The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-02-24
The Inauguration show

Under the new military arrange
ment making Washington garrison
post@noticed in tho Repubttcdn
some time since-tive batteries of
the Second United States Artillery
will take up permanent quarters in
that CITY before the 4th of March.
An order just issued by Gen. Sher-
man, will, on or before that date,
temporarily increase this force with
five batteries from New York har-
Dor and four from the artillery
school at Fortress Monroe. These
fourteen batteries will be reinforced
for perade purposes on the 4th by
| strong detachments from the navy
and marine corps, and an in
definite number OF military. men
from different parts of the country
These latter are going in various
shapes, by companies, battalions
and regiments; and it is said that
Pennsylvania is preparing to send
an entire division. So from present
indications there will be more
troops in Washington at the inau-
guration than at any preyions time
since the war, and Mr.. Garfield will
be assisted into the executive chair
by almost as many bayonets as brace
up European monarchs on corona
ton occasions. Political clubs and
delegations of all sorts and sizes,
and swarms Of visitors from near and
far, will swell the show, which the
managers announce "will be the
most imposing the Federal Capital
has ever witnessed"
While the taste which converts
what was intended to be, and once
was, simple and impressive cere-
monial into colossal spectacul ar
performance, is open to criticism, no
serious objections can be urged to
any: feature of the programme ca
cept the military. That is not only
in bad taste, but indirectly estab-
| fishes bad precedent. Americans
formerly took pride in their non-lmi-
tation of monarchial customs, espe-
cially in everything connected with
the government. The soldiers as
sembled in Washington will De. fee
BILE, yet significant, imitation Of one
tof 1.-THE worst of these customs.
! Americans once boosted that the
man elected to their highest Office
had sufficient protection in the pop
ular will, and required no other,
The soldiers assembled in Washing
ton, while not employed in the pro-
lection of Mr. Garfield, sug-
gest that some successor may
need it; suggest the possibil-
ity that time may come when the
presence of soldiers ut q presiden-
tial Inauguration will be an impera-
tive necessity. What in the present
instance is intended only TO add the
pomp and circumstance of brass
buttons and bands to other attrac-
tions, opens the door for something
more serious. Hereafter an army
may be gathered at Washington at
any Inauguration, and bit of holi-
= day foolishness used as iustifica-
ton for military intimidation. A
/, free people, If jealous Of their free
dom. can not be too careful in avoid.
ing even the appearance of evil
! and when they sanction, no matter
on what pretext, such display OF
military force; as this, they forget
the warnings of history-forget
that eternal vigilance is the price
| of liberty ''-''
: On; the 4th of March, 1901, Thoma:
Jefferson rode unattended to the
. gate of the Capitol, dismounted
tied his horse to the fence, went In
and took the oath of office as prtsi
dent of the United States IF such
extreme republican simplicityis in
consistent with modern republi.
canism, the Representatives of the
latter might at least afford to dis.
I pense with innovations, the, influ'
ence of which is more or less harm.
full: Certainly Jefferson's inaugura-
: ton was more like that of a CHIEF
: magistrate of a republic than Gar.
fields viii be, The one could only
: hive occurred in a republic; the
: other might occur in any monarchy
= The one reminds us of Rome in the
prime of her republican purity the
other reminds ~ of Rome at the be.
ginning of her imperial rottenness
y The one was a..practical illustration
of republican principles the other
, will indicate that these principles
if they exist at all save in'name, are
hopelessly out'pf fashion. Loai!
Republican a--r