Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-05
THE INAUGURATION STORY.
Details of the Mckinley Induction
Into Office

A'-fN' AN4Ns ~ Alss MdIEn fs-N IL
liam Mckinley, OF Ohio. was to-day in
stalled as President of the United States
Tor the term of four years. continuing
until March 4, 1901, and Grover Cleveland,
Tor the second time, passed from the ex-
ercise OF the high Office of President. and
re-entered private fife. In his capacity as
eN-President he has but one living con-
temporary his immediate predecessor,
Benjamin Harrison All the others who
within the last thirty years, by election or
succession, have presided over the desti-
MES of the great American republic-Lin-
coin, Johnson, Grant Hayes, Garfield. and
Arthur-have joined the silent majority.
incidental to the actual assuming Of the
Office of President, and slightly preceding
II In point Of time, Garret A. Hobart. OF
New Jersey Ga gentleman not heretofore
prominent in national politics.. took the
odtn OF Office as ice-President Of the
United States. and was installed as ex
oh1cio presiding officer Of the Senate.
The proceedings of the day were charac-
terized by all the imposing spectacular ef-
fects and demonstrations of popular in
terest which have become q growing fea-
ture Of inaugural ceremonies, as the ma
tion has advanced in population and
wealth. Between forty and fifty thousand
iAtu UllitQ lil IfOttcSlDlls IiINlg lllllLdl
partly civic, and escorted the President
and the President-elect to and from the
Capitol. At least twenty thousand people
witnessed the administration Of the oath
Of Office on the eastern portico Of the
Capitol and listened. or attempted to lis
ten to the delivery Of the new Presidents
brief inaugural address, and at night n
gorgeous State ball, at which the Presi-
dent and Vice-President were present
closed the proceedings.
The graceful interchange Of courtesies
between the outgoing and incoming Off
cials. which has only twice been intermt-
ted-once when bluff John Adams packed
his gripsack and slipped out Of the White
House at daylight on the 4th Of March TO
avoid shaking hands with his hated Fede-
ralist successor the illuStrious Jefferson
and once within living memory, when
General Grant. because of his strained
personal relations with Andrew Johnson,
drove in his buggy from the old War De-
partment to the Capitol. accompanied only
by General John A. Rawlins. his chief-of-
staff-WeTe on this occasion exercised TO
the full extent Mr.. Cleveland and Mr.
Mckinley rode side by side TO and from
the Capitol. They had dned together at
the White House the day before. ana they
lunched in each others company on the
day in which they tra n3ferred the govern
ment Of this great nation the one 10 the
other. An additional air Of cOrdiality was
infused into the proceedings by the SINH
larity between the views entertained by
the retiring President and his Cabinet on
financial questions and those upon which
the successful candidate Of the Repubh-
can party was elected. Mr. Cleveland, IN
truth. felt more qualification probably in
installing at the Capitol as his successor
the leader OF an opposing political party
that he would have had in escorting under
Ike circumstances the leader chosen by
his own political associates as their candi-
date for the presidency. This innovation
on the usually closely-drawn partisan lines
of American politics gave added piquancy
to the proceedings.
THE WEATHER.
Repeated. but unsuccessful. efforts have
been made Of late years to change by
legislation the date of the Inauguration
ceremony to a later period of the season,
so as 10 avoid the uncertainties and fire.
ouent inclemencies Of climate which pre-
vail In Washington in the early part Of
March. In 1863, when President Grant
was inducted into office for the first
time the weather was so bitterly cold
that the soldiers froZe at their posts, and
many Of the participants in the pro-
ceedings subsequently died from the di-
rect effects Of the exposure to which
they were subjected Garhelds inaueu-
ration-day was ushered I'm by an early
morning snow-storm, which, however,
melted rapidll in the subsequent sun
shine. BENJAMIN Harrison rode to the
White House in a cold and drenching
rain. worse TO endure than snow. and
delivered his address. bareheaded, in the
omen air at the peril of his life, to an au-
dience hidden under a forest Of UNI
brelas.
For eighty years. ever since 1871 when
James Monroe the eighth President or
the United States, initiated the practice
il has been the almost unbroken Gus
tom for the Chief Justice Of the United
states TO administer the oath Of office
10 the President-elect i'm the open alr'
the high participating officials standing
ON n platform erected in front Of the
eastern portico of the Capitol Ihls
rule has occasionally been deviated from
when q President was reelected 10 sue
coed himself. or when a Nice-PresluehI
has succeeded TO the oihce, through 1l0
death of the President. There was one
other notable exception, in the case ol
President Hayes. His inaugurauoh-uaS,
falling on Sunday, and there Delng sun
unsettled questions as TO the ValidlN VI
his title, he, out OF aDuhoaht PTS,',.o
tton took the oath Of office in the White
House on the day before he delivered
his inaugural address. These estapilsh-
ed al fresco features Of the proceedings
necessarily caused those entrusted win
the arrangements Of to-day's cereHohie9
- look forward with some anxiety 10
tbe weather conditions. Severe blzzalos
a., Tho evtreme West in the latter part
80 I,obruarv had made their effects tell
a. como extent in the national capital
a,,d bad caused alarm for Inauguration
- Ruf after q slight snow-nurry Oh
t,~I,1o,, last and a freezing speh lo'
so,,eral days following, the weather. con
.o,,noro roneouslv with Major MchHiles
s,ri,,ol i'm Washington, took on the pIe"-
santest of spring aspects, lne ~ .ne, NO.
tor ranging betkeen % anu streets
and balmy sunshine batnihs lno 5oco-
and lighting up the gayy-colo,o the
rotions with which every hOuso ~ -
president-elects line OF prosieSS
emblazOned. 80. followed by
nrfect March day, clear cool e''5p,
q, ltooratlng with bright sunshine "'''
49, cIowds 90 enliven the scent
THE DECORATIONS.
,,, a.co,ations Of the city were ex-
ceedingIy effective, with one hol"Di' ~
.iao That was the Treasury De
.,l.,.,,,,ent the majestic lines OF wn,cn
p.H pa disdeured. i'm violation of all rules
" ,aete Each Of the graceful nuteu
,.,,s,re of the eastern facade on
eOIr, o.,h street was partially swaddled III
e,rired pantalettes, falling short OF III.
..oSiments. exactly after the iasnion
sn.t-n,.Io SANS" trousers, as depic'Vu "
- co,nic napers. and over the eh'aDia
-. az each end, and also over the in'
1-..a., entrance, the shield and easie u