Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-11-29
SUNDAY LETTER. ua


next March, will surpass in splendor and
magnileence anything of the kind ever
seen in this country. And it is probable
that, when the event has passed into
history, it will be said of it that 1t
equallled, If not surpassed, the corona
ton pageants of the crowned heads of
Europe. Under the silent auspices of
Mark Hanna, it will exemplify in ex-
travagance of detail and lavishness OF
display all of that luxury and gorgeous
ness which is only possible to the inn
mensely rich. But, while the American
people will be treated to a spectacle Of
matchleSS magnifcence and unequalled
magnitude, its grandeur and elaborate
ness will mark the distinction, more forci-
bly, than ever before, between the men
who have pushed Mr. Mckinley forward
and those who supported Mr.. Bryan. Vast
will be the multitude of well-groomed
men seated on richly caparisoned horses
and within costly equipages, but vaster
still will be the multitude on the pave
ments of Pennsylvania avenue, and 1t
will more nearly resemble monarchy in
professional display than anything the
American people ever witnessed.
Nevertheless, the peopleof this city at
least are overjoyed at the prospect. 1t
means thousands and thousands of dol
lars to Washington. Before the day ar
rives the country will be decorated from
end to end with flaming posters an
uOuuClUS, I1uCH III Tie IlldiiHCl VI thS Sii
Gus, the various attractions of the show.
The billboard as an advertising medl-
UNI, by the way, Is bounding forward TO
the goal of universal use, like football
terrifcally punted, even being used In
Chicago by one up-to-date clergyman to
advertise during the week the title OF
his sermons on the following Sunday;
and the republican national committee
will do much to kick 1t across the goal
mentioned by using it extensively, as
stated, for the purpose of advertising It's
great attraction on the 4th of next
March. This with the intention of attract
ing the largest crowd possible. Mr.. Han
ma believes that enthusiasm is an infec-
tious disease, and consequently not only
intends to turn loose whole car loads
of enthusiasm on the day mentioned,
but to bring in whole train loads of peo-
pie to catch 1t. Then there will be spe-
ial correspondents here from every
large city and prominent newspaper in
the union, who will telegraph their pa
pers what a big affair 1t was and how
the people shouted; and thus, within the
space of day, the Mckinley epidemic
will break out all over the country
There is no doubt but that the crowd
will be tremendous. 1t will probably be
the largest ever gathered in Washing
ton. Before each scrambling man and
woman finds a place to eat and sleep 1t
is expected that the hotels of Baltimore.
forty miles away, will have to be utilized.
That resource will not be taken, however,
until every boarding house and hotel In
Washington is packed and damned In
every room and hall. Citizens in pri-
vate houses will not be asked to throw
open their doors, for the reason that II
is supposed they will be oyer-run any
way with acquaintance and country re-
lations. Altogether the population Oh
the city is very likely to be more than
doubled for the one day of the inaugura-
ton at least, and when the entire multi
tude gets on Pennsylvania avenue and
the procession begins to move, 1t will be
a sight worth travelling from ocean to
ocean to see.
OF course, among the great throngs
present there will be thousands and thou
sands of silver men. For them 1t Will
be spectacle of color and of splendor as
it will be for all, but hardly fancy they
will catch the enthusiasm with which
Mr.. Hanna is so anxious to lnoculate
the people. On the contrary, 1t Will be
an occasion when every honest sentiment
of disgust at such destinations display
will be aroused to its fiercest feeling, es-
pecialy as they will be treated to the
spectacle of former friends, once good
democrats, riding grandly, proudly
perched on high places, as honored guests
of the republicans Already all Wash
ington is talking in every hotel rotunda,
business office and even in the homes Oh
this city, about the appointment OF M.
s. W. woodward as chairman or the
campaign Inauguration committee. MI.
Woodward is a gold democrat He has
been prominent in democratic ranks for
years and years, not as a professional
politician, but as business man VINO
thought politics closely concerned and
deeply affected his business. In his way,
he is almost to the city of Washington
what Cleveland has been to the nation;
at first, perhaps, the most beloved leader
of democracy, but, of late, the most
cursed and criticised
That Mr.. Hanna should appoint Mr..
Woodward to such exalted position as
chairman of the inauguration committee
never entered the heads of the hundreds
of politicians who had been speculating
upon the probable man. Everybody
knew that Mr.. woodward had radically
departed from his former democratic
ways and worked so hard for Mckinley
that he was not only a good republican,
but better than a dozen ordinary repupli-
cans still nobody expected Hanna to
recognize the services of gold democrats
this early in the game. Hence the sensa-
ton If he had waited until after the
Inaugural ton and then had given Mr.. Nc
Kinley the tip to feather the nests of men
like Mr.. Woodward and other prominent
gold democrats, with soft things in the
way of salaries coming out of easy jobs,
the people would have not been surprised,
but it is quite evident that Mr.. Hanna
does not intend to waste any time In
making fast friends, If possible, of those
who left the regular democracy and as
sisted Mr.. Cleveland to defeat Mr.. Bry-
an. Indded, this one appointment by Mr..
Hanna seems to indicate that he is dead
anxious to coax all these mugwump gen.
tlemen into the republican house and
slam the door on them. Should any of
them attempt to get away it is believed
that Mr.. Hanna would actually lose his
dignity long enough to run few blocks
and grab the fleeing gentlemen by the
coat-tails Not that many will be found
who will turn tail on fat job, but that
many a man who voted for Mckinley be-
cause of prejudice against Mr.. Bryan
would object most of all things in the
world to taking up permanent resi-
dence in the republican house. But Mr..
Hanna is after them, and will get them,
If he can. He needs 'em in his business.
The method of arranging for the cere-
monies Is in one sense very simple and, in
another sense, very elaborate. The chair
man of the Inauguration committee APP
points the subcommittee for the parade
and for the inaugural ball, but the ar
rangements for the Inauguration ceremo-