The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-03-11

floor and the galleries were emptied into a
narrow corridor, through which the people
were squeezed into the rotunda A great
platform, covering half an acre had been
put up in front of the portico, and upon it
were seats for the senators, the representa-.
tives, the spangled diplomats, the newspa-
per men, the supreme court and the invited
guests, and there, in the presence Of the vast
multitude that filled the plaza and crowded
the avenues running into it, Grover Cleve-
land delivered his inaugural address and
took the oath of Office, with the ardent sun
blazing upon his uncovered head, and the
hushed multitude waiting almost breath
lessly to see him kiss the Bible-their signal
that they might awaken the echoes of the
heights of Arlington with their applause.
THE INAUGURATION.
Imagine the space between the New York
City Hall and the postofiice filed as full as
1t will hold, and then men enough to fill
1t four times over again added to that
throng, making altogether several acres Of
upturned faces Behind this assembly i'm
agine a few scattered trees, forming thin
net-like wall, through the interstices in
which can be seen the patches of color and
myriad points OF shining steel that indicate
mass of soldiery in parade dress. I'm
agine next and last of all four broad avenues
divergng from the park, and all filed with
soldiers as far away as the sight can reach
on almost level ground The roof of the
Capitol and each gallery around the huge
dome were occupied Dy spectators tne
roofs along the streets that border the park
supported other lines Of on-lookers straight
! in 'front.' and rising out of the mass of up
| lifted faces, was heavy scaffoldng, on top
of which rested great camera, managed by
| three photographers, and on either side of
the scaffold, blocks length apart were
two great stands so covered by men that
they looked like precipitous hillocks of hui
manity, on the top of each of which were
other camera boxes and photographers A
| broad PLATFORM with its exterior hid by ma
tional flags, had been built out from nearly
the top of the grand front staircase one hum
dred fifty feet into the plaza. One thou
sand chairs had been placed in rows across
! this platform. In front of them was table
! for reporters and in front of that again, in
a little extension that jutted foot or two
beyond the front of the great stand was
smaller table between two red leather arm
chairs Leading the others came the repre-
sentatives, then followed the senators, and
after them walked the satin-robed portly JUS
tices of the supreme court. After them
| there was short wait, and then, following
the applause that began with ripple and
| swelled as it ran until it fell from the gal
lery to the sea of faces, whence it shot into
the air again, thunderous roar marked
the appearance of President Arthur and
Grover Cleveland. Both wore suits of plain
black broadcloth. Mr.. Cleveland was much
the broader man, but the crown of his head
reached only to the presidents eyes. The
y
| when he was elected to the vice-presidency.
This was to be seen in the gray tinge in his
hair, the wilderness of his whiskers and the
lines in his face. But, on the other hand, he
never looked better than at this moment
He walked with vigorous and yet elastic
STEP which surprised those who had eX-
pected to see man encountered by obesity.
He, too, seemed in excellent health, and
though there was no color in his cheeks,
his complexion was clear and his eyes spark
| limo Presently the npmh pre n tba pah-
met marched down the aisle and were sifted
into the vacant chairs scattered here and
there. During the pause and the applaud
ing, Chief Justice Waite walked over to the
president-elect and whispered in his ear.
Mr.. Arthur spoke to him, and the two fell
into conversation that was suddenly ended
by Mr.. Cleveland, who arose, faced the
parkful of faces bowed, put one hand on
the rail and one hand behind his back,
bowed again, and suddenly raising his hand,
as If to invoke silence, uttered
THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS
FeAop-citizens:-In the presence of this
vast assemblage of my countrymen, am
about to supplement and seal by the oath
which l shall take the manifestation of the
will of great and free people. In the ex-
ercise of their power and right of self-gov-
eminent, they have committed to one of
their fellow-citizens a supreme and sacred
trust, and he here consecrates himself to
their service. This impressive ceremony
adds little to the solemn sense of RESPONSE
bilty with which | contemplate the duty l
owe to all the people of the land. Nothing
can relieve me from anxiety lest, by any act
of mine, their interests may suffer; and
nothing is needed to strengthen my resolu-
ton to engage every faculty and effort in
the promotion of their welfare. Amid the
din of party strife the peoples choice was
made; but its attendant circumstances have
demonstrated anew the strength and safety
of government by the people. In each
succeeding year it more clearly appears that
our democratic principle needs no apology,
and that in its fearless and faithful applica-
ton is to be found the surest guarantee of
good government. But the best results in
the operation of a government, wherein
every citizen has a share, largely depend
upon proper limitation of purely partisan
zeal and effort, and a correct appreciation
of the time when the heat of the partisan
should be merged in the patriotism of the
citizen. To-day the executive branch of
the government is transferred to new keep
ing. But this is still the government of all
the people, and it should be none the less an
object of affectionate solicitude. AT this
hour the animosities of political strife, the
bitterness of partisan defeat and the exulta-
ton of partisan triumph should be sup
planted by an ungrudging acquiescence in
the popular will, and sober, conscientious
concern for the general veal. Moreover, If
from this hour we cheerfully and honestly
abandon all sectional prejudice and distrust,
and determine, with manly confidence in
one another, to work out tremendously the
achievements of our national destiny, we
shall deserve to realize all the benefits
which our happy form of government can
bestow. On this suspicious occasion we
may well renew the pledge of our devotion
, to the constitution, which, launched by the
founders of the republic, and consecrated by
their prayers and patriotic devotion, has for
almost century borne the hopes and the
aspirations of great people through pros
perity and peace and through the shock of
= foreign conflicts and the perls of domestic
| strife and vicissitudes. By the Father of
his Country our constitution was COM
mended for adoption as the result of a
spirit of amity and mutual concession In
, that same spirit il should be administered,
, in order to promote the lasting welfare OF
I the country and to secure the full measure
of its priceless benefits to us and to those
who will succeed to the blessings of our ma
tional life. The large variety of diverse
and competing interests subject to federal
, control, persistently seeking the recognition
, of their claims need give us no fear that
the greatest good to the greatest number
/ will fail to be accomplished if, in the halls OF
national legislation, that spirit of amity and
} mutual concession shall prevail in which
the constitution had its birth. II this in
wolves the surrender or postponement of
private interests and the abandonment Of
; local advantages, compensation will be
found in the assurance that thus the COM
mon interest is subserved and the general