Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-13
With disregard of history alike ine1cusable

With a disregard Of history alike ine1cusable
and difficult Of understanding the Newark (N.J. }
Advertiser makes the extraordinary statement
that 1.-THE great open-air public demonstration
that is made on Inauguration day IL a modern
innovation, dating no further back than Frank
lin Pierce $ induction into Office, March 4, 1853 "
Surely the esteemed Advertiser cannot have
forgotten that George Washington stood in
''the open gallery in front Of the Senate cham
Der, which looked out on Broad street. (New
York.. Chroniclers Of that time say that the
multitude which thronged the streets and
houses shouted itself hoarse when the hero
appeared. Washington advanced to the front
Of the balcony, laid his hand on his heart,
bowed several times and then sat down. In
that public place Chancellor Livingston read
the oath, and there, in full view of great audi
ence, did Gen. George Washington kiss the
Bible which is now especially treasured
because of its connection with the first
Inauguration of a President OF the United
States. There was but little Of ceremony,
and none of it in the open air, from that time
until the first Inauguration Of Thomas Jeffer-
son. when the local military companies assisted
in making the fourth of March, 1901. a memoir
able occasion Each succeeding Inauguration
became more and more deliberately scenic. On
March 4. 1917, James Monroe was sworn In.
but not, like most OF his predecessors, In the
Senate Chamber. Mr.. Mckee, In his "Presl-
Dental Inaugurstions, says: "All having en-
tered tn chamber Of the Senate. then in ses-
sion, the Vice President-elect took the chair and
the oath Of Office was administered to him,
whereupon he delivered an address. This cere-
mony having ended, the Senate adjourned. and
the President and Vice President, the justices
of the Supreme Court. members of the Senate
and House, and many other distinguished gen.
tlemen attended the President to an elevated
platform, temporarily erected for the occasion
in the east portico Of the Capitol, where,
in the presence of an immense concourse
Of officers Of the government, for
eign ministers, ladies and gentlemen. the
President delivered his inaugural address;
after which Chief Justice Marshall administered
the oath of office" Andrew Jackson, too, read
his inaugural from the east portico and was
sworn in before the eyes of q great throng Of
wildly enthusiastic people So were Martin
Van Buren, and William Henry Harrison and
James K. Polk and Zachary Taylor, all of them
Presidents prior to the incoming Of Franklin
Pierce. To all of this authentic information
the Advertiser is heartily welcome. The facts
are valuable, and when there are coupled with
them the other and more pertinent memoranda
as to the disagreeable weather which SO fire.
quently prevailed on inaugural occasions the
whole constitutes a compound argument in
favor Of ceremonial observance and a change OF
date. And those who favor this change of
dste-ssy to April 30-are heartily in accord
with the other proposed constitutional amend
ment which will shorten the now overlong
period that intervenes between the election of
Q House Of Representatives and its initial as
sembly.