Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-01-14
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ENTER YATES.
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tions are on their way to this legisla-
tnre. Doubtless the greater part of
them are worthy or most serious and
earnest investigation. Such inyestiga-
ton will be earnestly demanded.
Conscientious consideration should.
of course. be given. and you will |
not withhold it. Two things are
absolutely vital to the proper
transaction of public business. First, |
the aim OF the official must be high |
enough. and second. all progress must |
DE practical. Ii the motive is not |
lofty. the promised good cannot be |
hoped for. And, on the other hand, |
if the action is not inspired always |
by common sense. the ideal. however |
elevated. win fail wholly of fruition- |
! feel sure that in all matters we can |
be conservative without being narrow
minded. and can avoid both undue |
haste and undue delay.
Maintenaaee of Harmony. i
/ wish to assure the general assem-
bly, that in their desire for the main |
tenance of relations of the utmost
harmony between all the departments |
of the state government the state Of
ficials who have to-day taken the of
ficial oath, all heartily concur. From
such a state of general good feeling
there always certainly results the
promotion of the highest interests of
the commonwealth. And with this
there comes inevitably the approval of
men of all parties, creeds. convictions
and conditions. And following this,
there results that qualification, salts
faction and peace of mind which public I
officials can only feel when having
the knowledge of duty done.
As for myself had 1 not already
fully resolved and expected to cooper
ate in all proper measures for the COM
mon veal to the fullest extent within
nv with frar nf ho
state administration, the solemnity OF
the oath which 1 have just taken
would constrain me to do So. This
inaugural oath is not a mere repeti-
ton of the pledge which we have
made YOU and /, and all of us upon the
hastings. 1t is true that we have with
out exception, irrespective of party,
repeatedly told the people that if cleo
ted to the positions which we now by
their favor occupy, we would compel
economy, efficiency and humanity in
the management of the concerns of the
people and In the care of their institu-
tions.
A Solemn Obligation.
But the oath we have taken today is
different thing. 1t Is required of us
because the people have taken us at
our word. It is a solemn obligation.
1t is a sacred thing. 1t is a covenant
The pledge upon the stump is simply
OI1cldl OdIn Is n Dl0Q-
ing pledge to redeem that promise, be-
cause it has been relied upon and
rights have accrued under it. 1t is
moreover the formal Acknowledgements
of the acceptance of great trust. The
people of the state of Illinois have,
indeed, trusted us. They have con-
Stituted US the guardians of a common
wealth made precious and hallowed
and dear to them by eighty-two years
OF glorious history years
of great thought, of great events, of
great. grand men, Of great times, OF
awful trial and agony, and again of
signal triumph. and again of almost
miraculous prosperity and progress and
power. And we have in the eye of all
the people Eolemnly accepted the
trust. We have registered our oath in
the hearts of men, to the most remote
regions of the state. The ancients
called the oath taken by the defenders
of the state the "sacramentum," and in
all the ages since the most solemn ritu-
ais OF the most eXacting creeds have
known no stronger word by which to
call their most sacred ordinances. The
modern oath should be no less sacred.
First In New Century.
An inspiring thought, in this con-
nection, is that we have the honor of
being connected with the first state
administration in the new century.
Il hO opiIiI bnC SOLAA5
hundred years is to be distinctly diff
ferent from that of the century which
has just expired. The nineteenth cen
fury has been a century of strife. an
era of conflict and desperate fighting.
hand to hand and of pushing onward
and upward, step by step, to the attain
ment of human rights. Our country
has had its part in all this contention.
and little by little has struggled
dauntlessly on, until, at last, as mat
ter of fact, whether we like to call ii
so or not, it has become one of the
great powers of Christendom and of
civiliza tioE=until, the name America
has become enshrined in the heart of
bumanity-and until at the mention
of that great name, tyrants tremble
on their thrones ten thousand miles
away. Our country's fight has been
to accomplish all the things that make
up national salvation and human hap
piness. 1t has fought only when it
had to. 1t has not gloried unduly in
the victories it has been compelled to
win. But 1T has been determined and
has known no fear. Its power has
left its impress upon the country, new
er to be obliterated.
Duty Presents Its Claims.
The coming century is to be one OF
performance of duty. Human rights
having been in large part obtained
duty now presents its claims. And.
aggressive as it has been. in the past,
in the fight for human rights. America
will be more aggressive still. in the
duty-work of the new century. And
in the glorious future, in which Amer
lea will be the central figure, leading
all nations, our state will be expected
to perform we'll it's part. Illinois is
DOW, in population, a fifteenth part.
It's ever-increasing influence will prob
ably affect the nation and the world
within a generation, much more Wit
ally than we now can imagine or con-
ceive. What a magnificent century
this viii be, if it is, in all respects,
started right. What a thing it is. to
be entrusted, for even a short time,
with the care of the interests of the
people of such state at the begin
-,fp0 of such a ooufY1fv What q now