The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1889-03-08

addition to this, ON tho brow of the hill not
far from the north end of the Capitol, COM
handing both the approach and the broad
plateau to the east front, was stationed q
battery Of flying artillery, under the COM
mand of Gen. Scott himself
When the presidential carriage reached the
east front, the two occupants passed arm in
arm to the senate chamber, already densely
packed with officers and civilians, where
the ceremony of swearing in the vice presi-
| dent was soon performed. Then the two,
surrounded by the justices of the supreme
court, the senate committee of arrangements,
the outgoing president and the family Of the
president-elect, the chief justice in his robes,
the clerk of the court with Bible, took their
places on the front of the platform at the
east portico. Before them were perhaps 90
900 people, all in deep silence and every face
serious, many apparently in deep gloom.
The construction Of the great dome of the
Capitol was in progress, and in front of the
president-elect stood the bronze statue of
Liberty. Just before the ceremonies began
strange historic group was accidentally
formed On ono side was Senator Douglas,
late Mr.. Lincoln's chief rival for the presi-
dency, holding Mr.. Lincolns hat. On
the other side stood Chief Justice
fancy, author of the bred Scott
decision, and close to the latter
President Buchanan. To the front and
center stood Abraham Lincoln, president
elect, thus grouping together the principal
characters in hn -
American history. When the loud and pro-
longed cheering had subsidized, Senator Baker
briefly introduced Mr.. Lincoln, and stepping
forward the president-elect, in firm, clear
voice, every word being heard by every one
of the audience, read that remarkable inau-
gural When he pronounced the closing
words, II am 10th to close-we are not en-
emies, but friends-we must not be enemies
though passion may have strained, it must
not break our bonds of affection" etc., the
people broke into a loud and prolonged
cheer. Chief Justice fancy arose and took
up his Bible, and Mr.. Lincoln, pronounced
this oath:
Il, Abraham Lincoln, do solemnly swear
that Will faithfully execute the Office of
PiCSAuohe VI Jig Ouueu oLAUeS, ana Will 10
the best Of my ability preserve, protect and
defend the constitution Of the United States. {"
As the last word died away the battery, COM
manded by Gen Scott, Numbered its salute,
MIR. Buchanan and President Lincoln re-
turned to their carriage and the military
escorted them to the White House.
-Four years later there was a crowd beyond
all previous experience Of Washington, and
military display composed only of soldiers
who happened to be there at the time; but
even the temporary surplus Of the army at
that time was greater than the whole regular
army before the war. The second inaugural
address of President Lincoln was not so
closely scanned as his first, for the policy of
the administration was already determined.
1t was far more poetic and even more pathe-
tic than the first Many sentences are now
familiar as household words, and the closing
paragraph become an American classic,
as follows: