The New York herald., 1869-03-05
The National Capital in a Blaze
Of Glory.
HALF A MILLION VISITORS.
THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
INAUGURATION BALL.

WASHINGTON, March A. 1859.
What the Inauguration Of Grant Means.
Grant Is inaugurated. This day that witnessed
the event must be forever memorable in American
history. And why it should be so-why this occa.
sion, full Of splendid promise and surrounded by
the brightest and happiest auguries Of new and
grand departure by the nation under the guidance Of
itstrusted leader should be great and memorable the
scntient ana susceptible mind OF the country will
readily appreciate. 1t marks tnat point in the life OF
the republic where the heavy clouds Of dismal doubt
and gloomy forebodng that have haunted its young
career were, is to be hoped forever dsspated and
where the brilliant sun that win henceforth light Its
pathway broke through the dark mists Of political
passion and illuminated vista in the future of daz-
cling and boundless proportions The political
anarchy Of the past few years everybody
felt was at an end and all Its cruel
features never more to be repeated No more, 1t is
hoped, shall Congress and the Executive be placed
IN such unhappy antagonism, and no more shah the
public mind seeking for repose, be kept on the rack
OF suspense by the revolutionary threateungs Of po-
litcal leaders. The country North and South painted
for rest for the oden condition Of quiet prosperity
for the cessation Of the fierce clamor Of political
zeaots; but In vain. When the fearful and san
culinary war Of arms enda2 still fearful war of
words ensued, and taa pgor afflicted patient that
had gone through four years Of desperate trial was
doomed to still further suffering. Grant alone, OF
all men, loomed up as though special Providence
had decreed it, the great and sole ply ysician to
heal the nations woes, to bring order out OF
chaos to restore the republic to the track
which 1t had been originally destined to
pursuein short to become the leader OF 4o 600 900
OF free people determined working out the great
problem Of sefgovernment, and Of making this
compact most enlightened and most liberty loving
nation on the face OF the globe. The eyes Of the
whole people turned instinctively to Grant. They
were sick and utterly weary Of the contest between
johnson and Congress In which all the interests OF
the country suffered and nothing was satisfied but
the prejudices OF impracticable politicians They
saw in Grants record enough to tell them that while
he was an earnest patriot and successful soldier he
had the sense Of dscernment to view questions of
national moment from the national standpoint, and
look rather to the good Of the country than the In
terests Of party.
II was this feeling Of conservative thought which,
after ALL rules the country in the selection OF Its
Chief Magistrate, that filed the minds OF the multi
tude that gathered under the shadow Of the mighty
dome today and rent the air with their enthusiastic
acclamatons Democrats and republicans alike felt
the same spirit OF generous confidence towards the
Capitol silent and deep-seated sentiment ap-
peared to animate all that under Grant the country
enters upon career OF empire and OF material pros
perIty that win know no bounds. 1twas this feeling
that lay at the bottom OF the popular exultation.
In imagination each true American citizen saw the
Alabama piracies avenged, the sick man
OF Mexico made well, Cuba drawn gently
within the kindly fold Of the Union, and
the buttresses OF the great republic firmly es-
tablished In the tropical atitudes Of the Atlantic
and Pacific Oceans. Above ALL the people felt that
our internal troubles were at an end. that Grant
would well and quickly see that all the States in the
Union were represented In fact as well as in name
on the azure field Of the nag, and that the bitter
partisan spirit Of the past few years would rapidly
give way before the broad example of patriotic
statesmanshp in the person OF our new Chief Magis-
trate. To many In that vast concourse OF upturned
faces, eagerly directed towards the small quiet
form OF General Grant, the reflection was irresist
BILE that the widest dream OF romance contained no
more marvellous feature than the story OF the
man who was this day inaugurated. few brief
years ago utterly unknown outside limited circle
of obscure acquaintance and to-day familiar beyond
any living mortal TO the people OF the entire world,
yet bearing all his thick and blushing honors with
quiet republican simplicity In even deeper contrast
than the wonderful change In his fortunes. 1t was
should seek with pcrtnacous zeal to catch glimpse
Of that immovable countenance which, next to
George washngton's, is most familiar to the house.
holds OF the land. From every STATE and Territory
OF the Union people had come to Washington for
this great OCCASION and oil desired TO carry
away the living impression OF the face
wnoae counterfeit presentment they have been
so much used OF late TO see. That all were
gratned would be extravagant to say for never did
such assemblage group itself around the Capitol
and 1 the vasSspace to It's utmost limits. Very diff
fercnt, indeed was the first Inauguration OF Abra-
ham Lincoln, when traitors filed the capital and the
air was heavy with portcnts OF disunion and dlsas
ter; and different too, from the second Inauguration
Of the martyred President, when the fields OF the
south were still fresh with the carnage OF battle and
the gloomy sky overhead made an nauspicious omen
OF the tragedy that followed the dcs OF March. To.
day all was buoyant hope and Joy. Civil War and
political passions were forgotten. rsts.
The Influx of visIto.ss NJ NJ the Capital.
How ~ many people came to Washington so
gulcSl aud noiseessly is Of the marvels OF mod
orn modes OF travel But three or four days pre-.
viously the city Its normal look OF sober dull
and scanty population. But suddenly its great
oroughfare-Pennsyvania avenue--became alive
with swarming crowds OF unmlstakabe strangers;
the huge caravanserics called hotels bubbled over
with boarders and rooms everywhere advanced in
attractveness at q fabulous rate This immediate
Influx Of strangers dazzled the fancy OF the entire
fraternity Of boarding house landladies, Of which
this city has pethoric stock. Rents went up after
the manner OF o balloon and incredible became the
stories Of what Mrs. Muggins charged and received
from Mr.. and Mrs. Jones for nasty, ill-ventilated
non-carpeted back parior and bedroom.
Hundreds that came In by the evening train last
evening found no place whereon to rest their weary
heads and had 20 content themselves by loupginu IN
barrooms that recklessy braved the terrors or the
Excise law and kept open house with back door en-.
trance throughout the night
The adventures Of some OF these late arrivals in
hunting up rooms would oil volume. Away on the
outskirts Of the monstrous avenues Of this city
wretched ana forlorn carpetbaggers might bc seen
looking vainly around for the welcome notice