Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-03-07
PRESIDENT 70 THE PEOPLE
Second Inaugural Address of
William Mckinley.
REVIEWS HIS FIRST FOUR YEARS
And is Pleased With Existing
Conditions.


kinley was inaugurated President oil
the United States for the second time
today: In his inaugural address Presi.
dent Mckinley said;
Ny fellow citizens: When we assembled
here on the 4th Of March, 1897, there was
great anxiety with regard to our currency
and credit. None exists now. Then our
treasury receipts were inadequate to meet
the current obligations OF the government.
Now they are sufficient for all public needs,
and We have surplus instead OF deficit.
Then l felt constrained to convene the
/ Congress in extraordinary session to devise
revenues to pay the ,ordinary expenses OF
the government. Now | have the satis-
faction to announce that the Congress just
closed hns reduced taxation in the sum OF
S4l,C0O000. Then there was deep solicitude
because OF the loan depression In our manu-
featuring, mining, agricultural, and mer-
camille industries and the consequent dis
tress 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.
Onr diversified productions, however. are
increasing in such unprecedented volume
as 10 adnonish US of the necessity of still
further enlarging our foreign markets by
broader commercial relations. For this
purpose 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. Whatever remains
unfulflled is continuing obligation resting
with undiminished force upon the executive
and the Congress. But fortunate as our
condition is, Its permanence can only be
assured by sound business methods and
strict economy in national administration
and legislation. We should not permit our
great prosperity to lead us to reckless
venture in business or profligHcy in public
expenditures. While the Congress deter
mines the objects and the SUN of appro-
priations, the officials of the executive de-
partments are responsible for honest and
faithful disbursement, and II should be
their constant care to avoid waste and
extrayaganee
Honesty, capacity and industry are no.
where more Indispensable than in public
employment. These should be fundamental
requisites to original appointment and the
surest guarantees against removal.
-Four years ago we stood on the brink of
war without tho people knowing 1t and
without any preparation or effort at
preparation for the impending peril. did
all that in honor could be done TO avert the
war, but without avail. 1t became in
evitable; and the Congress at its first repu
Jar session, without. party division provided
inoney-in anticipation Of the crisis ind in
preparation TO meet it, 1t came. The re-.
suit was signally favorable to American
arms and In the highest degree honorable
to the government. II imposed upon US
and from which It would be dishonorable
TO seek to escape. We are now al peace
with the world, and 1t is my fervent prayer
TINT " differences arise between us and
other powers they may be settled by peace
fnl arbitration and that hereafter we may
be spared the horrors of war.
Entrusted by the people for second time
with the office of President, / enter upon
its administration appreciating the great
responsibilities which attach to this re-
newed honor and commission, promising
unreserved devotion on my part to their
for my guidance the direction and favor
of Almighty God. ! should shrink frum
the duties this day assumed II ! did not feel
that in their performance should have the
cooperation of the wise and patriotic men
of all parties. 1t encourages me for the
great task which now undertake to believe
that those who voluntarily committed to
me the trust imposed upon the chief execu-
tive of the republic will give to me generous
support In my duties TO 'preserve, protect
and defend the Constitution Of the United
States. " and TO care that the laws be
faithfully executed" The national pur-
pose is indicated through a national elec-
tion. IL is the constitutional method of
ascertaining the public will. When once
it is registered 1t is law TO us all. and
faithful observance should follow its DEGREES.
Strong hearts and helpful hands are
needed, and, fortunately, we have them in
every part of our beloved country. We are
reunited. Sectionaism has disappeared.
Division on public questions can no longer
be traced by the war maps of 1861. These
old differences less and less disturb the
Judgment Existing problems demand the
thought and quicken the conscience of the
country, and the responsibility for their
presence as well as tor their righteous
settlement rests upon us all-no more upon
Inc than upon you. There are some national
questionsin the solution of which patriotism
should exclude partisanship. Maguifying
their difficulties will not take them off our
hands nor facilitate their adjustment. Dis
trust of the capacity, integrity and high
purposes of the American people will not be
an inspiring theme for future political con-
seate. Dark pictures and gloomy fore
bodings are worse than useless. These only
becloud, they do not help to point the
way of safety and honor. "Hope muketh
not ashamed" The prophets of evil were
not the builders of the republic, nor in its
crises since have they saved or served It,,
The faith of the fathers wns mighty force
in its creation, and the faith of their de-
scendants has wrought Its progress and fur
nisheu its defenders. They are OBJ
etructionists who despair nnd who would
destroy confidence in the ability OF our
people to solve wisely and for civilization
bi6 uliKubf ItstiuR uDUu tnelHs
The American people, intrencheu in free-
dom at home, take their love for ii with
than wherever they go, and they reject as
mistaken and unworthy the doctrine that
we lose our own liberties by securing the
enduring foundations of liberty to others.
Our institution will not deteriorate by ex-
tension, aud our sense of Justice will not
abate under tropic SUNS in distant seas. As
heretofore, or hereafter will the nation
demonstrate its fitness to administer any
new estate which events devolve upon it,
and in the fear of God will take OCCASION
blythe hand and make the bounds of freedom
wider yet" IL there are those among us
who would make our way more difficult, we
must not be disheartened but the more
earnestly dedicate ourselves to the task
upon which we have rightly entered. The
path of progress is seldoms mooth. New
things are often found hard to do. Our
fathers found them so. We find them SO,
They are inconvenient. They cost us some
thing. But are We not made better for the
fhort and sacrifice, and are not those we
serve lifted up and. blessed?
We will be consoled, too, with the fact
that opposition has confronted every onwar
movement of the republic from its opening
hour until now, but without success. The
republic has marched on and on, and its
every step has exalted freedom and humanity.
We are undergoing the same ordeal as did
our predecessors nearly a century ago. We
nre following the course they blazed. They
triumphed, Will their successors falter and
plead drzahic impcteits III the natione
Surely alter 1y5 yeurs ff Achievement for