San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-03-11
WASHINGTON LETT&A-r
From our Regular Correspondents
WASHINGTON, March 4, 1889.

All hail Benjamin Harrison, twen-
ty-third president of the United
States
This Is destined for all time to be a
red letter day in the annals of the re-
publican party as well as in those of
the country.
Once more the control of every
branch of the government is In the
hands of the republican party, to
which the country owes the greatest
period of prosperity it ever enjoyed.
Today the ceremony, which is the
marvel of all nations-the changing OF
the head of the government-has
been, for the twenty-third time,
peaceably performed. Now let us see
how it was done.
Imagine yourself on Pennsylvania
Avenue, the grandest thoroughfare IN
the world. Standing near the treas
ury department looking towards the
capitol you see a long vista of red,
white and blue in every conceivable
form that the skilled brains of artistic
decorators could invent to make the
fronts of the houses on both sides OF
the noble avenue beautiful. This is
TONED off by hundreds of national
flags flying from the tops of the bull.
| ings. Lower the eye little ana you
see a half million human beings pack
ed on the hundreds of stands erected
| TO view the grandest parade seen IN
Washington since the great army re-
view in 1865. The middle of the street,
40 feet from curb to curb, is entirel y
clear. Suddenly music is heard,
and away down at the foot
of the capitol you see
small body of men wearing gray over
coats, derby hats and each man car
rving a cane surmounted by a small
flag. Who are they? They are the
| $50 survivors of the SEVENTEEN
Indiana-Gen. Harrison's old regi-
| ment. They are under the command
of Major samuel Merrill, who succeed
ed Gen. Harrison, and who retained
command of the famous regiment
until it was mustered out in 1868.
Tramp, tramp, tramp, with the
steady march Of veterans they come
I'D the avenue, while men cheer and
! shout, and woman wave their hand
kerchiefs. They halt in front of
| Wizards hotel to await the coming of
their old commander. They have
been assigned the post of honor in the
great parade. Gen. Harrison himself
selected them as his bodyguard.
In a few minutes there is a commo-
! ton in front of the entrance to the
! hotel where two open carriages are
standing, and Gen. Harrison and Mr..
Cleveland, followed by Mr.. Morton,
and a committee of senators, are seen
making. their way to the carriages.
| Taking their seats, all hands dOff
| their hats to the veterans, and the
start is made for the Capitol. Cheer
after cheer greets them as they go.
Arrived at the Capitol Gen. Harri-
son and Mr.. Morton prOceedat once to
the vice presidents room, while Mr..
! Cleveland goes to the Presidents
room, to perform his last official acts,
by signing any bills that the Fiftieth
Congress may pass in its dying hours.
Now we 90 to the senate chamber.
At II 0 clock exactly, Senator Ingalls,
raps the death kne!l of the tiftieth
congress. For n moment all is con-
fusion, and then Nice-President Nor
ton having previously taken the oath
of office, rises and calls to order the
extra session of the senate of the fifty
first congress. Gen. Harrison and
Mr.. Cleveland enter the room and
take seats in front of the presiding Of
ficer. AS soon as the organization OF
the senate is completed, a procession
is formed to march to the east pOrticO,
where the event of the day is to take
place. Arrived on the platform
when all are seated, General Harrison
rises to deliver his inaugural address
| | n
that covers the great plaza are turned
. toward the speaker, and all ears
strained to catch his words. And such
an address as it was; the careful word:
of a statesman who knows the needs
of his country and who is fully aware
. of the responsibility that he is under
taking. AT its conclusion, Chief Jus
tice Fuller advances with the bible
for the purpose OF administering the
oath. AS Gen. Harrison raised the
book to his lips, battery of artillery
doomed forth the national salute, K
let the many thousands who coulC
,, not see. know that the country had {
new president. Instantly a mighty
shout arose that seemed to shake tn,
foundations of the capitol itself. None
who heard it are likely ever to forge
: it.
Then the procession is reformed
: and proceeds up the avenue to thu
White house, where the presiden
, and ex-president take their places OF
the reviewing stand, there to remain
for hours until the monster procession
has marched past.
I should like to give you full de
scription of the parade; Of the fire
} works, of the procession of Flam beat
3 clubs, and of the Inaugural ball
beautiful beyond description, bu
! space forbids.
Let us hope that this day so aus
Y piciously begun and ended will in
r augurate an era of peace, plenty ant
: prosperity for all. c. A. S.
Z Miss Susanna Wartield, who com