Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1913-03-07
A SOUL STIRRING APPEAL

Woodrow Wilson was inaugurated
as president of the United States last
Tuesday The inaugural ceremonies
were simple, but unusually impress
sive and there was display of good
will on the part of the retiring presi-
dent and the members of his cabinet
which bodies well for the future. The
Induction of the new president into
office, backed as he is by a demo-
cratic house and senate, seems to be
generally regarded as the beginning
of new epoch in the history of the
nation and that Mr.. Wilson shares in
this belief is indicated by the tone of
his inaugural address. There is a
note of solemnity in his words, a pas
sionate appeal for support, ring of
lofty patriotism. which indicate that
he fully appreciates the tremendous
responsibilities which he has assumed
and the difficulties which he must
overcome in order that his admins
tration may measure up to the ex-
pectations of his countrymen.
In eloquence and earnestness the
address surpasses any inaugural adj
dress delivered since President Lin
coin took the oath of office. The fol-
lowing closing words will strike a
responsive chord in the heart of every
loyal citizen and are we'll worthy of
careful study:
This is the high enterprise of the
new day; to lift everything that con-
Germs our life as a nation to the light
that shines from the hearthfire of
every mans conscience and vision of
the right 1t is inconceivable that we
should do it in ignorance of the facts
as they are or in blind haste.
I'VE shall restore, not destroy.
I'VE shall deal with our economic
system as it is and as 1t may be modi-
fled, not as It might be if we had a
clean sheet of paper to write upon:
and step by step we shall make it
what 1t should be, in the spirit of
those who question their own wisdom
and seek counsel and knowledge. not
shallow dissatisfaction or the ex-
element of excursions whittier they
can not tell. Justice, and only JUS
tice, shall always be our motto.
And yet is will be no cool pro-
cess of mere science. The nation has
been deeply stirred, stirred by a sol
emn passion, stirred by the knowl-
edge of wrong, of ideals lost, of gov
eminent too often debauched and
made an instrument of evil. The
feelings with which we face this new
age of right and opportunity sweep
across our heartstrings like some air
out of Gods own presence. where
Justice and mercy are reconciled and
the judge and the brother are one.
I'VE know our task to be no mere
task of politics, but a task which
shall search US through and through.
whether we are able to understand
our time and the need of our peo-
PIE, whether we be indeed their
Spokesman and interpreters. whether
we have the pure heart to compre-
bend and the rectified will to choose
cur high course of action.
This is not a day of triumph: II
is day of dedication. Here muster,
not the forces Of party, but the
forces of humanity. Mems hearts
walt upon us; mems lives hang in
the balance; mems hopes call upon
ns to say what we will do.
who shall live up to the great
trust? Who dares fail to try?
i summon all honest men. all ma
triotic, all forward-looking men. to
my side. God helping me, win not
iail them, If they viii but counsel
and sustain me-"