The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1907-01-02

| pie according to the b;st of my ability,
and that obligation, with the help of
God, I shall discharge.
We have reason to congratulate our
| selves that, coinsident with our pros
perity, there is an emphatic assertion
of popular rights and a kesn resent
ment Of public wrongs. There is no
panacea in executive or legislative ac-
/ ton for all the ills of society which
| spring from the frailties and defects of
I the human nature of its msmbers. But
| this furnishes no excuse for complacent
inactivity and no reason for the tolera-
ton of wrongs made possible by de-
fectitve or inadequate legislation or by
administrative partially or insfficiency.
1t is sometimes said that we have
lawsenough and that the need is not OF
more law but of better enforcement OF
the law. There is abundant occasion
for caution against hasty legislation.
Whether or not we have laws enough,
we certainly have enough of ill-consld-
cred legislation, and the question is
not as to the quantity but as to the
quality of our present and of our pro-
pasad enaetments.
The proper confines Of legislative ac-
| ton are not to be determined by gem
eralities. Slowly but surely the people
have narrowed the opportunities for
selfish aggression, and the demand of
| this hour, and of all hours, is not al
legiance to phrases, but sympathy with
every aspiration for the betterment of
| of
fort to understand every need and to
ascertain in the light of experience,
| the means best adapted to meet it.
! Each measure proposed must ultimate
] ly be tested by critical analysis of the
particular probiem-the precise mis-
chief alleged and the adequacy of the
proffered remedy. 1t is the capacity for
such close examination, without heat
or disquallfyng prejudice, which dis
tinguishes the constructive effort from
vain endeavors to change human ma
ture by changing the form Of govern
ment.
1t must freely be recognized that
/ many of the evils of which we complain
have their source in the law itself, in
/
tunities for private ACKNOWLEDGMENT at
the expense Of the people recklessly Gre
ated, in failure to safeguard our public
interests by providing means for just
regulation Of those enterprises which
depend upon the use of public fran
chises. Wherever the law gives unjust
advantage, wherever 1t fails by suit
able prohibition or regulation to pro-
tect the interests of the people, wherey-
er the power derived from the state
/ is turned against the state. therais not
only room, but urgent necessity, for the
assertion of the authority of the state
to enforce the common right.
/ The growth Of our population and the
necessary increase in our charitable
and correctional work, the great enter
prises under state control-our canals,
our highways, our forest preserves
the protection Of the public health, the
problems created by the congestion of
population in our great cities leads to
a constant extension CT governmental
activity, from which we cannot, and
we would not seek escape.
This extension compels the strictest
irststence upon the highest admins
trative standards. We are govern
ment of laws and not Of men. We sub
ordinate individual caprice TO define
duty. The essentials of our liberties
are expressed in constitutional enact
meats removed from the risk of tenn
porary agitation But the security OF
our government, despite its constitu-
tional guarantees, is found in the in
telligenee and public spirit of its citi-
zens and in its ability to call to the
work Of administration men of single
minded devotion to the public inter-
ests, who make unsefish service tc
the state point Of knightly honor.
If in administration we make the
standard efficiency and not partisan
advantage, if in executing the laws we
, deal impartially, II in making the laws
there is fair and intelligent action with
reference to each exigency, we shall
disarm reckless and selfish agitator;
and take from the enemies Of -ui
peace their vantage ground of attack
1t is my intention to employ my con
stitutional powers to this end. I be-
lleye in the sincerity and good sense Of
the people. | believe that they are in,
tent in having government which rec.
. ognizes no favored interests, ant
which is not conducted in any par
for selfish ends. They will not be, ant
! they should not be. content with less
Relying upon your support, and hop
ing to deserve your continued conf
dence. with the single desire to safe
guard your interests and to secure thu
: honorable administration of the Office
! to which you have called me, l nov
, enter upon the discharge OF its duties