The sun., 1893-03-07
Intoxication at the Inauguration.

We regret to learn from the private re-
ports OF visitors returning from Washing
ton. that the amount of conspicuous drunk
enness there on Saturday last made the
Inauguration OF President CLEVELAND
unpleasantly and unhappily remarkable.
Never before. these thoroughly trustworthy
observers tell us. had they seen SO much
intoxicatlon in an American town and on
the occasion OF public celebration.
1t seems that the complete and deplo-
rable coilapscs as consequence OF undue
alcoholic Indulgence were SO numerous that
ambulances were obliged to travel through
the streets OF the capital picking up the
fallen, who lay in cutters and in other un-
comfortable and dangerous places. The
ravages wrought by fiery liquor on that
memorable day struck our friends as SO
appalling. and, to the great credit OF our
people. us SO unusual that they are at q loss
to account for the extraordinary occurrence.
The victims of strong drink. TOO. repre-
sented the people Of the country generally.
They came from no one part OF the Union.
but from North and South. East and West;
for the vast crowd present in Washington
was attracted thither from every direction
and under tho common impulse Of patriotic
sentiment and partisan zeal.
1t was indeed an occasion OF profound
significance. The Inauguration OF Presi-
dent CLEVELAND signalized the return OF
the Democracy to full control OF the Federal
Government for the first time in thirty two
years. and naturally and properly Demo-
Gratis everywhere mado the day feast day.
II. therefore. in tho exuberance OF their
spirits some OF those OF them who Jour-
neyed to Washington INDUCED In convivi-
ality to somewhat unusual degree.
they allowed themselves latitude
which was pardonablc. but not pruden-
tial. under the circumstances. For the
spoctacles which provoked SO much
pain and surprise In our informants and
led them TO contrast the Inauguration SO
| unfavorably with the distinguished order
and sobriety Of our own vastly more numer-
| ously attended Centennial and Columbian
| celebrations. were not an indication OF a
prevalent tendency to iItoxication in this
country. but rather sad demonstration Of
the unfltness OF Washington to accommo-
date SO great a crowd of visitors. More
over. the dreadfully inclement weather as
sisted powerfully In producing the lamen-
table result.
| 1t is true that New York at all times In
the ordinary course OF its life. and even on
occasions like the two mentioned, Is re-
markable for Its prevalent sobriety. as COM
pared more particularly with London. but
also with thegreat American towns general
| ly. Doubtless. II the Inauguration could have
| occurred here. the financial and commercial
capital OF tho Union, the instances OF intox-
icatlon witnessed would have been much
fewer DrOportionately If not actually than
| they were at Washington. But even here
| they would havo been many more than
under the circumstances OF the Centennial
| and Columbian celebrations. so disagree
able WAS the weather of Saturday and 30
| provocative OF drinking both as means Of
raising the spirits OF the famishing crowd
| and as method of fortifcation again st the
chilling storm. In New York. however. the
| thiongs OF visitors would have had abundant
| opportunities to brace themselves up by
the better way Of eating. At Washington
the facilities for obtaining food wero In
sufficient. though the supply OF intoxicat-
ing drink seemed to be exhaustless.
Washington is not the slow-going place
1t once was. 1t !s taking on the character
. OF veritable capital city. bu. 1t is still o