Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-05
THE PRESIDENTIAL l.
Use Of the First Person Singular in
Inaugural Addresses.
HARRISON Is CONTENT WITH II,
But is Only Exceeded by His Grandfather,
Old TippecanOe. in
THE LARGE sUMBER OF WORDS HE USES

The quadrennial utterauees of the Presi-
dents not only outlined their administrative
policies, but have been more or less charac-
teristic of the distinguished individuals
themselves. There have been 20 Presi-
dents who have favored their coun-
trymen with a verbal chart Of their
plans of administration in advance, and
there have been four Vice Presidents who
nave taken up the severed link of authority
where it was dropped, twice by natural
causes and twice by the bullet of an assassin.
Inc longest inaugural address and the
shortest administration were those of the
grandfather of the President. The next
longest address is that delivered yesterday
| by his grandson. The most sparing in the
exhibition OF pronominal importance were
Abraham Lincoln while standing on TIE
threshold of his second term, and Chester
A. Arthur when he took up the wreck Of the
| Garfield government The most elusive in
the presentation OF his official dignity in
the first person, singular number, pronoun
I was Abraham Lincoln. when he .entered
the place of supreme authority.
wAsHINGToN's ADDRESS.
When George Washington took the oath
of office at New York as first President of
the United States of America, under their
new model of Constitutional government by
the divine right of the people, 100 years
ago, he mapped out his purposes of admin
istration during that formative period of
national existence in an inaugural address
of 200 words, in which he appeared as I 20
times He entered upon his second term in
the inaugural brevity of 154 words with six
rs.
The second President, John Adams,
formulated the incipient issues of liberal
and strict construction of the Constitution
and antagonisms of political parties in an
opening address of 2, 81 words, in which he
presented himself 13 times in the use of 1.
Thomas Jefferson, the father of American
partisan Democratic government upon the
loose system of State rights, gave his admir-
ing followers view of his plans in advance
in 1 526 words and 10 rs. The growth of
anti-federalism and federalism as the diver
gent doctrines Of political faith were enunci-
ated after his second election In 2, 123 words,
in which he appeared as / 16 times.
ONE FOR EVERY HUNDRED.
James Madison told his eountrymen all
about his plans OF meeting French intrigues
and British maritime arrogance In an in
auguraI Of 1, 40 words sustained by IL rs,
and four years later discussed the events of
the War of 1872 and its successful results in
an address of ], ,142 words and IL rs.
James Monroe, on March 4, 1917, dis
cussed the Indian question and Spanish
boundary troubles, issues of politics and ad-
ministration, in an inaugural of 8, 322 words
with 10 rs, and made his second appearance
with grand flourish of pardonable pride in
4, 466 words and 26 rs.
John Quincy Adams ventilated his in
augural partisan notions of public ques-
1. q L
the form of IA pronouns, first, singular.
The hero of New Orleans, after the bitter
est of political campaigns. founded his Wig
orous administration on 1, 116 words and IL
rs, and renewed it on the basis of the most
effective political methods ever known in
], ,167 words and six rs.
Martin Van Buren, the Magician of
Kinderhook,' the Presidential protege Of
jackson, gave his preliminary views of
pertinent public questions in 1884 words
and 38 rs. H'.
THE PRESIDENTS GRANDFATHER.
William Henry Harrison, the hero Of
Tippecanoe and the Indian border struggles
of the third decade of the century, mapped
out an administration of efficient service to
the peace and prosperity OF the much dis
turbed Union in 8,578 words and 3S rs.
The constitutional residuary legatee of
Lle dumlulSErdLlVe dHdlTS OF bQ0
ninth administration, John Tyler, showed
his bad taste under the circumstances of his
succession in an inaugural of 1,643 words
and 10 rs.
James K. Polk discussed the paramount
issues of peace with the Seminoles, sup
preston of the ''Dorr Rhode Island Re-
bellion," the annexation of Texas, and dis
turbances on the Mexican frontier, with
enlarged ideas of administration, in 1904
words interspersed with IS rs.
Zachary Taylor, the hero of the opening
battles of the Mexican War, enanciated
Wing doctrines of government to control
affairs in /, ,096 words and Is Rough and
Ready" rs.
Millard Fillmore took up the reins Of
government by simply taking the oath Of
Office.
James Buchanan, the sage of Wheatland,
discussed slavery conflicts, border troubles,
Kansas agitations and sectional antagon-
isms in an inaugural address of 2,772
words, in which the last of the Democratic
Presidents for a quarter of a century
marked his prominent individuality by
13 rs.