Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-05-02
rather gave opportunity than otherwise


have been made the recipients an,
heirs Of such wonderful wisdom an,
: practical, tenacious energy on the par
of these, our forefathers, in civi
affairs that we would not recall O
dwell in thought upon any of the error
j., committed by those whom we special,
. honor. l think we may say they dit
J the best they could in maintaining anC
q promulgating those principles which
finally took shape in an organized form
at the Inauguration of President anC
General George Washington, in the
e city of New York, on the Both day OF
April, 1883. at or about the middle OF
the day. Yes, President and Genera
Washington. Though we may te
pleased to think and write of the civic
title of Washington with some special
} emphasis, how can We leave of the mil.
, itary title in view of all his service to
the country before his call to the pres
idency? The occasion of this anniver-
sary may justly lead us to write and
name that title first which represents
his headship of the nation. But if we
all are to believe history he finally re-
ceived this as gift from the people
into whose affections he had won him
self by the justly appointed and
merited title of General. The times
and circumstances made it possible for
some great military leader and patriot
only to receive the suffrage of the peo-
pie in their representatives and their
own hearty welcome as their nations
head. And it would appear there was
not another in ali the colonies to fill
the place under such call, so the 6rst
presidency fell upon Washington.
At some length the speaker reviewed
the personal history of Washington,
tracing his life through manly boy
hood, till as young man he won his
spurs in the memorable F.. Du Quesne
campaign; then the famous incidents
of the revolution, the final acquisition
of peace, the arranging of the constitu-
ton, the election of Washington as
president, tracing the story with
vigorous hand. Continuing he said:
Consequently early in Jan. 1889, the
respective assemblies of the several
colonies were to appoint their presiden-
tial electors. 1t appears that at the
beginning of this organization there
was no popular vote of the people for
president, but the legislatures, in their
respective capacity, selected those who
would cast the vote that would elect a
president and vice president.
There was but one candidate for the
Office of president in the minds of the
people, legislators, electors and all.
seeking the position for himself as any
colonist could possibly be. He shrank
from the thought of holding such an
office. But the appointment of the
electors in that January and their
meeting few weeks later settled their
office upon the person, that popular and
loyal man. Gen. George Washington.
The Inauguration provided for was
to take place in the city of New York
on the 4th of the following March.
Strange as it may seem to us these
electors did not all get together until
early the following April, more than a
uration of the president to have taken
place. At the appointed time in
March there was not a quorum present.
But these waited until others came
Struggling in. The reason fer the delay
is assigned to the condition of the
weather and the impassibility of the
roads.
How strange this seems to US now
living here in Kansas century after |
Even if we had no railroads and no
stages, distance with US here would not |
seem to be hindrance to promptness
of assembling for such meeting.
1t was not until Apr. 14th that Gen.
Washington was notified officially, by a |
messenger sent from New York to Mt. |
Vernon, of his election to the presi-
dency of these United States. And on
the 18th of April he started from his |
home, suppose In his own conveyance
or riding his own steed, to be duly
inaugurated into office. 1t was his |
earnest desire that there should be as
little demonstration on the way and in
the city as possible. But in this he |
was disappointed. 1t would have been
easier to have smothered a prairie fire
by a pail of water than to have kept
down the feelings of the people by a
single wish. In many places en- route
he had to ride through avenues of men,
women and children. Great arches of |
evergreen and flowers were erected in |
many places. The bells of the |
churches and boom of cannon could |
only be heard when the shouts of the |
people would have little lull. The |
whole journey and the Presidents re
ceptiOn into the city Was one of an |
ever increasing ovation.
In this review, my friends, l have |
not dwelt on other names connected |
with the practical organization of this
government and are to be honored. |
You know that at the same election in /
which Washington was made president |
John Adams, that name so illustrious |
in the political affairs of this country, /
was made the vice president. It ap- |
pears that the oath of Office was admin
istered to him some days previous to /
that of the President. At any rate we
are told that on the morning of the
S0th of April President Washington
Twas conducted directly to the senate
chamber where congress had just
assembled. Vice President Adams,
who had taken the oath of Office few
days previously, met Washington at
the entrance and escorted him to the
presidents chair. and he gravely ad-
dressed him: Sir, the senate and
house of representatives of the United
States are ready to attend you to take
the oath required by the constitution /
which will be administered by the