The national leader., 1889-03-09
THE GREATEST OF THE INAU-
GURAL PARADES.
TAKING THE OATH AID DE-
LIVERING THE INAU-
GURAL.
A VAST CROWD LISTENS TO PRESI-
DENT HARRISON
VICE PRESIDENT MORTON OCCU PIES
THE CHAIR.
WASHINGTON. D. G., March 4.


a worse day for the Inauguration OF
the President of the United States
cou not have been created than that
which marked the induction of Presi-
dent Harrison. The rain fell incessant.
1y All dag. and when 1t was not raining
there was driZzle accompanied by a
chill air that was as lnsidious and more
penetrating than the copious showers
which it interrupted.
When rain began on Saturday even
ing and continued through the night
and Sunday with much vlgOr, 1t was
confidently hoped that 1t would exhaust
itself before sunrise this morning, and
that long before the booming of guns
that was to put IN motion the inaugural
procession the sun would shine among
the gay plumes and the bright standards
of the marching hosts; but the day
dawned dark and lowering, and before
O'Clock the drlzzle and rain that had
marked the past two days again set In
and gave certain indications of showers
that were sure to follow.
But the drjZZle and the rain did not
dampen the ardor Of the people who
had assembled from all parts of the
country TO witness the Inauguration of
a new President. at an early hour
the streets and avenues were thronged
with people, who patiently and good
naturedly tugged through the wet and
mud, beneath a forest of umbrellas,
toward the Capitol.
The street cars and other public con-
veyances carried great loads in the
same direction. On the sidewalks
thousands of people stood in the rain
for hours, hemmed in by the cables,
which were stretched along each side
of the street over the entire line Of
march. After 10 O'Clock the police
took charge Of Pennsylvania avenue,
and vehicles of every description were
excluded from that thOroughfare.
Notwithstanding the depressing sur
roundings everybody was good ma.
tured. The II arching companies going
to the va.,.'i points of rendezvous
yelled with v.gor and quicKened their
step just as The boys Iii the army did
when the rains descended and the
floods came and the winds blew and
beat upon their moving, invinclble
columns. II is scarcely possible to
imagine more unfavOrable conditions
for an outdoor demonstration than
those Of to-day, yet the enthusiasm
was unbounded and seemed to be un-
quenchable.
About half-paSt ID General Harri-
son, MIR. Morton and the members of
their respective families repaired to
Wizards Hotel to meet the Senate
Committee OF Arrangements and to
await the arrival of the column that
was to escort them to the Capitol. 1t
was expected that President Cleveland
would join them at the hotel, but.
owing to some misunderstanding, this
was not done. AS soon as the error
was discovered General Harrison, with
Mr.. Morton and the Senate Commit
tee, re.entered his carriage and was
driven to the White House, where he
met the President and his Cabinet.
After brief chat the Presidential
party took their carriages and drove to
the place assigned them in the column
of escort. President Cleveland and
General Harrison occupied the carriage
of the former, which was open and
drawn by four horses. With the two
Presidents sat Senators Hoar and Cock
relI. The second carriage, also drawn
by four horses, was occupied by Mr..
Morton and Senator CullOm. The line
of march was at once taken up, and
the Presidential party was escorted to
the Capitol.
The President and General Harrison
protected themselves with umbrellas.
They were loudly and continuously
cheered during their progress. The
escort TO the Capitol was composed Of
United States troops and marines and
the militia Of this district, constituting
the first division Of the procession as 1t
marched past the reviewing stand.
SCENES IN THE SENATE CHAMBER.
The scene in the Senate Chamber
to-day did not differ from those that
have attended previous lnauguratlons.
The legislative business OF the Flf-
tieth Congress was completed before
the two Houses took recess at an
early hour this morning, and the only
business, therefore, transacted relatea
to messages passing between the TWO
Houses. The chamber was arranged
for the introd lcUion of the new Presl-
dent Of the Senate in accordance with
the usual regulations. Senators occu'
pied the seats to the left Of the presld-
ing officer, those to the right being re-
served for the Supreme Court, Diplo-
matte Corps and the House OF Repre-
sentatives. The space in the rear OF
the desks to the left Of the presiding
officer was also reserved for members
of the House.
By IL o'clock nearly all the Senators
were in their seats, and number OF
distinguished persons entitled to the
privileges of the floor were scattered
among them. In the outer row, occu'
pying conspicuous seat on the extreme
left, and sitting to the right of Senator
Vance, Of North Carolina. whose left
eye was bandaged, as the result OF a
recent surgical operation by which the
optic was entirely removed, sat ex-
Senator Ferry, of Michigan, who pre-
sided over the Senate In the exciting
SawvA - - oS1S