The morning times., 1897-02-28

aInDltlOil, ana dnULneE Will SUcp from tne
highest office in the gift of the American
people TO the oblivion OF private life.
The first of these is William Mckinley;
the other Grover Cleveland. Once in
every four years the pomp of power
finds stupendous illustration in Washing
ton. The transition which takes place
on Inauguration is marvellous in its import
anCe. Yet is accomplished i'll a manner
which is simple enough, and when one
comes TO see it all there is nothing that
shakes the nerves. 1t is the day when all
stand on level just as much as on cleo
ton day, for all can, if they will, see "a
man resign the Presidency and become a
citizen-ordinary, in the patriotic sense
OF the word. They can see another man
step upon the stage OF state, and hear him
speak AMI gaze upon him in the full glare
OF the footlightS-while the lime-light OF
public opinion is turned full upon him.
1t is sometimes the case that the out
going occupant of the White House conceals
the Disappointment of defeat That is a
time which tries one mans soul at least.
In the year 1897 however, there will be
no reason for bitterness. 1T is whispered
that the present occupant Of the White
House viii, taking all things into con-
sideration, feel none of the regret that
the representative of his party might
legit:mately confess to. SO 1t will prob
ably bee that the meeting OF Mr.. Nc
Kinley and President Cleveland for that
will be their relation when they first come
together March 4-will be that of two
men who cherish none but the Eindest
feelings toward one another.
Added to the throngs Of those who have
arrived simply to see the sights Of the city
and the pageant of the days of days, is a
thIolg OF individuals who are in full cry
for the Offices. Every office has an appli'
cant already. There are hundreds here,
hoping, praying and ready to beg for the
shoeS in which some of tie office-ho olders
OF the Cleveland administration aIe already
shaking. There are few indeed, who dc
no. believe that success viii ultimately be
theirs Old-timers are looking forward
to the burning days of August, when the
would-be officials Will realize yividly
but sadly that many are called but few are
chosen.
There is one matter which overShadows
all else-the weather VIII it be like Gen.
Grants second inauguration, when the
coffee froze in the cups? Or are we all
er is an unfailing topic of conversation
1t is Of most serious import. Freezing
weather, rain or snow-any but the first,
means that the great Inauguration day
parade will resemble the bedraggled ap-
pearance of the wet hen. Some have II
that Ma. or Mckinley has never been a
harbinger of stormy weather, and that,
consequently, we may all expect smiling
sky and genial warmth on the day when he
takes the oath.
The ball will be held Thursday night
and five inaugural grand concerts will be
given in the ballroom on the following Fri
day. The first concert Will be given at
1920 a. m in honor of the army, repre-
sented by Gen. Miles and staff. The Re
publican Glee Club. Of Columbus, Ohio,
viii sing a number of patriotic airs. AT z
D. m a concert will be given in honor of
the navy, represented by Rear Admirals
Walker and Ramsey. and at night the CON
cert will be given in honor of the States,
represented by the governors of the States
and their staffs. The concert Saturday aft
ernoon will be in honor of Congress. repre-
sented by the President of the Senate and
the Speaker Of the House. The last con-
cert, on Saturday night, will be in honor
OF the United States, and will consist OF
music by the Twenty-second Regiment band
and chorus Of 800 voices.
Major Mckinley. it is expected, viii
reach Washington March /. Technically.
he is still private citizen. and therefore
his conduct must be regulated by the rules
which govern others.
Perhaps, all things considered, 1t might
be more convenient for him to go to the
White House at once and begin to become
accustomed to his place of residence for
the ensuing four years. This would not be
| so awkward as might be imagined, for the
furniture which MT Cleveland and his
family have been TEN mporary possessors of
belongs to the government, and therefore
Mr. Mckinley and his family will fall
| heir TO all that the White House contains
! This is why Mr.. Mckinley might feel per
| fectly at homo. But official etiquette re
quires that he shall be purely and simply
| visitor to the White House until he is
vested with the right to become its Off
| cial resident
| SO the McKinleys will go to the Ebbitt.
| If there is any visiting at the Executive
Mansion it will take place so quietly
| that few persons will know ito Between
| II and IL O'Clock on March 4, however,
Major Mckinley will proceed alone to the
| White House, where he will he formally
| welcomed by Mr.. Cleveland These two
| will chat for a moment or two, and then
| President Clevtland's carriage not GOV
| ernment conveyance, but his own equi-
| page will appear at the White House
| entrance The President and his successor
| will enter the carriage and be driven tt
| the Capitol where the oath of office will
| be administered by Chief Justice Fuller
| 1t must not be supposed that the chief
| Justice must administered this oath eN officio
| for any other person might perform the
| function Neither is there any particular
| Bible upon which the President places his
| hand in taking the oath. On both occa-
sions when Mr.. Cleveland was inaugurated
| the Bible used was that belonging to his
| mother, wGll-worn little volume, on the
| fly-leaf of which was written the dates
| of the two events in which it took so
| prominent part.
| Sometimes the oath is administered upon
the portico of the Capitol, on the east side
| but that is not a matter of necessity. -Four
| years ago President Cleveland took the Ca.h
in the Senate Chamber. However that ma J
| be, the first step taken by Mr. Mckinley to
| carry ont the final program Of his accession
| to the Presidency, will be the taking of the
| oath. Then he win walk to the front of the
! portico and the thousands that gaze upon
| it will hear the new President enunciat,
the principles which are to govern the con
| duct of his office. 1t is a declaration which
| thousands of ears are strained to hear
| which hundred wires speed to the utter
most parts Of the nation; which will answer
| a dozen questions that for weeks have beer