The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1901-03-08
livered his inaugural address under I
shower of rain, as follows:
Presidents Inaugural Address.

|
Presidents Inaugural Address.
My Fellow Citizens-When We assembled
here on the fourth Of March, 1897, there
was great anxiety with regard 20 our cur
rency and credit. None exists now. Thcn
our treasury receipts were inadequate 10
meet the current obligations OF the gov
eminent. Now they are sufficient for all
: stead OF "A deficit Then felt constrained
to convene the congress IN extraordinary
session 20 devise revenues to pay the. or
binary expenses OF the government. SOW,
] have the satisfaction TO announce that
the congress just closed has reduced tax
alton IN Ne sum OF forty-one millions OF
dollars. Then there was deep solicitude
, because Of the long depression In our
manufacturing. mining agricultural and
! distress of our iaboring population Now
every avenue OF production Us crowded
with activity. labor ~ well employed and
American products md good markets. at
home and abroad. Our diversified produc-
tons however. are increasing I'm such IN
lprcccdented volume as 10 admonish us OF
the necessity OF still fur lher charging our
foreign markets by broader commercial
relations. For this purpose reciprocal
trade arrangements with other nations
should In liberal spirit he carefully cult
, waited and promoted
= most part been eA ecuted. Whateverremttins
p unfulhlled Is a confirming obligation rest
ing with undminishei force upon the exc
: cutiVe and the congress. But, fortunate
/ as. our condition is It's permanence can
only be assured by sound business meth
! DDS and strict economy In national adj
ministration and legislation. We should
not permit our great prosperity 10 lead
I Ms 10 reckless ventures In business or
profiigacy IN public expenditures. While
the congress determines the objects and
} the sum OF appropria lions. the officials Of
the executive departments are responsible
for honest and faithful disbursement. and
2 1t should be their constant care to AVOID
waste and extravaganza.
Honesty, capacity and industry no.
where mCre indispensable than in public
employment These should be fundamen-
tai requisites TO original appointment. and
the surest guarantees against removal.
-Four years ago we stood on the brink
of war without the people knowing It.
: and without any. preparation or effort at
all that in honor could be done to avert
the war. but without avail. 1t became
inevitable. and the congress at rs first
Irregular session. without party division.
provided money in al ticipation Of the
crisis, and in preparation TO meet II. 1t
came. The result was, signally favorable
, TO American arms, and In the highest de-
gree honorable TO the government II i'm
posed upon us obligations from which we
, can not escape. and from which II would
be dshonorable TO seek TO escape. We are
now at peace with the world. and II is my
fervent prayer that If differences arise oe-
tween, us and other powers they may he
! settled by peaceful arbitration, and hat
| hereafter we may be spared the horrors
, | or war.
Instrusted by the people for a second
time with the office Of president | enter
upon It's administration approaching tho
renewed honor and commission, promising
unreserved devotion on my part to their
faithful discharge and reverently invok-
ing for my guidance the direction and ia
, vor OF Almighty God. should shrink
from the duties this day assumed If l did
mot feel that in their performance
should have the cooperation OF the wise
and patriotic men of ali parties. 1t en-
, courages me for the great task, which /
/. voluntarily committed to me the trust i'm
, posed upon the chief executive OF the
republic. Will give to me generous sup.
| and defend the constitution OF the United
States" and to care that the laws be
: pose is indicated through national ele,-
ton. II is the constitutional method of
ascertaining the public will. When once
, IL Is registered ii Is law 10 us all, and
faithful observance should follow its de-
2 crees.
strong hearts and helpful hands are
> needed. and. fortunately. we have them in
. every part of our beloved country. we
are reunited. Sectionalism has disap-
: no longer be traced by the war maps Of
1861. These old differences less and less
disturb the judgment. Existing problems
science OF the country. and the response
bility for their presence as well as for
: their righteous settlement rests upon us
all-no more upon me than upon you.
There are some national questions in the
$ solution q which Iatriotism should ex-
ficulties will not take them OFF our hands,
nor facilitate their adjustment Distrust
OF the capacity integrity and high pur-
poses OF the American people will not be
an inspiring theme for future political
contests. Dark pictures and gloomy fore
only becloud. they do rot help to point
the way OF safety and honor. Hope
maketh not ashamed The prophets OF
nor In its crises since have they saved Of
served 1t. The faith " the fathers was a
mig hty force in its creation. and the faith
IOf their descendants has wrought its p
ress and furnished its defenders. They
are obstructonists who despair, and who
or our people to solve wisely. and for
civilization. the mighty problems resting
upon them. The American people. in
ltrcnched In freedom At home take their
love for 1t with them wherever they go.
and they reject as mistaken and IN
worthy the doctrine that we lose our ,wn
liberties by securing the enduring founda-
tioLs OF liberty to others. Our institu-
lions Will not deteriorate by extension.
and our sense Of justice Will not abate an
der tropic suns in distant seas. AS here
tofore, so hereafter vii. the nation DEM
onstrate Its fitness to administer any new
estate which events deNolve upon II, and
!. in the fear OF God Will take occasion by
the hand and make the bounds Of free
' dom wider yet"
III there are those among us who would
make our way more difficult we must not be
dishealtened, but the more earnestly dedi-
rightly entered. The path OF progress Is
: seldom smooth. New things are often
}, found hard to do. our fathers found
7, them so. We find them They are in
convenient. They cost US something But
4 are we not made better for the effort And
sacrifice. and are not those we serve lift
= ed up and blessed?
vi We will be consoled, too. with the fact
that opposition has confronted every on
y ward movement Of the republic from its
I opening hour until now. but without sue
cess. The republic has marched on and
on. and its every. stcg, has exalted free
the same ordeal as did our predecessors
= nearly "A century ago We are following
r ths course they blazed. They triumphed.
VIII their successors falter and plead cr-
Z ganic inpotency In the nation? Surely
:, after l25 years of achievement for man.
:, kind we will not low surrender our equal
ity with other powers on matters funda-
v mental and essential To nationality. With
mo such purpose was the nation created.
In no such spirit has II developed its fun
c and independent sovereignty. We adhere
to the principles OF equality among our
: selves. and by no act Of ours will we as
: sign to ourselves subordinate rank In
. the family OF nations.
My fellow citizens. the public events of
the past four years have gone into his