The Scranton chronicle., 1904-01-23


llyered by Gov. yardaman before TAX
Ing the oath of office at the inaugural
ceremonies today:
Nv Friends and FelIop Citizens:
Called upon by the sovereign suf-
fragists to assume the duties and per-
form the functions of chief executive
of this nwealth-absolute in its
constituted authority-an indestructi-
hle integral element of the general gov
ernment-I embrace the opportunity af
forded by this occasion to make my
grateful acknowledgment to the good
people OF my beloved State for the gen.
srous favors which they have been
pleased to show me, to confess sim
eere consciousness of my inability to
meet the demands of the great trusts
committed to my keeping, and to assure
them that so profoundly am impressed
with the magnitude of the task that
| approach it with those anxious and
awful presentiments which the great
ness of the charge and the weakness
Of my power so justly inspires
The State has the right to demand
Of every citizen the best there is in
him. The great problem which rises
mountain high in the pathway of the
States future, throwing its chilling
shadows over the most glorious possi-
bilties, would alarm less heroic and
rssonrceful people. But the white peo-
Die Of Mississippi have always proven
themselves equal to every emergency,
and, believing, as do that,
that which they have done is but
an earnest of the things that they shall
do am confident that under the di-
rection of al Allwise Providence
which by all its dispensation proves
that everything was created for def
mite purpose and to perform a GER
tain necessary function in the economy
Of the world, that this paramount
problem-the race question-will ulti-
mately be settled, and settled justly
protecting alike the interests of the
negro ald the white man. That the
negro was created for some good pur-
pose, time has demonstrated but that
good purpose is not participation in
the government of white men. The
crime of all the ages against civiliza-
tion was committed, when in the
"agonizing spasm of infuriated men,
just after the civil war, the North ex-
pressed its hatred of the white people
OF the South in the anne ailments to
the Federal constitution, which invest
ed the negro with all the rights an.
privileges of citizenship. The infiu-
ences which dethroned the reason, the
dust and smoke of war-bred prejudices
and animosities have been blown
away by the winds of common sense,
the sections reunited by the spirit of
Anglo-Saxon brotherhood, and that
mistake stands out naked to all the
world in all of its stupidity and ugil-
ness. 1t is the bastard offspring OF
the exigencies of war and Unsuitable
greed for gain. The nation should
correct this error-this stupenduous
solecism, and now is the time to do 1t.
| have no patience with the notion
entertained by men who insist that 1T
Is impolitic to press the question
now" 1t is never too early to correct
mistake, to expose an error, or to ex-
plode a lie Now is the time to do 1t,
and l believe the Southern people
should take the initiative. They are
familiar with all the facts; they alone
are capable of informing the world of
the profound, God-stamped, time-fixed
and unalterable incompetency of the
negro for citizenship in white mans
country. This is a serious matter, and
The moral obligation resting upol the
white man into whose hands the des-
Tiny OF the negro race, as well as the
future of the State, has been commit
lei. should develop the best there is
ID hM He cannot afford to be un-
Just, cat 1t is no time for sickly senti-
ment believe in justice, | believe
IN the sympathetic and love prompt
l1gs OF the human heart, but the sur
seon whose heart, rather than his
mead, guides him in the treatment OF
q desperate case. is an unsafe doctor.
Inc nation should act in this matter,
and act now. Procrassination will
only complicate and intensity the diff
nculties. In the meantime, the South
ern States must protect themselves.
mississippi must conserve her own civ
.lization, and by law maintain white
supremacy The welfare of the negro
demands 1t, as much as the interests
oi the white man. My fellow citizens,
tne ayes of the world are upon Mis-
slssipN today. No more important
hour IN all her history has been pass
ca than that to which the hand of
lime Is aow pointing. 1t is time
ior unalloged patriotism to show forth
,ne integrity of its metal in the crucl-
pie OF courage, of craftsmanship and
tei-sacrifice-for manhood to flower
IN Its glory of divine potency, as il
mas fiowered in every crucial moment
oi the States history. Be not de-
lol f-&s
eountrynen, by the siren song of the
sorald materialist-"that we are doing
ven enough" Eternal vigilance is the
pIice OF liberty. When the stupid and
copscienceless dollar becomes the god.
peouniary interest the only thing to be
Oonaldered, and honesty in and out of
vncs but refined expediency-whenl
mar becomes the order of the day, the |
oeei 1.1ing of the end of free govern |
nsnt Is at hand Demosthenes, in one |
=. MS superb orations, stated the cause |
~ Greece's downfall in these undy- |
ing words: What has ruined Greece? |
,LnVy when man received a bribe; /.
laughter when he confessed it; mercy |
.ne convicted, and hatred TO those /
VINO Denounced the crime"-all the |
rsuai accompaniments of corruption. |
.pseneath the crushing weight OF crime
mat sun-crowned civilization--the first |
t~ SUin OF democracy-whose glorious ef- |
.usence - illuminates the dark pages
:, tne past and still throws mellow
eov over the present, went down
sssf 10 rise again; the blight of cor
~ sspuon had destroyed the very germ
me. Would it not, | submit. be
~ase Tor US to Dause eurvey the field
nc II possible avoid the snares into |
maieh that glorious democracy of an
l1 times fell to its ruin?