The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-03-11

first time. Now not only every
man on the floor of the chamber
but every man, woman and child
in the immense audience arose. But
few had seen the President-elect, and
such buzz and craning of necks
was never seen. Prolonged ap.
plause followed his entrance. Again
and again the applause burst forth
accompanied, too, by shouts, cheers
and yells. 1t was impossible to
quell the enthusiasm. A brawny
fellow to the right of the reporters
gallery called out: "Three cheers
for Grover Cleveland" and began to
cheer again, assisted by many others
Vice President Edmunds COULDN'T
stahd this and declared he would
have the galleries cleared.
When quiet prevailed, Mr.. Ed
munds said: "The Chair has the
pleasure of announcing that the
Vice President of the United States
is in the Senate Chamber, and il
agreeable to him / will administer
to him the oath of Office"
Mr.. Hendricks then stood up and
Mr. Edmunds, addressing him with
impressive tone and manner, said :
"You do solemnly swear that you
will support the Constitution of the
United States against all enemies,
foreign and domestic; that you will
bear true faith and allegiance to the
same; that you take this obligation
freely, without any mental reserva-
ton or purpose of evasion; that
you will well and faithfully dis
charge the duties of the Office on
which you are about to enter, so
help you God"
Mr.. Hendricks kissed the book
and subscribed his name to the
written oath. Then Mr.. Edumnds
delivered brief valedictory and
concluded by declaring the Senate
adjourned without delay.
Vice President Hendricks now
took the gavel and called the Senate
to order in extra session. The proc
lamation for it was read and the new
Senate opened with prayer.
THE INAUGURATION.
Immediately after the opening of
the new session of the Senate the
procession was formed and filed its
way toward the platform on the
central portico of the Capitol. 1t
was headed by the Marshal of the
District, followed by the Supreme
Court, the committee of arrange
ments, Mr.. Arthur and Mr.. Cleve-
land, Mr.. Edmunds and Mr.. Hen
bricks, the Senators, Diplomatic
Corps. heads of the departments,
Generals Sherman and Sheridan,
members of the House of Repre-
sentatives and others admitted to
the floor and galleries.
The stand on which the President
elect was to deliver his inaugural
address was erected almost on a
level with the floors of the Senate
and House, directly in front of the
middle entrance to the Capitol. 1t
is about 100 feet square, the largest
ever erected for an Inauguration,
and was covered by two thousand
chairs. Before it was a solid mass
of humanity. President Arthur
said it was the largest crowd he had
ever seen, and Senator Hawley esti-
mated it to contain 10000 people.
Precisely at 1890 the head Of the
procession appeared coming out of
the main east door of the Capitol.
President Arthur stepped to the
front of the platform, followed by
the President-elect, Chief Justice
Waite and the Sergeant-at-arms of
the Senate. All uncovered as they
stood facing the crowd, and the vast
assemblags chsered again and again
for several minutes. The people
who made up the procession took
the seats assigned them. At 12:40
President-elect Cleveland arose and
began his inaugural address.
He spoke without manuscript.
but occasionally consulted small
piece of paper bearing notes of the
heads of his discourse. His voice
was Clear and resonant, and he slow
ly enunciated his words and occasion.
ally turned about at the pauses as
if to note the effect of his remarks.
At precisely two minutes after one
o'clock he concluded with an invo-
cation of the blessing of Providence,
and turning to the Chief Justice and
bowing to him said: IL am now
ready to take the oath prescribed by
law"
AS the Chief Justice arose to ad-
minister the oath the vast assem-
blage cheered. The President-elect
stood facing the Chief Justice, with
the crowd on his right. Chief Clerk
McKenny, of the Supreme Court,
stood just to the side of Mr.. Cleve-
land and held the Bible upon which
the oath was administered. the Presi-
dent-elect also holding it with his
right hand. The Bible used is
small, morocco-covered, gilt-edged
volume, pretty well worn. 1t is the
Bible which Mr.. Cleveland's mother
gave him when he left home as
young man, and at his special re-
quest the committee of arrange
ments had it in readines for the GER
emony, The crowd preserved per-
feet quiet as the impressive ceremo-
ny of administering the oath was
taking place, but when it was con-
cluded and after President Cleveland
laid down the Bible after reveren tly
kissing it, and shook hands with the
chief Justice, who was the first to
congratulate him, they cheered loud
ly and long. Ex-President Arthur