The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1893-03-11

Abraham Lirculn's first inauguration
is always an interesting subject of talk
with the old citizens Of Washington.
Doubt was the chief though unbidden
actor upon the stage. 1t was doubted
that the President elect could get to
Washington at all; it was ubted that
tioA; It was doubted that any public
ceremony would be possible: it was
doubted that the Capital and White
mogas would escape blowing up by gun,
March,. twill doubtless please readers
of this article to be reminded that, amid
all this doubt and desponden&y,, the
Secretary of State, SO soon afterward
assured Europe that the rebellion WAS
only an affair of ninety days at most)
ing, that not ono jot or little OF accus-
toned observance should be omitted
appealing to the hopes, fears, feelings,
honor or conscience or interests of all
necessities to borrow sentence from
the prayer book. Never did Seward SO
nearly approach the stature of Talley-
rand as in this effort to accomplish
what looks now like an insignificant
purpose, but was differently regarded
then. General Scott, as commander of
the army, labored earnestly to secure
mony, and so did many in Congress and
the executive officers who soon after
ward becnme conspicuous figures in the
NOn1e0Cf'nCy.' MUCH SplflC ana consul
tutional loyalty were shown by the pco-
pie of the District, SO that no. less than
twenty military companies OF Washing
ton and Georgetown paradcd number
men, Numerous ''wide-awal<e'' clubs
were present from the North. The tri-
umphal car Constitution drawn by
six white horses and flied with little
gi, 3 representing the galaxy of States.
followed right belaind the carriage of
the President elect, beside whom was
tect, or Mt least to share, the danger to
the person of Mr.. Lincoln from any as
fascinating bullets. '-fsa
There were no military from abroad,
many OF whom had come with a vague,
indefinite purpose of seeing their leader
safely through the ordeal of Inaugural
ton amid strangers and enemies and
many others with an idea of turning to
practical account whatever degree of
acquaintance they had with the most
accessible and sociable of men. whose
'.latchstring" was always on the OUT
side," and who knew, recognized and
welcomed Everybody. -
:. A popularity OF this crowd was that
it was u ''coid water" one. The en-
thusiasm of the hosts that had shouted
jackson, Harrison and Taylor into office
found frequent vent andrefresllnent in
the balrooms of the federal capital; but
followed Abra ham Lincoln to Washing
ton were quiet, earnest. abstemious
men, who washed down the hard,
greasy and unwholcsOme fare which the
cheap restaurants and boarding houses
provide at such times with copious
ara9 ;th 81 anp o water ter e or moistsned
the progress OF the meal.
Grants lnauS:sravfons.
Grants first Inauguration was SO much
surpassed by his second as to have suf-
fered an eclipse as SUBJ feet for spectac-
ular description. A drilling rain and
muddy streets made things uncomfort-
able, and the waiting crowds would
have cheerec as Justify the passing pro-
cession even had the conspicuous figure
in 1T been less renowned and popular
even as President Grant sought and
accepted his second election as a national
vindication of his civil career, SO his
friends resolved to make his reinstalla-
ton . matter of national interest.
Who That saw the procession will ever
forget the enthusiasm with which he or
she witnessed the marching, the align
mcnt. the carrying of arms of the West
Point cadets; the sturdy swing and neat
and manly look of the naval cadets
from Annapolis, the splendid lines and
movement of the Marine corps; the
plumed and shiny light batteries, with
every man. horse. gun and carriage
looking like ''nev- pin;'' the soldier1y
appearances of Charley" spencer's Fifth
helmets; the gay-loolSing and frce-riding
Boston Lancers; the Philadelphia CITY
Troop; the Old Gnartio of New York: the
Albany Burgesses Corps, in their great
and the Duquesnc Grays of
Never did Pennsylvania
avenue look SO bright, vs.rigated and
nnimate6; never did the sky so shine
like q mirror, never the Capital at the !
end of the vista so white and glisteninR.
For centuries to comet perhaps. this !
second Inauguration of Grant will be 1
referred to as the point of beginning of |
a series of ever-inoprovfng spectacles
connected with the Induction of a new |
nto office. If all else should !!
fade from mind, surely the memory of |
the polar wind and the number of de- |
yrees below zero at which the themom-
eter stood will live forever
Inauguration Funcs tonaries.
2 With the growth of the presidential
Inauguration into a matter. of national
and participation there has
gone along great increase in the
mount and complcAity of the work of
for It. The old time COM
nittce of arrangements, consisting of
: Mr.. Mayor" and two or three other
citizens, which got together a few
nights before the Inauguration and an
the programme the morning
.fter the meeting, has given place to an
Executive committee OF from thirty to
orty members. with large auxiliaryI
on finance, decoration,
military affairs, civic1
,rgani2a tons. public comfort, inaugural
ion ball. and, possibly, other important
1t is significant of the Increasing i'm