Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1913-03-06
PLAIN WORDS By
VCEPRES|DENT
MarshaIPs Inaugural Address to
Members of Senate.
MUST GUARD NATIONS HONOR
New Presiding Officer Of Upper House
Says 1t Should See That Treaty
Obligations Are Observed and
Wrongs Reetified.

washington, March 4.-folloWlng 10
the inaugural address delivered by
Vice-President Marshall:
Senators: The proprieties of this oc-
caslon probably require a few words
from L who is grateful to the Amer
lean people for the honor heretofore
done him and this day consummated.
No senator has, | trust, a keener
appreciation OF the necessities In the
way of tact and courtesy now devolv-
ing upon me tSan / myself. / offer no
surety as to my discharge Of duties
other than a personal pledge that l
VIII seek to familiarize myself with
them ard will endeavor always to ex-
ercise that compiaisance and ~forebear-
ance which are essential to him who
ably presides over great debates upon
great public questions by great men.
Divergent views relative to this
body would be less divergent if the
American people would come to real
lie that on all sides of real questions
much may truthfully be said. Such an
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
ly 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
with universal approval, but up to
this good hour no workable substitute
for the exercise of the functions of
this body has been proposed. 1t is
not needful for me here and now to
accept q brief In your defense. This
body will continue to stand not be-
cause of its presiding officer, but be-
cause of the patriotism and intelli-
gence of its constituent members and
their devotion to our system Of gov
eminent.
Guards the Peoples Honor.
With neither right nor desire to in
fringe upon the prerogatives of the
president soon to be, l beg the x
preston of the opinion that what
ever diverse views may be held rela-
tive to the work of this body all 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 not
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
Ill afford to announce this doctrine
in her own land and renounce it for
an instrument of oppression in other
lands.
Unfortunately there is no fixed
standard of honor outside the die
tionary. The gambler may hold ii to
consist in paying his gaming debts;
the member of the smart set, in d.
vorcing his neighbours wife before
taking her unto himself; the senator,
in eliminating personalities.
Must Observe Treaties.
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 hum1
blest people Of this continent strug-
Cling for self-government 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 nc cub
stitute for 1t. These are valuable, but
the people never intended that author
ity should use them as accessories to
a burglars kit.
Duty to ReetIfy 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 de-
%liberating, it is your duty to ascertain
all the facts thereto. And IL wrong or
Injustice has been done, aver to the
humblest republic, let this people be
brave enough and sufficiently honest
to make PREPARATION. The real great
ness of this republic rests upon It's un-
sullied honor, and 1t is the duty of this
body to search down rumors Of bad
faith and dishonesty and to rectify
wrong wherever wrong is discovered.
Here in this most sacred spot where
war has been made and peace de-
clared, here In the presence OF the
distinguished representatives OF the
governments of the civilized world.
here within the hearing Of the beauty.
culture and ripened statecraft Of his
own land. may one humble American
express the hope before he enters
upon a four years silence that all Jul
diplomacy may spell peace with all
peoples. justice for all governments
and righteousness the world around.
Nothing to Do Now.
IL understand Dingburn's wife mar