The herald., 1893-02-26
ABOUT SOME PAST |AAUGURALS.
Historic Ceremonies Witnessed
at Washington.
The Midnight Installation Of Presi
dent Arthur.
Jefferson's Induction Into Office with
Simple Ceremony-How Lincoln
Took the Oath Under Excit-
ing circumstances.

1861. WlSn G6u6rBl Artuur TeCelVeu Cn6
oath of Office, says the Washington cor
respondent Of the Louisville Courier
Journal. The simplest, and it has al
ways been called the typical Democratic
ceremony, was that which characterized
the inauguration of Thomas Jefferson.
The most exciting ceremony was that
attending the Inauguration of President
Lincoln, and perhaps the most brilliant
was that one which accompanied the
Inauguration of President Garfield.
President Washington was Inaugural
ted with such splendor of ceremony as
gave something of offense to the citizens
OF the republic, who even then believed
that great democracy should not ape
foreign manners. There was something
of tendency to duplicate court cere-
monials in Europe, and the satirists and
lampooners of that day declared that all
that was needed was the bestowal of the
crown and seepter to make the ceremo-
nisl exactly like that which attends the
coronation Of the king. Washington
set. the example of reading in the
presence of the public the inaugural
address and it has been followed by
every president elected by the choice of
the people since that time. Jefferson
cent his message to congress to be read
by the officers of that body, although
the intention clearly was at fret that
the president should appear before con-
gress and read himself such communica-
tions as he had to make. The precedent
Jefferson set has never been departed
from, and the only occasion since his
day upon which president has ap-
peared in either hall OF congress during
it's session has been when funeral SER
vices of distinguished men were being
held.
After the first election it was long
time before the country knew precisely
what the vote which General Washing
ton had received was, although, OF
elected. He started from his Virginia
home some three weeks before the time
fixed for his Inauguration, and his
journey was what was called til
umphsl procession from Mount Vernon
| to New York. Children greeted him
with flowers. and in every town through
which he passed there were banners
and arches and gala decorations.
After Shat the ceremonials of inaugura-
! ti6n were comparatively simple. lreei
dent Washington received John Adams
and escorted him to the then capitol on
the morning of Mr.. Adams Inaugural
tion, and although Adams was FEEDER
alist, as Washington was. and was
moreover man of much vanity, yet he
did not care to be accompanied by any
unusual or striking ceremony.
When his term expired ne did an ex-
traordinary thing, since it has never
been repeated by any other outgoing
president. He refused to receive Mr..
Jefferson, and abruptly quilted the
| presidential residence on the morning of
inauguration day. Jefferson was staying
at hotel frequented by southern mem
bers, and when the time came he
mounted his horse and rode to the cspi-
tol, himself hitching the horse to post
and entering the capitol unattended.
From the time of Mr.. Madison's in
auguration until that of Mr.. Lincoln the
ceremony was practically the same in
each case. The outgoing president re-
ceived his successor. there having been
previously an exchange of calls, and
shortly before noon, under escort of a
committee of congress, the president and
president-elect were taken in an open
coach and with some military attend
ants to the capitol. The vice-president
had already attended the session of the
senate and had received the oath. The
president-elect was escorted to the east
portico of the capitol, and there, in the
| presence of vast multitude, members
of congress and tbs judges of the supreme
court, he received the oath from the
chief justice and then read his address.
10 <>f hi
was changed, the address being first
read and the oath administered after
ward.
1t should be said, however, that this
| tradition hes been denied, although the
weight of authority seems to be in favor
of it. AT all events, the inaugural cere-
monies were so simple that the details
of them have been matter Of dispute.
| There WAS nothing unusual, however, in
President Jefferson's riding to the capi-
| tol on horseback. He was compelled
either to do that or to walk, since the
roads were in such shocking condition
that the use of carriage would have
been inconvenient.
| When Mr.. Lincoln reached Washing
ton there was great anxiety. The coun-
try was on the verge of civil war. Gen.
Scott wss apprehensive that an attempt
would be made upon Mr.. Lincoln's life,
and the vast multitude who came to
Washington to see the Inauguration of
the first president elected by the young
Republican party found their anticipa-
tion of pleasure over this event tenn
pered by the shadow of possible assas-
sination. Mr.. Lincoln was himself not
alarmed. There had been an exchange
of calls between him and President
Buchanan, who WAS a man OF great
courtesy, and who informed Mr.. Lincoln
that he would find the White House in
perfect readiness to receive him when
he returned from the capitol.
There was fine military demonstra-
| tion, and Mr.. Lincoln's tall form was
conspicuous in the open carriage as he
rode along Pennsylvania avenue to the
capitol. The interest in his inaugural
address was intense. He had stead
fastly refused to say anything which
would indicate what his policy was to
be, and it was believed that he would
clearly outline it in his inaugural. He
spoke in penetrating but high pitched
key, and before he was half through his
Inaugural it was manifest that one OF
the ablest state papers was then being
read to the people gathered there. But
it was not until the ceremony was over
and Mr.. Lincoln was in the White House
that the vast multitude appreciated the
singular besnty Of that address, whether