The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-03-05
Imposing Display Of Military and Civic
Bodies on Pennsylvania Avenue.
The Fireworks Postponed Because of Bad
Weather-The Presidential Party at the
Ball-Scenes and Incidents of the Day.


Harrison Greeted with Unbounded Enthusi-
asm by People of All Kinds.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, March 4.-This WIS the
centennial inaugural, but, apart from its
historic significance, it has been the most
noteworthy inaugural in the history of the
last half century, for, though the inaugura-
tions Of previous Presidents were attended
occasionally by unpleasant weather, yet
there has never been, within the memory
of any living man, a day when all the ele-
ments seemed to conspire to make the
weather all that is uncomfortable, and never
has the loyal enthusiasm of the people
risen so far superior to all obstacles as to-
day. No man has ever witnessed specta-
Gle as thousands upon thousands of men,
and women, and children Of all ages and
conditions of life standing hour after hour
in the cold, and the wet, and the discomfort
of the driving rain, merely to catch pass
ing glimpse of one man-for Mr.. Harrison
was the one feature of the parade. The
weather necessarily detracted from the
brilliancy, and beauty, and the glitter of
the military display. The drums were
mufilsd in rubber. and the music at times
sounded hollow. The men were bundled
up in their overcoats, and looked jaded and
worn from their weary tramp through the
slush, but all were animated by the same
spirit of loyalty and devotion to the Chief
Magistrate. and the pleasantest feature of
it is that this loyalty is wholly devoid of
any partisan feeling. There was no
trace of any partisan spirit in all of the
hundreds of thousands who thronged the
streets to-day. Democrats and Republicans
though they have been, to-day they were
all Americans. shouting out the glad well
come for the new President. General Har-
rison's demeanor has been such as to win
him the warmest words on all sides. Dig
nified and self-possessed, he showed at all
times that he was fully conscious of the
Importance of the great drama of which he
was the central figure. He felt an honest
pride at the enthusiasm shown for him all
along the line, and his expressive features
portrayed his pleasure. His ride from the
Capitol to the White House was a continu-
Gus ovation and even the silent and de-
feated man who rode beside him smiled at
times at some little toI<on of popular favor.
As General Harrison returned from the
stand where he had taken the oath of
office that had made him President, he
stopped in the corridor and warmly greeted
both friends and strangers who pushed
forward to congratulate him. His way was
blocked at times, and several of the Sem
tors found it necessary to form themselves
into b0dy-guard to protect him from the
onslaught of too jealous admirers As he
returned from the Vice-president's cham
ber to take his place in the parade his car.
riage was surrounded, and though the rain
beat in his face he waited until he had
shaken hands with all who managed to
press forward. His kindliness and courtesy
to-day at his first public appearance have
made the most favorable i'm
preston, and there is every pros
pect that there will be established
between President Harrison and the people
of Washington that warm bond of personal
love and sympathy that has been so noto-
riously absent during the last four years.
To many people who crowded the Senate
galleries, to-day, and to nearly all who
stood around the platform, the face of Mrs.
Harrison was familiar. When she entered
the Senate chamber she was recognized at
once. and q burst of applause that would
have broken out into a shout went up to
greet her. Naturally, she absorbed the at
tention of all, and it was some few minutes
before the people recognized in the daintily-
dressed ladies who accompanied her her
daughter and her daughter-in-law.
To them, too. there was q warm
greetin. ALI restraint vanished, however,
when the ladies adjourned. with all the