Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-01-28
4 Republican Inauguration.

w NSulNNIoN, Jan, ~ since INC
close of the civil war the whole
tendency Of the Republican party
has been to centralized power, and
to pcmpous parade.
During the first term Of Grant
these imitators Of imperial manners
attempted IL establish 4 sort of
court at the White House, with
BabWck, Boss shepherd and others
MS ornaments. When he was in
augucated the second time great
disphy Of troops was ono Of the
chief features Of the occasion, and
the course Of study at West Point
Was broken III order that the cadets
might be taken to Washington to
appear in procession,
Now it is proposed to exceed all
previous experience and to inaugu
Gen. Garfield in an unprecedented
manner, wholly contrary to all the
ACCEPTED ideas connected with the
great Office which he is soon to oc-
eupy Gen. Sherman has ordered
II large detachment of United States
troops from different points, in adj
ditioN T. the forces already at the
capital regularly. Societies in great
numbers and volunteer soldiers
from many Of the states have hccn
invited to attend.
How this vast multitude il to he
housed AMI fed at Washington is Il
problem vet to be solved, but with
which We have no direct concern.
With the recent experience at Chi
cago hesh in the memories of thou
sands of disappointed maltroated
visitors, people might be warned of
what should be expected i'll Il city
of onethird the population.
\ ,lique Of otlice-holdcrs and
oilicc-Sckcrs, with some outsiders,
who know now to pront by present
and prospective opportunities. have
taken this matter in hand, and they
propose not only a grand inaugu-
ration ball, but ceremonies dccora-
tons and paradcs, which involve,
even on a moderate scale an outlay
Of tens Of thousands Of dollars.
This money is mainly to be raised
by taxing the clerks in the depart
nents to fill up the big gap in def
Gent subscriptions from other
sources. They were the victims Of
three forced levics during the presi-
dental campaign Many Of them
have large and dependent families
The burden falls heaviest on the
small salaries, which form the great
majority, and it becomes an abso-
lutte hardship in a winter Of unusu-
al severity, when all household ex-
pcnses arc abnormally increased.
For a few hours Of tinscllcd show,
without any possible good TO result
from i, these poor people are TO be
compelled to give up portion Of
their Jay, under well understood
mcnaec Of removal in case they
refuse, solely for the benefit Of
few managers who desire TO figure
prominently before the president
elect.
a word from Gen. Garfield would
put an end to all this vulgar pomp.
Ills ufaidcd rise from the humblcst
sphere il life il the shining fact Of
his public career lie ought to be
the last man to countenance All cx-
hibition like that suggested. When
Jefferson rode on horseback alone
to the Capitol, took the oath Of
office as president, and afterwards
went To the executive mansion un-
lie set an example Of
republican simplicity that shed
lusture on the chief magistracy,
and honorcd himself as the first
citizen Of a plain and pure govern
nent.
In the eighty years that have
passed away since that memorable
scene, great changes have come
over US and the worst Of all is the
aping Of imperial customs.
A very daring burglary was com