128 LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS president of the United States. Thus ended the long and painful suspense. The decision was gen erally acquiesced in, and the popular excitement subsided quickly. President Hayes was inaugurated on March 5, 1877. In his inaugural address he substantially restated the principles and views of policy set forth in his letter of acceptance, adding that, while the president of necessity owes his election to the suf frage and zealous labors of a party, he should be always mindful that "he serves his party best who serves his country best," and declaring also, re ferring to the contested election, that the general acceptance of the settlement by the two great parties of a dispute, "in regard to which good men differ as to the facts and the law, no less than as to the proper course to be pursued in solving the question in controversy," was an "occasion for gen eral rejoicing." The cabinet that he appointed con sisted of William M. Evarts, secretary of state; John Sherman, secretary of the treasury; George W. McCrary, secretary of war; Richard W. Thompson, secretary of the navy; David M. Key, postmaster-general; Charles Devens, attorney-gen eral; and Carl Schurz, secretary of the interior. The administration began under very unfavorable circumstances, as general business stagnation and severe distress had prevailed throughout the coun try since the crisis of 1873. As soon as the cabinet
