The herald., 1897-03-05
SWORN IN
William Mckinley Becomes President Of the
United States

United States
Dazzling and inspiring was the scene
spread out before Mckinley as he ap-
peared on the steps of the senate wing
of the capitol to take the oath and de
liver his inaugural. The sun blazed
from a blue sky. an auspicious augury
for his administration. Except for
Clevela hd's first Inauguration in 1885
there as been no such ideal day for
this moraeut Gus ceremony. Immediately
in front acres of upturned faces We're
wedged so closely together in the broad
plaza and radiating avenues that it
seemed like a vast pageant of human
heads. The windows of the houses
overlooking the scene were packed.
Every available porch of the capitol
building was occupied. Terraces in front
were pre- cipitous hillocks of humanity.
The broad platform, smothered with ma
tional fibgs. on which the ceremony oc-
CURED, was built out into the crowd in
the form df right angle. Mckinley faced
the park full OF people from a small
raised and carpeted platform, deco
rated with blood-red bunting at the
apex of the angle. The square space at
the juncture of the angle was filled with
about a thousand chairs, reserved for
cabinet officers, senators, representa-
tives and members of the diplomatic
corps. The supreme court and other
dignitaries Were entitled to admission
to the floor OF the senate. The benches,
which ran baek tier on tier in both di-
rections, We're occupied BY those who
filled the senate galleries.
Preceded by two military aides Mrs.
Mckinley and party emerged first from
the senate wing and were escorted 10
seats on the platform in advance of the
procession. Tire future distress of the
al
on tie arm Of John Addison Porter Sne
walked somewhat feebly and was given
a large leather chair medjately behind
the platform from which her husband
was to deliver his inaugural. Mother
Mckinley and other members of the
party were shown seats just in the rear
A parasol was raised to project her eyes
from the glare.
The. crowd. waited fifteen minutes be-
fore the procession proper appeared
First came Marshal Wilson of the Dis
trict of Columbia, and Mr.. McKenna
marshal of the supreme court. For an
instant the crowd mistook them for the
chief actors in the drama of the day and
great shout went up. Following them
came the justices of the supreme court
Col. Bright. geargeant-at-arms the SEN
ate and senate committee on arrange
ments. Then came Mr.. Mckinley and
Mr. Cleveland. arm in arm Their ap-
q
roar.
Cleveland now faced an inauguration
audience for the fourth time, once more
than any other president
AS Mckinley walked down the plat
form yells and shouts became deafeninr.
and as he stepped uDon the raised plat
form he felt compelled to acknowledge
them by bowling right and left He then
took his seat
The press against the stand was SO
terrific that women screamed with pain
and several tainted. Meantime the pro-
cession from the senate continued. All
the time 40, 900 people were strainng to
keep up tremendous applause.
Mckinley arose and uncovered. while
Chief Justice Fuller. in flowing robes.
administered the oath The new pres-
dent kissed the large gilt-edged Bible
presented by the bishop of the African
Methodist church. to seal his oath. The
people continued to roar Holding the
manuscript in one hand he turned -
the multitude and lifting up his hand
as if in admonition of order began his
inaugural address. Cleveland. with his
silk hat in hand. listened attentively 70
every word McKinley's clear and ring
ing tones carried well among the CON
fusion and shrieks which prevailed
about the stand. but could hardly be
heard fifty feet from the stand. As the
shifting multitude ceased to surge to-
wards the close of his address his words
carried far into the crowd. and We're an
swered with cheer upon cheer, specially
~his impressive promise to do all in his
power to restore prosperity.
The negroes roared approval when he
declared, with uplifted arm, that lynch
ings must cease AS he concluded the
multitude again cheered and the cannon
In the distance roared as a signal officer
on the capitol flashed n signal across
the city. Mckinley smiled al his wife,
while Captain Heistand rushed for
ward and threw greatcoat about him.
His wife lifted her handkerchief and
smiled with joy as she caught his warm
x1opca nf love