capable; and they did not hesitate to call on him to serve them when they needed reform work to be done.

The result of the election was everywhere hailed with rejoicing. It was the people's victory. It was the substitution of Democratic reform for the rule of the Republican machine. This was the meaning of Grover Cleveland's election, and it was accepted as such. Much interest was expressed in the forthcoming inaugural message, as the reputation which Governor Cleveland brought with him, as a successful reformer in municipal affairs, gave just expectation of good work to be done by him in the wider field of State government. The people were not disappointed.

On the day before his inauguration, that is, on the first day of January, 1883, the Governor-elect came quietly over from Buffalo with his law partner, Mr. Bissell, and slept at the executive mansion. In the morning of inauguration day, the city was early aroused, and interest and excitement, in anticipation of the approaching ceremonies, prevailed. The streets were thronged, and the park and avenues about the Capitol were crowded with spectators. But nothing could be more simple and truly Democratic than Governor Cleveland's conduct. There was no parade, no procession, no show and flummery connected with his assumption of the highest office in the State. The Governor-elect set out on foot from the Executive Mansion, in company with Mr. Bissell and his private secretary, Col. Daniel S. Lamont, and walked to the Capitol, joining the crowd that were going that way. Unrecognized and unheralded, he entered the vast building, and proceeded to the executive chamber, where he was received by Governor Cornell.

The ceremonies of inauguration then proceeded, the principal portion being the delivery of the annual message by the governor before the two houses of the Legislature. Governor Cleveland spoke as follows:

"To the Legislature:

"In obedience to the provision of the constitution which directs that the governor shall communicate to the Legislature, at every session, the condition of the State, and recommend such matters to them as he shall judge expedient. I transmit this, my first annual message, with the intimation that a newly elected executive can hardly be prepared to present a complete exhibit of State affairs, or to submit in detail a great variety of recommendations for the action of the legislature.

"From the statement furnished me by the comptroller, the details of which will be found in the annual report of that officer it appears that the finances of the State are in a satisfactory condition."

The governor then gave the figures of the financial report made by the comptroller, and continued:

"The imperfection of our laws touching the matter of taxation, or the faulty execution of existing statutes on the subject, is glaringly apparent.

"The power of the State to exact from the citizen a part of his earnings and income for the support of the government, it is obvious should be exercised with absolute fairness and justice. When it is not so exercised, the people are oppressed. This furnishes the highest and the best reason why laws should be enacted and executed which will subject all property, as all alike need the protection of the State, to an equal share in the burdens of taxation, by means of which the government is maintained. And yet it is notoriously true that personal property not less remunerative than land and real estate, escapes to a very great extent the payment of its fair proportion of the expense incident to its protection and preservation under the law. The people should always be able to recognize, with the pride and satisfaction which are the strength of our institu

tions, in the conduct of the State, the source of undiscriminating justice, which can give no pretext for discontent."

The next subject considered in the governor's message was that of the canals. After stating the condition of revenue and expenditures in this department, he proceeded :

"The adoption of the amendment to the Constitution abolishing tolls on the canals, renders it necessary for the present Legislature to provide by tax for their maintenance and repair for the year ending September 30, 1884.

"The amount required for these repairs the superintendent estimates at $500,000. Some legislation will also be necessary, under our new canal policy, to provide for the inspection of boats and the collection and preservation of statistics.

"Since, by the adoption of the constitutional amendment, the cost of maintaining the canals is to be met by a tax upon all the property of the State, it is our plain duty to deal with this subject with strict economy. The safeguards heretofore existing in the Constitution, which protected the taxpayers from unlimited expense in the management and repairs of the canals, having been relinquished by the people, this act is by no means to be regarded as an indication that they have forgotten the time when the extravagance and fraud connected with the canals were a scandal and reproach to the State. They have, in their devotion to their great waterways, and in the fear that the limitations of the Constitution might impair their usefulness, surrendered the protection thus afforded, together with the revenue derived from tolls, and have intrusted the whole matter to their chosen representatives. In the execution of the trust committed to us under such circumstances, all propositions and schemes for the enlargement of the canals or the expenditure of large sums of money in their alteration, should, in my opinion, be stubbornly opposed, at least until the effect of the aboli