The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-03-04
MARSHALL ON The
SENATEs DUTIES
Brief Inaugural Speech BY the
New vice-President On
Inauguration.
HIS LaNGUAjE is VIGOROUS
Declares Upper House, as GUARDIAN Of
Peoples Honor, Must Investigate
Alleged Injustice to Weaker Ma
ton and Make Reparation.

the inaugural address delivered by
Vice-President Marshall:
Senators: The proprieties of this &C
casion probably require few words
from one who is grateful to the Amer
lean people for the honor heretofore
done him and this day consummated.
No senator has, l trust. a Keener
appreciation of the necessities in the
way of tact and courtesy now dayoly-
ing upon me than | myself. | offer no
surety as to my discharge of duties
other than a personal pledge that |
will seek to familiarize myself with
them and will endeavor always to ex-
ercise that complalsance and forebear
ance which are essential to him who
ably presides over great debatee upon
great public questions by great (men.
Divergent views relative to this
body would be less divergent il the
American people would come to {Teal-
lie that on all sides of real questions
much may truthfully be said Such1I2p',
attitude of the public mind would
eliminate the view that this body IS
distinctively deliberative and not
thoroughly patriotic.
NO Substitute for the Senate.
Charges of bad faith based upon an
attitude of mind or upon conduct
should never be made until it is clear
~ established that the resultant ac-
ton is the outcome of personal inter
est or improper and dishonOrable bus
mess or social relations.
Your action has not always met
i with universal approval, but up TO
this good hour no workable substitute
for the exercise of the functions OF
this body has been proposed l. is
not needful for me here and now to
accept a brief in your defense. This
body will continue to stand not be
cause of it's presiding officer, but be
cause of the patriotism and tntelli-
gence of its constituent members and
their devotion to our system 0. gov
eminent
Guards the Peoples Homer.
With neither right nor desire % in
fringe upon the prerogatives CT the
president soon to be, | beg the eX-
preston of the opinion that what
ever diverse views may be held rela-
tive to the work of this body ali per
sons are agreed that under the Con
stitution the senate of the United
| States is singularly the guardian OF
! the peoples honor; that more and
more, as righteousness is exalted
among this people, the idea is becom-
ing more firmly fixed that it is no.
vast territory, great wealth nor large
| learning which mark the real status
of America; that America is to be
| measured by the golden mete wand
of honor; and, as the idea in her for
nation was the inherent right of men
to rule themselves, that now she can
| III afford to announce this doctrine
| in her own land and renounce It for
IN instrument of oppression in other
lands.
Unfortunately there is no fixed
| standard Vt honor outside the die
tionary. The gambler may hold it 10
! consist in paying his gaming debts;
the member of the smart set. in di-
vorcing his neighbours wife before
taking her unto himself: the senator,
in eliminating personalities.
! MuSt OOScTNe TSdtleS.
But when we enter the chancelleries
of the world and submit to their
! judgments not only our right to be
but our right to be respected. we can
| hope to be measured in but one way;
and we must be able to show that the
solemn treaty obligations of this re
Public will be kept with the same
scrupulous honesty, both of spirit and
letter, whether made with the hum
bIest people of this continent strug
Cling for self-goyernment or with the
mightiest monarch of the old world.
This high sense of honor constitutes
| the panoply of the American people
Armies and battleships furnish no sub
stitute for it. These are valuable, but
the people never intended that author
| ity should use them as accessories to
burglars kit
Duty tfe Rectify Wrong.
If any one in the name OF the
| American people, either in violation
of treaty obligations or the manifest
purpose Of the Monroe doctrine. has
/ taken aught while this body was dc
liberating, it IS your duty to ascertain
! all the facts thereto. And if wrong or
injustice has been done, even to the
humblest republic, let this people be
brave enough and sufficiently honest
TO make rcparation. The real great
ness of this republic rests upon its IN
suIlied honor, and it Is the duty of this
body to search down rumors of bad
faith ami dishonesty and to rectis1l
wrong wherever wrong is discovery
/ Here III this most sacred srot where
war has been made and peace de
clared. here in the presence OF the
distinguished representative OF inc
governments Of the civilized world
| hero within the hearing OF the beauty
culture and ripened statscraft of his
own land. may one humble Amer1oa
express The hope before he enters
| mon q four years silence that all crl
/ diplomac,, may spell peace with 81
peoples Justice for all governments
nd righteousness the world AROUND