Page:The World's Famous Orations Volume 10.djvu/187

 HARRISON

HIS INAUGURAL ADDRESS

(1889)

Born in 1833, died in 1901; served in the Civil War (1862-65), becoming Brevet Brigadier-Genera); elected United States Senator from In- diana in 1881; elected President of the United States in 1888; an un- successful candidate for reelection in 1892.

Surely I do not misinterpret the spirit of the occasion when I assume that the whole body of the people covenant with me and with each other to-day to support and defend the Constitution and the union of the States, to yield willing obe- dience to all the laws and each to every other citizen his equal civil and political rights. En- tering thus solemnly into covenant with each other, we may reverently invoke and confidently expect the favor and help of Almighty God — that he will give to me wisdom, strength, and fidelity, and to our people a spirit of fraternity and a love of righteousness and peace.

I will not attempt to note the marvelous, and, in great part, happy contrasts between our coun- try as it steps over the threshold into its second century of organized existence under the Con- stitution, and that weak but wisely ordered young nation that looked undauntedly down the first century, when all its years stretched out before it.

Our people will not fail at this time to recall 155

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