Governor John Engler
Third Inaugural Address - Friday, January 1, 1999
I am deeply honored that you have entrusted me to be the last governor of the 20th century, and the first governor of the 21st. Taking the oath of office before you and before God, I am grateful for the many blessings of the past, and hopeful that Providence will prosper our work in the future.
Today is not just the inauguration of a governor. It is a new beginning for you, our families, and our state. We look back, proud of our achievements. We look forward, prepared for our challenges. The decisions we make during the next four years will profoundly shape the Michigan we leave to our children. For their generation, I ask that we dedicate ourselves to one goal: to make the great state of Michigan even greater.
To reach that goal, to meet the challenges of our future, we are well served to learn from our past. To my left is the granite cornerstone of this magnificent capitol. Back in 1873, when the capitol was under construction, 48 items were placed into the cornerstone, representing the "permanent things" in our heritage. Each item symbolizes a value that has made Michigan great: a Bible, the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence, the 1837 Ordinance of Congress admitting Michigan into the Union, even coins dating from the 1700s.
Ladies and gentlemen, the "permanent things" in that cornerstone remind us of who we are as a people, and of the Michigan we want for our children. The Declaration and Constitution remind us to guard our liberties jealously. The Bible reminds us to nurture our faiths. And the coins? They remind us to do our utmost to provide opportunity for all our citizens.
The history in that cornerstone shows how much Michigan has contributed to the miracle that is America. From the beginning, Michigan, like America, has defended and promoted a legacy of liberty -- a legacy of liberty that is second to none. You see it in the 18th century, in our Founders' commitment to keeping the Northwest Territory a land of "free soil" and free schools. You see it in the 19th century, when Michigan was a destination of the Underground Railroad as well as a beacon for immigrants. You see it in the 20th century, as Michigan put America on wheels and became the free world's Arsenal of Democracy.
We are rightfully proud of our state's legacy of liberty, and we have a solemn duty to hand our freedoms on to future generations. We hand those freedoms on by reaffirming our historic commitment to education -- education of the mind and character. The Founders, with their hopes and dreams for Michigan, knew that we would be great only if our citizens possessed the knowledge to be self-reliant, and the character to be free. As Thomas Jefferson put it: "If a nation expects to be ignorant and free . . . it expects what never was and never will be."[1]
Mr. Jefferson's insight was true then; it is even truer now. That is why education has been, is now, and will remain, a cornerstone of my administration.
A second cornerstone of my administration -- another way to preserve and protect our legacy of liberty -- is to keep expanding opportunity. We reaffirm our commitment today to help even more Michigan citizens achieve their dreams. Michigan is home to many of the hardest-working, most creative people in the world. I am confident that Michigan workers will be setting the pace in the global marketplace of the 21st century. To unleash the energies and genius of our citizens, we will continue to observe my first principle of governance: That is to uphold the rule of law, while limiting government, reducing regulations, and cutting taxes. And this you can count on: We will cut taxes -- again.
A third cornerstone is family. Families, after all, give our individual lives meaning and frame our pursuit of happiness. We reaffirm our commitment today to help even more families take charge of their lives and achieve independence. We will continue to help, consistent with a principle that Lincoln famously expressed in these words: "The legitimate object of government is to do for a community of people whatever they need to have done, but cannot do at all, or cannot so well do for themselves in their separate and individual capacities. In all that the people can individually do as well for themselves, government ought not to interfere."[2]
In the coming years, our families will be confronted by change, the scale and pace of which no previous generation has encountered. In the face of this change, my goal as governor is that no child, no family, be left behind as we cross the threshold of the 21st century.
The fourth cornerstone of my administration is community -- community built on the principle of service to others. We reaffirm our commitment today to build a better community of Michigan. Our communities are a wonderful reminder of the diversity that has strengthened us, and the unity that has sustained us.
Civil society is premised on an ethos of service. It's the spirit of the Good Samaritan helping one less fortunate. It's the love of people giving generously of themselves -- our teachers, clergy, volunteers -- who are the true builders of community. Without that spirit and love, Michigan can be neither good nor great. So I urge each citizen to put the principle of service into action: give back to your community. Rediscover the truth St. Francis taught: "it is in giving that we receive."
Education, opportunity, family, community -- these are the cornerstones that have made Michigan great. These are the cornerstones that have built our legacy of liberty. And these are the cornerstones on which we will continue to build to make Michigan an even greater state for us and for our children.
My friends, we have learned much and accomplished more than was ever thought possible over the past eight years. For all our successes, you, the citizens of our great state, deserve the credit. After all, what is Michigan but you? Your hopes are Michigan's hopes. Your achievements are Michigan's achievements.
So today, by all means, let us celebrate the great state we are. At this time of new beginnings, let us rededicate ourselves to becoming an even greater state. I ask that we work together -- let us all work together -- to arm the rising generation with knowledge; to help more of our citizens achieve their dreams in freedom and opportunity; to make more of our families self-reliant; and to strengthen the community of Michigan. When we do these things, we are true to our legacy of liberty, and will bequeath to our children an even greater state than the one we have known.
Thank you. God bless you. And God bless Michigan!
|
Printer Friendly
Text Version 
Email Page
