civic ano
our social conditions.
| "We must realize on the one hanc
that we can do little if we do not sci
| ourselves a high ideal, and on the
| other, that we fail in accomplishing
even this little if we do not worl
through practical methods and with {
readiness to face life as it is and moi
Us we think it ought to be. Under ne
form of government is it so necessar,
| thus to combine efficiency ant
morality, high principal and rougf
common sense, Justice and the sturdies
physical and moral courage. as in ;
republic. 1t is absolutely impossible
for republic long to endure if it be
comes either corrupt or cowardly; j
its public men, no less than its privat
men, lose the Indispensable virtue o
honesty; if its leaders of thought be
come visionary doctrinaires, or If i
shows lack of courage in dealing
with the many grave problems whicl
it must surely face, both at home ant
abroad, as it strives to work out TIL
destiny meet for a mighty nation.
"It is only through the party system
that free governments are now success
fully carried on, and yet we must kee]
ever vividly before us that the useful
ness of party is strictly limited b
its usefulness to the State, and that il
the long run he serves his party bes
who most helps to make it Instant
responsive to every need of the peopl
and to the highest demands of tina
spirit which lends to drive us onwar
and upward.
''It shall be my purpose, so far as
am given strength, to administer m
office with an eye single to the welfar
of all the people of this great common
wealth. ~
Gov. Roosevelt then took tho oath c
office. Afterwards he held a receptio
in the executive chamber.