Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1901-03-14

III bht avenue DCloW W oNC viz wv
men on whom thei- attention was
fixed and the great procession which
followed them. The brilliant and
impressive scene in the senate when
the vice president-elect was inducted
into office was reserved for few nun
dreds. The public had no part in 1t.
While the distinguished audience was
gathered in the senate chamber, the
president, in little side room, was
signing the bills which the dying con-
gress was sending to him.
when the ceremony in the senate
was over, the floor and galleries emp
tied into the corridors, through
which the people jostled and squeezed
into the rotunda and out on to the
great platform erected from the east
portico of the Capitol. Upon 1T were
to be seated the senator's, representa-
tives, diplomatic corps, supreme
court and some of the invited guests.
Flanking it on either side were other
stands black with people, while the
steps of the house and senate were
hillocks of humanity. Below the
multitudes filled the plaza and be-
yond, down the diverging avenues,
patches of color and myriads of
points of steel indicated the assem-
bled soldiery far as the eye could
reach.
The president and vice president,
Mrs. Mckinley, the chief justice and
several others in the rallied and COW
cred enclosure jutting out into the
crowd were protected from the
storm. There in the presence of 2O,-
900 and in the sight of twice that
number of people standing in rain,
the president took the oath of Office
and delivered the following address:
Ny Fellow Citizens:-When we as
sembled here on the fourth of March,
1897, there was great anxiety with re-
gard to our currency and credit.
None exists now. Then our treasury
receipts were inadequate to meet the
current obligations of the govern
ment. Now they are sufficient for
all public needs and we have a sur
plus instead of a deficit. Then L
felt constrained to convene the con-
gress in extraordinary session to de-
wise revenue for the ordinary eX-
penses of the government. Now |
have the satisfaction to announce
that the congress just closed has re-
duced taxation in the sum of S41, ,000,
900. Then there was deep solicitude
because of the long depression in our
manufacturing, mining, agricultural
and mercantile industries and the
consequent distress of our laboring
population. Now every avenue of
production is crowded with activity
labor is well employed and American
products find good markets at home
and abroad.
Our diversified productions, how
ever, are increasing in such unprece-
dented volume as to admonish us of
the necessity of still further enlarg-
ing our foreign markets by broader
commercial relations. For this pur-
pose reciprocal trade arrangements
with other nations should in liberal
spirit be carefully cultivated and
promoted.
The national verdict of 1896 has for
the most part been executed. What
ever remains unfulfilled is a continu-
ing obligation resting with undimin-
ished force upon the executive and
congress. But fortunate as our condi-
ton is, its permanence can only be
assured by sound business methods
ana 9biiNt NNOhOiiN III liiblOlldl ihIlllll
| istration and legislation. We should
not permit our great prosperity to
| lead us to reckless ventures in busi-
ness, or protiigacy in public eXpendi-
| lures. While congress determines
the objects and the sum of appropri-
ations, the officials of the executive
department are responsible for hon
est and faithful disbursement and it
| should be their constant care to avoid
waste and extravaganza.
Honesty, capacity and industry are
nowhere more indispensable than in
public employment. These should
| be fundamental requisites to original
appointment and the surest guaran-
| tees against removals.
Four years ago we stood on the
| brink of war without the people
knowing it and without any prepara-
| ton or effort at preparation for the
impending peril. l did all that in
| honor could be done to avert the
war, but without avail. 1t became
| inevitable, and congress at its first
regular session, without party divi-
sion provided money in anticipation
of the crisis and in preparation to
| meet it. 1t came. The result was
signally favorable to American arms
and in the highest degree honorable
to the government. 1t imposed upon
us obligations from which we can
not escape. We are now at peace
with the world, and it is my fervent
| prayer that if differences arise be-
tween us and other powers they may
be settled by peaceful arbitration.
and that hereafter we may be spared
! the horrors of war.
Entrusted by the people for the
second time with the Office of pres-
dent, | enter upon its administration
appreciating the great responsible
ties which attach to this renewed
honor and commission, presenting
unreserved devotion on my part to
their faithful discharge and invoking
for my guidance the direction and
favor of Almighty God. | should
shrink from the duties this day as
sumed if | did not feel that in their
performance | should have the CO.
operation of wise and patriotic men
of all parties. 1t encourages me
for the great task which / now under