The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-03-30
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

10 THE EDITOR OF THE NEW NORTHWEST:
Considering the limited notice af-
forded the public in which to complete
arrangements for the usual patriotic
display which accompanies the Presi-
Dental Inauguration, a very creditable
procession turned out to escort the Cen
tennial President in the grand march
down Pennsylvania Avenue on Monday,
while the bright-cOlored pennants fiut-
tered from the houses overhead and the
gazing crowds on the sidewalks below
stimulated by their cheers the enthusi-
asm which appeared to flag slightly on
this occasion. Nevertheless, the day so
much dreaded by many passed over
TRANQUILITY, and the malcontents them
selves appeared to accept the situation
with the best possible grace. Ohio was
of course prominently represented by
her various clubs and organizations and
a company of cadets from Columbus.
Pennsylvania, also, with number of
political clubs and several different bat
talions of military, whose splendid
equipments and superb drill aud march
ing attracted universal praise, showed
herself not more backward in doing
honor to the new President. Besides
these, the District artillery and United
States troops created quite a military
display, preceding and surrounding as
they did the executive and official car
riages. Behind these came the various
State Republican associations, composed
principally of Department clerks and
employees of the government, and last,
but not least, numerically speaking,
came the various colored associations.
Mr. Hayes was taken to the Capitol by
General Grant in the latter's four-in-
hand, and rode most of the way bare
headed, acknowledging with repeated
bows the salutes of the thronging
crowds which lined the streets from the
White House to the Capitol. An i'm
mense balcony was erected on the east
ern central portico steps, which was oc-
cupied by the Senate and other officials
Though the oath OF office had been ad-
ministered to Mr.. Hayes on Saturday
evening, yet it was again given him by
Chief Justice Waite with all the formal
ity of the great occasion. The acres in
front of the balcony were filled with an
immense crowd, and probably not a
fiftieth of its thousands heard the i'm
pressive words of the inaugural address
which Mr.. Hayes delivered, after re-
ceiving the oath, in the clear and en-
phatic tones of an experienced orator.
Yet an occasional cheer would sweep
out from all the vast crowd, as if all by
some magnetic influence could appreci-
ate the meaning of the speaker. The
torchlight procession of the evening
was, however, the great event of the oc-
casion. The whole city apparently
turned out, crowding and thronging
Pennsylvania Avenue to see the illumi-
nations and fire works so dear to every
American heart. And truly it was a
glorious spectacle. The procession must
have been at least a mile in length,
commencing with the District militia
and Republican associations, inter-
spersed with bands and exquisite blue,
orange, and rOse-colored fire works, and
winding up with the rhythmical tramp
and glowing, dusky faces of the great
unwashed-the inevitable "Sambo,r y
who seemed to regard the whole affaiI
as for his especial benefit and as a sigr
of his deliverance from bondage forever
He did the principal cheering, and car
ried nearly all of the ten Thousand
torches, and no one equalIed him il
rendering due homage to him whom b,
regarded as his Moses-the Republican
President. The usual number of drunker
brawls and alcoholic unpleasantnessei
attendant upon public celebrations wer,
had. Perhaps the arrests slightly out
numbered those of Fourth of July hcl
iday, yet few partisan fights marred tn
hilarity, though there was much appre
hension that serious collisions between
the embittered white and enthused col
ored elements might occur.
THE CABINET
ba g..