Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-02-24
Garfield's Inauguration.

the induction of James A. Garfield
into the chair once occupied by Wash.
ington, Jefferson and Jackson will be
the most imposing and elaborate ever
witnessed Mt the inauguration of an
American President The stately sim
plicity and decorous forms which pre-
vailed on these occasions in the purer
and much better days of the Republic
have given way in recent years to the
imperialistic tendencies of Republican
teachings. The love Of show, the vul-
gar ostentation of questionably ac-
quired wealth and the cringing obse.
quousness of the swell mob to power,
have usurped the honest pride with
which the people Of this country in
the days gone by saw the man of their
choice take upon himself the responsi-
bic duties of their Chief Executive.
The pomp and circumstance which
marked the entrance of victorious con-
querors into imperial Rome will be
reproduced with added splcndor in
Washington on the ith Of March,
when the simple citizen of Mentor,
Ohio, will assume the care of Re.
public. The regular army will be
drawn upon to swell the pageant, and
the dangerous precedent of concen.
trating a large military force at the
seat of government will be established
for future exigencies General Sher-
man has ordered the troops in New
York harbor to report in Washington
to participate in the Inauguration
while the National Guard OF the sew
eral States will be modified there in
immense numbers. The American
people as n body are not in love with
these ostentatious displays, and do not
believe in making the Inauguration of
their President au excuse for mar.
shalling in view of the multitude the
power and magnitude Of governmental
authority. General Hancock, in his
admirable letter to General Sherman,
written in 1876, emphasizes the incIi.
nation of the people when he declares
that there should be as little vaunting
show a. possible at these recurring
ceremonies. He cites the example Of
Jefferson, who'rode quietly TO the Cap
itol on horseback, took the oath of
office, delivered his inaugural address
and returned unattended to the White
House, and entered on his functions as
Chief Magistrate. We do not object
to making these occasions of interest
and pride to the people, but az it is an
entirely civic matter we deprecate the
introduction of flashing bayonets and
glistening sabres. 1t will only delight
the ofiice.holders, and those who wit
ness or. participate in the pageant are
of necessity of the wealthy classes.
1t would at best be more seemly for
President Garfield to assume his duties
with as little public notice as possible.
He gves into Office with the eyes of
suspicion upon him. His record in
the past doesn't prepossess the people
in bis favor, and his official actions
will be closely scanned. His election
was purchased in open market, and
the men who consummated this crown.
ing disgrace will be chief among those
TO do him honor on the 4th Of March.
They will "crook the pregnant hinges
of the knee that thrift may follow
fawning," or openly and boldly de.
mand the price of their treason to the
American people. In any case the
position Of the Presidentelect is not
an enviable one, and it would be more
fitting that he should court obscurity
than revel in display that will be
bought and paid for by those who
will court his official favor.
The New York Sun wants to know
"what is the lower class in Washing.
ton," to which the Washington Post
replies, "the Sun could safely start
...tL Drtko~co.I ID H. IL -.