The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-11
The Inaugural Ceremonies ~ Phfla-
delphia.

The Inaugural Ceremonies NJ Philn-
delphia.
The scenes presented yesterday in the
streets of Philadelphia and at the Centen-
NAL grounds are reported in our news col
umns with a picturesque fulness Of detail
which will meet and satisfy the lively Curl
osity Of the public in relation to an event
which appeals SO strongly to national pride
and to the love Of scenic effect.
The weather, in spite of the threat
ening aspects Of the morning, had oil
the brightness and blandness of q lovely
spring day. The virgin foliage which is be-
ginning to cover the trees of Paramount
Park has just reached that stage when its
beauty is most refreshing to the eye. and
resplendent sun. shining on groves and
river and on the glittering architecture Of
the buildings, supplied q setting for the
moving picture Of military and civic parade
which heightened its beauty and impressive
ness. In all that was addressed to the
eye the opening was magnificent
success, and it is chiefly through the
eye that such occasions produce their effect.
Of pomp than attended similar inaugural
ceremonies in the Old World, where the
presence and trappings Of royalty were
among the attractions /; but the one crowned
head which graced this occasion is the one
which we had the most reason to desire, be-
cause he is the sovereign of the most impor-
tant nation on the Western Continent next
I.
rank, he deports himself with the sim
plicity Of republican gentleman, who shuns
instead Of exacting the ceremonious etiquette
which! is alien to our institutions. This well
come is the more cordial by tho fact that he
is not only an American ruler, but that he
shares with us in the noblest achievement Of
the century so fifty alluded to in those lines
of Whitticr's Centennial hymn relating to
the fruits Of the strong assertion Of human
equality in the Declaration of Independ-
ence:-
Whose echo Is the glad refrain
Or rended bolt and falling chain.
Not only that part of yesterdays proceed
ings which was merely scenic and addressed
to the eye was a great success, but also the
music, which, next to the pageant, was the
most popular and inspiring feature of the
occasion. The music, which is described to
have been admirably executed, was heard
and enjoyed by the whole of the
vast and thronging multitudes; but the
addresses could have been audible
only to one or two thousand people
in close proximity to the spot where
they were delivered They added nothing
to the pleasure of the greater part of the
visitors, and until they are perused in the
published reports very few can know
whether they were good or bad. They can
hardly be regarded as contributions to the
pleasure of the day and of the people pres
ent, but only to the pleasure Of readers
on the next day when they peruse
them in the newspapers. In AN the
enjoyable essentials of such o day
the opening ceremonies were brilliant
success-in the bright, lovely weather, the
vastness of the assemblage, the good order
of the arrangements the military display.
the gay profusion of waving flags, the
beauty of the buildings, whose decorations
appeared to full advantage, and in the pres
cnce of notable persons.
Of the intellectual features Of the occasion
it is not possible to speak with the same
confident and unqualified praise Mr..
Whittier's noble hymn was the most credit
able of these contributions. 1t has no faults
of taste, no tawdriness, no mock emotion,
and its tone of sentiment is in
perfect keeping with the anniver-
sary. In addition to these negative
but important merits it is baptized in the
very spirit of patriotism, nnd rises in some
ofits lines and some whole stanzas into a
high strain Of poetry. The allusion to the
Argonauts is peculiarly striking and happy,
as is also the thanks ''for beauty made the
bride Of use." Even the lines that seem
bare Of poetical ornament have fervid and
condensed moral energy, admirably appro-
pirate in hymn written for SO affecting an
occasion, as, for example. this manly invo-
cation
We thank Thee while witha
The austere virtues strong save,
The honor proof to place gold,
The manhood never bought nor sold
There is a whole code of national morals
condensed into these energetic lines, which
deserve to be deeply engraven in oil hearts
The last two lines of the hymn are equally
admirable by the lofty disdain of that fattery
which is the besetting sin Of poets on such
occasions, and by the hint that our national
character has great room for improvement
The whole hymn is suifused with spirit
which is more valuable than nero poetry,
and is SO chastely poetical and truly appro-
pirate that it is not likely to be forgotten.
President Grants address was well con-
ceived, but it has some bad faults of execu-
ton. 1t is to be regretted that he did not
submit it to some friend of more literary Gull