The San Francisco call., 1897-03-05

provided. She walked slowly, but bore
herself bravely, and as she came down the
long aisle of the platform the crowd
cheered wildly.
at Ito O'Clock a ringing shout an
nouncec the approach of the Presidential
party. 1t was headed by Marshal Wright
of the Supreme Court and Marshal Wilson
OF the District of Columb ba. Following
them came the members of the Supreme
Court. headed by Chief Justice Fuller,
with Clerk McKenney, carrying the Bible.
Then the committee on arrangements,
and next President Cleveland and Presl-
dent-elect Mckinley. Following these the
other occupants of the Senate chamber,
headed by Vice Presiden. Stevenson and
the Senators, reached the platform and
were seated.
The first feature of tine ceremonial was
the administration of the oath OF office.
The Bible was an immense affair, weigh
ing fully twenty pounds 1t was mag
nifcent specimen Of the typographical and
bookblnders' arts, bound in flexible covers
of black seal. In one of the lids was in
serted silver plate inscribed, civilian
L
Inaugurated March 4, 1897"
The tumult was so great that the cere-
mony was mere pantomime, the words Of
the Chief Justice and President being
wholly inaudible TO those within few
feet of them.
When he arose to read his inaugural i'd.
dress there was great cheer, but when 1T
subsidized the crush and tumult of the rest
less moving crowd was so great that it was
still impossible to hear a word. In the
midst of the confusion President Nc
Klnley read his address staining with
barred head.
The strained relations between the
United States and Spain, growing out of
the rebellion in Cuba, made Mr.. McKin-
ley's utterances on the subject of our
foreign relations of especial significance.
Naturally the most interested member of
the corps was the Spanish Minister. Dupuy
de LONE.
When Major Mckinley arose to speak
he faced an audience that filled the broad
esplanade from B street on the south to B
street on the north, and stretched east
ward like human torrent until it broke
against the white walls of the beautiful
Congressional Library building in the
rear.
Mckinley read his speech from manu-
script. His hat rested by his side, while
his head was thrown back, as is usual
with him when speaking earnestly, and
his fine face, smoothly shaven and intel
ligent, stood out with silhouette distinct
ness against the BACKGROUND formed by
the massive Capitol building He was
dressed in dark colors and wore the badge
presented to him yesterday by Post
masterGeneral Wilson at the request of
the Sigma Alpha Epsilon, the college
fraternity OF which the President is
III member.
address the commotion in the crowd
stilled and McKinley's clear, ringing
voice which has lost none of its resonant
quality since he was last in Washington,
penetrated to great distance from where
he stood. His patriotic declaration that
the institutions of the country must be
preserved and the law OF the land every
where recognized and obeyed evoked
great cheering. The moGt enthusiastic
rece ption was given to the assertion that
in our foreign policy the recognition of
the utmost rights of American citizens
would be insisted upon. Equal almost
was the pleasure expressed at the an
nouncement that he would convene Con-
gress in special session on Monday, the
18th of March, only teg days distant
President Mckinney and ex-President
Cleveland then lett the stand and were
conducted to the room Of the Senate Com
mittee on Naval Affairs, where lun cheon
was spread for them and their immediate
attendants. This unexpected change in
the programme was made so that there
would be no delay in the programme at
the reviewing stand opposite the White
House accompanying the distinguished
guests were the general in command OF
the army, the ranking admiral of the navy
and their aids, General Porter and Rus
sell B. Harrison, his aid, and the com.
mittee of arrangements, consisting of Sem
ators Sherman, Elkins and Mitchell of
Wisconsin. President Mckinley ate SPAR
ingly, his luncheon consisting of corn
beef sandwich, roll, bit of salad and
cup of coffee. The lunch took up half an
hour, after which the party entered car
riages and the procession started on its
way up Pennsylvania avenue. The new
President came from the committee-room
arm-in-arm with the ex-President, Mr..
Mckinley and Senator Sherman each
smoking a cigar. The President and Mr..
Cleveland took the seats assigned them
and the procession began to move up the
avenue.
The grand stand erected on the avenue
front of the White House had been filling
up all the morning with people fortunate
enough to hold the green tickets of admis.
sion. This covered platform was of m ore
elaborate construction than anything ever
attempted before by the inauguration
committee. Its design was classical.
White was the shade throughout from
foundation to roof. A great vestibule.
forming a balcony in the front and center
served to shelter the President and Vice
President while the troops passed in re-
view, although the fineness of the weather
made it unnecessary. Nearly every one
of the 1900 seats for invited guests was oc-
cupied when President Mckinley made
his appearance. A great mass of human
ity was assem- bled and thousands stood
packed a half dozen deep along the side