Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1893-03-02
PRESIDENTIAL ISAUGURAT1oSs.

Y We-haye few pageants in this country
which compare in brilliancy with the
court spectacles Of the Old World; but on
certain occasions which may be said to
reflect and exalt the popular power, the
fitness OF certain amount Of pageantry.
made impressive by simplicity of cere-
monies joined with vast attendance, is
recognized.
The Inauguration of the President, once
in four years, is the foremost Of these
occasions. No public proceeding equals
in impressiyeness this quadrenniaI celv-
bration Of the supreme exercise OF the
popular will.
From the first, the Inauguration OF the
president has been attended with cere-
mony and witnessed usually by thrcngs
Of people. Indeed, the first Inauguration
Of Washington, at New York on the goth
Of April, 1889, was characterized by the
payment Of certain personal homage,
now unusual, but then rendered fitting
by the peculiar eminence OF Washington's
character.
Jefferson was the first president to en-
courage by his example the honoring OF
the office distinctly and scrupulously,
rather than the holder of it. 1t was moi
true as story long represented. that JEFF.
ferson showed his contempt for public
pageantry by riding, carelessly dressed
and unattended, to the Capitol on horse
back on inauguration day, leaving his
horse tied to post while he took the
oath of Office, and riding away alone
afterward.
This story was the invention of some
foreign writer. Jefferson's biographers are
able to show that on the occasion Of his
Inauguration h. paid the Office to which
he had been elected the due amount OF
respect, driving to the Capitol in such
state as was usual, and affecting no I'M
due degree of Democratic simplicity.
Jeferson's first Inauguration was char.
acterized by one incident which has no
parallel: the retiring president was alb.
sent. Mr.. Adams packed up his belong
ings, and before daybreak on the morn
ing of the 4th OF March, 1901, departed
hastily for Massachusetts in his private
coach.
The inaugurations OF both Jefferson and
Jackson were attended by remarkable
popular rejoicings and celebrations
throughout the country. This was also
the case when General William Henry
Harrison was inaugurated in 1S41.
A great difference was observable be-
tween the first and second inaugurations
of Lincoln. The public excitement grow
ing out Of the Acts Of Secession on the
part OF the Southern States and Of the
imminence of the civil war was 30 great
in the early spring Of 1851 that it was
deemed wise for tine president-elect to
arrive at Washington at an unexpected
moment and by an unusual route. His
Inauguration, though it was conducted in
the usual form and in the presence Of a
great crowd, was peculiarly solemn and
almost gloomy affair.
His second Inauguration in 1865, on the
contrary, which came at the time when
the Union army was on the eve of final
victory, and the general feelings at the
North was one Of exultant hopefulness,
was witnessed by vast and rejoicing
throng. No one knew or dreamed of the
dreadful tragedy which was to follow
within few weeks.
All the subsequent inaugurat;ons have
been brilliant popular pageants. Though
there was general uneasiness preceding
the Inauguration Of President Hayes in
1877, owing to the fact that his election
had been disputed, no disturbance nor
any grave incident attended the cere-
mony.
The association Of the two presidents
on the day of the Inauguration is peculiar
and interesting, especially when they
happen to be of opposite politics.
In the forenoon the retiring president
leaves the executive mansion, and drives
to the house where the incoming presi-
dent is staying. Together, attended by
troops and civic bodies, they drive to the
Capitol and enter the senate chamber,
where senator's, representatives, justices
OF the supreme court and the diplomatic
body receive them, all standing.
Soon after twelve O'Clock the president
pro tempore to the senate administers the
oath to the new vice-president, who is
thus indicted into Office before the presi-
dent is. The organization of the senate
being completed, the entire body pro-
coed to the east front of the Capitol,
where in the presence of the assembled
people, the chief justice administers to
the new president the oath to perform his
duty under the constitution. The presi-
dent then delivers an address.
He is escorted to the executive mansion
by the procession, driving once more with
his predecessor, now ex-president. The
two men then usually lunch together
there; the old president leaves the new
president in possession OF the white house
and the inauguration is at an end.
OF the Democratic State Central
Committee.
A meeting of the Democratic State |
Central Committee will be held at the |
haadouarforo IN the o;t,, n |