New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-03-05
on THE CAPITOL STEPS.

maj
esrannony within the Senate Chamber.
ON THE CAPITOL STEPS.
~ur PROCESSION TO THE INAUGURAL PLATFORM
appr1IHas FROM TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND
proPLE--rHE ADDRESS CLOSELY FOLLOWED BY
THE MULnTUDE-A SOLITARY BUFFooE-AN
INCIDENT.
lsr TELEGRAPH no TIE TRIBUSE.l
w.sHrSsroS. March 4.-After General Arthur
asd bean duly installed "a Vice-President of the
1ypited States and the new Senators had taken the
:. nrescribed oath of Office, procession was formed
headed BY the President and Presdent-elect. and
Che march to the platform covering the main steps
~ the eastern front of the Capitol began. This
plstform was of sufficient capacity to accommodate
All who had been present in the Senate Chamber
n was about twenty-five feet above
The ground. The scene W ithout was striking one
Tveuty-hye thousand upturned faces met the view
nj the new President-elect, as he emerged through
che bronze doors of the rounda, and $4,000 voices
welcomed him with savos of cheers, their owners
rst caught sight Of his broad form approaching the
front Of the platform.
long line of bayonets with banners and other
military paraphernaha, marked the position of the
troops at some distance from the stand but all the
intermediate space crowded with people dressed
in the habiments Of peace. Nature seemed inclined
70 be apologize at this moment for the SUM- Tor the
frst time within twenty flour hours burst through
the denser clouds and sent his rays, tenn
pered by q still intervening thin layer
OF haze. down upon the multitudes.
Uncoyering his head, as did all who followed Cen
eral Garfield bowed to the throng below and seated
himself With the outgoing President upon his left,
and members of the Inaugural Committee of the
Senate upon either hand. Soon another cheer rent
the air. q greeting to the mother and wife OF the
Presidept-elect and the wife of the President as
they were escorted to the froat and seated behind
and little to tho right of the President. Behind
the Presidential group semicircle of distinguished
people were seated behind them smaller number,
smpelled doubtless by curiosity stood up, and still
another and smaller group behind this one was
mounted upon chairs and remained standing in that
position. Tho whole tableau. as seen from the
front, was living pyramid, the apex Of which was
formed by the broad shoulders and the head of
Senator Conkhng, while the shorter but
vet broader form of bis familiar Senator, David
Davis and beyond him. at tho left the head of Sem
ator Garland formed the left slope.
THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS
period of waiting ensued while some photogEa-
rhers at little distance with their apparatus upon
high platform, Piled their art Senator Pendleton
now arose and went through the motions (his words
If ha uttered any, being naudiblel OF introducing
General Garfield General Garfield proceeded TO de-
liver his inaugural speech. During the delivery of
the address remarkable quiet prevailed. Short
outbursts of applause followed each sentiment and
there was every indication that all whe were near
enough to hear followed the speech closely.
Among all the thousands present there
was but one buffoon. Turn your face
the other way" shouted shrill-voicsd miscreant
sway off to the right. The reference to the enfran
chisernent of the colOred race was followed by
"Thank God" in g deep bass voice. audible 70 ten
thousand people
An incident was the setting loose at signal. dur
inc the delivery of the address. of some dozens of
tiny balloons. These gyrated aimlessly about as
they sought the upper air until they had risen
hundred feet or more when, as if alive and inspired
by purpose to carry the tidiDgs to the world at
large thar new ruler Of fifty millions
Of free people was in the act of assum-
ing his official duties, they started Suddenly
OF toward the east and were followed
by the eyes ofthe multitude until they out Of
night. The explanation of the phenomenon is found
Ia the fact that the wind was blowing briskly from
She West. but calm prevailed under the lee OF the
Capitol When the little spheres reached the eddy
ing currents they swept over the roof AMI around
the dome of the Capitol they felt and answered the
impulse and bounded of into space.
TAKING THE OATH OF OFFICE.
Upon the conclusion Of the inaugural address the
Chief Justice in his robes ard with uncovered head
arose, the clerk Of the Supreme Court approached,
bearing an open bible. and James Abram Garfield
took the oath of Office as President of the United
States In the presence of the two houses of Con-
gress the Supreme Court and the people Thus
ended the constitutional ceremonials Of the day A
single "boom" of a distant big gun punctuated
tho ceremony with a full stop The
new President approached, and in the sight of all
the people affectoRately kissed his mother and his
wife In turn, and then slowly made his way. shak
ing the extended hards of friends either SIDE
toward the open doors of the rotuDda. Bands and
drum corps struck up. troops began to march and
countermarch, and the crowds rushed of to the
north 20 witness the returning procession toward
the official homo of the new President and his
family.