The Weekly Tallahasseean., 1901-01-10

Jennings then delivered his inaugural
address, which was received with
great applause by the large gather
ing of enthusiastic citizens. He
said:
FRIENDS. AND FELLOW CITIZENS-Be-
Tore entering upon the duties of the first
executive of our state, to which l have
been elected by the deliberate and tran
gull sutfrageS of the electors of Florida,
1t Is meet that should avail myself of
this occasion TO express my gratitude to
My fellow citizens for so distinguished
a rank of confidence. 1t is impossible
to express this gratitude in mere words,
and i can best pNf1ect my sense of the
honor and its obligations by pledging to
The people OF our state my most sincere
purpose to perform the duties Of the
office of governor of Florida with all the
abilities that possess, to the end that
the people may enjoy the best possible
administration of the laws of the state.
recognize with pride the presence of
the Florida state troops, who have so
generously enlisted and stand ready to
defend the state and It's citizenship and
enforce the law, and beSpeak liberal
policy to this organization as well as to
the Florida naval militia during nv
administration. This great and grow
ing state spreads over a territory greater
than that of any other state east Of the
Mississippi river.
For more than 250 years the territory
was in the grasp of power far away;
of a monarch despotic and cruel, hence
we find that the early history of Florida
was not one Of rapid and encouraging
development
In 1892 congress established terrific
rial government, which continued until
1915 when Florida was admitted to
statehood. The census of 1910 shows a
population of 81. 467; that of 1870 pop
platiOn of 189, 995, at which time our be-
loved state was just emerging from the
effects of terrible war, without funds,
and its people reduced to poverty, which
condition was aggravated and MAIDS
more desperate by the reckless bonding
of the state, and the extravaganza aDG
Wasteful expenditures of the peoples
money extOrted by Republican admins
trations, which condition was ended in
1878 by the election of a Democratic
chief magistrate of Florida. Since then
our state has grown and prOspered in
population and in wealth.
During the past three decades our
population has increased from IS9, 995 to
63S, 542; our assessed valuations nave in
creased from less that $50, 00N, 900 TO up
ward of $50, 600, 900 OH the tax books, be-
sides more than 5000, 600, 900 not Oh the
tax books, with exports from fields, gar
dens, mines, manufactures, forests,
lakes and rivers, amounting TO millions
of dollars annually.
Railroads and Ports.
Three thousand miles of railroads and
great ports have been constructed as
monuments of our progress.
Our educational facilities have grown
during this period to accommodate the
enrolled scholarship of more than IO0,-
600 students. Churches have been erec-
ted in every city and hamlet as monu-
ments of the peoples generosity and of
the high civilization attained.
II Honor to Predecessors.
Much credit is due to my immediate
predecessors, and it Is proper that I
should express the well nigh universal
sentiment of appreciation of their faith
full performance of duty. We congratu-
late ourselves that Providence has given
BIS wise, able and judiciOus governors,
and to Governor BloXham I express the
sincere hope that after his retirement
from the office of chief executive of
Florida that he may live long to enjoy
the delightful memories that cluster
thickly around his public life.
The New Century.
With assumption of high responsible
ties Oh this occasion it might become me
better to be silent. Yet, standing as
we do OH the threshold of a new cen-
fury, closing the door of the old with
the historian reveling in its wonderful
achievements; opening the door of the
new the imagination can see century
whose possibilities are as yet unparal-
leled in history, and we appreciate and
realize that there are ''other steps to
climb" we see the steps leading up
ward, but the topmost one is far beyond
our view. We can but look up and
press onward, striving as we go to do
our whole duty to God and to our fell
low man.
AS some expression of purpose is ex-
pected of me on this occasion / venture
20 express some views based on observa-
ton of a general character, with the
hope that 1 shall be enabled to more
specifically set forth my views in mes
sages to the legislature. In cOntem-
plating the exercise of duties, it is
proper you should understand what /
deem essential principles of our state
government, and, consequently, those
which ought to shape its adm1nistra-
tion for you; retain the sovereign power
and guard your rights with jealous
care. Our declaration Of rights, our
fundamental law declare that ''an men
are equal before the law, and have Ger
tain inahenable rights, among which are
those of enjoying and defending life
and liberty, acquiring, possessing and
and protecting property, and pursuing
happiness and obtaining safety; that all
political power is inherent in the people;
that the right of trial by jury shall be
secured to all and remain inviOlate for
ever; that all courts in this state shall
be open, so that every person for any
injury done him in his lands, goods,
person or reputation, shall have RENE
dy by due course of law, and right and
Justice shall be administered without
sale, denial or delay" These l deem
essential principles of our state govern
mont