Omaha daily bee., 1889-03-05
THE CROWNING ACT.
Benjamin Harrison Formally In
Quoted Into His High Office.
WASHINGTON FULL OF VISITORS.
Half Million People Witness the
Imposing Spectacle.
POLICY OF THE ADMINISTRATIONS
The Civil Service Law to be Faith
fully Enforced.
PROTECTION AND THE SOUTH.
How This Political Problem Will be
Solved - Relations to Foreign
Powcrs-Evils of the Surplus
Revenue Revision.
Half Million People Witness the
Imposing Spectacle.
OF THE ADMINISTRATIONS
The Civil Service Law to be Faith
fully Enforced.
'ROTECTloN AND THE SOUTH.


WAsHINGToN, March with simple and
solemn ceremony, in the presence of all the
wisdom ard authority embodied in the co
ordinate branches of the government, and
surrounded by representatives of all the
great nations on the globe, Benjamin Harri-
son was to-day inducted into the highest
Office within the gift Of the American people.
Never was such crowd in Washington
before. IL is estimated that half million
strangers camped in the city last night, fill
ing every inch of the hotel and boarding
house accommodations and drawing to the
full limit on private hospitality. Even then
many were forced to sleep on floors, some on
billiard tables, and even the welcome recess
of an occasional bath tub was not despised.
a great army surgcd around the capitol
this morning. The rain by this time had
ceased, and there was q prospect of n good
day. Many came provided with benches and
umbrellas and took places on the porticos
and other eligible stands to wi illness the
events OF the day. The capitol was the OBJ
icctive point of most of the strangers arriv-
ing, and they poured in r,Sa ceaseless stream
up and down the approaches. About $50 a
fine, penetrating rain began to fall The
work of the decorators presented a
fine effect. The sixteen large CORN
THAN columns supporting the arched roof
of the portico were draped with large
American banners. From the top of the six
central columns two large flags of the
United States hung down ana were ga thered
over the passageway through which the
prcsidcntelcct walked from the senate
chamber to deliver his address. Above this
passage in space made by the coping of
flags, was a large blue silkcn banner stretch
ing from the column, with an eagles wings
plumed for flight and in his claws an olive
branch and bundle of silvery arrows. In
the apex of the roof huge American flag
was run out, and from three points numerous
pennants of the nations of the world swung
one above the other from ropes stretching
far upwards TO the first balcony of the dome
Of the capitol.
The inaugural stand was also gay with
flags, banners and shields Several resi-
dences of public men in the neighborhood of
the capitol were handsomely decorated The
plaza in front of the capitol, the adjacent
sidewalks, porticos and every coign of
vantage from which even glimpse OF the
presidential party could be obtained
black with people. The organizations to
take part in the parade marched, with bands
playing, by the side streets and avenues to
places adjoining the capitol grounds, where
they were to assemble. The noise of the
bands was drowned at intervals by the
hoarse roar of the crowd, as it greeted with
applause some favorte organization
President-elecU Harrison, accompanied by
the inauguration committee, was taken in
closed carriages drawn by four grey horses
to the white house about half-past 10 o'clock
The rain, which was pouring down in tor
rents, drove many off the street and made
sorry work of the decorations. Arrived at
the white house, MIR. Harrison was received
by MIR. Cleveland and the cabinet in the blue
parlor, where they were joined by MIR. Nor
ton. Az II O'Clock, Cleveland, Harrison and
Morton took carriages for the capitol.
The first carriage, an open landau, con-
tanned Mr.. Cleveland, MIR. Harrison, Mr..
Hoar, and Mr.. Cockrell the second Mr..
Morton and Mr.. Cullom. Mrs. Cleveland
witnessed the departure from the window
The carriages then moved out and the Sew
entieth Indiana veterans formed a guard of
honor, one section before, one behind They
marched out to Pennsylvania avenue and
took their assigned place in the procession
tol n mid amngled storm of rain and applause.