The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1897-03-20

surging waves Of sound gave way to
still more impressive silence. He looked
out upon Il wonderful scene The
steps. the balconies and every pro-
lection of the capitol front and the
dome were crowded. The front of the
library swarmed with people. From
every street and avcnuc looked for
ward toward the capitol projected
groups of llorScmen and the heads of
columns awaiting orders to march:
and everywhere Shining banners
waved.
The Oath Administered.
Maj. Mckinley. standing on a raised
platform. was readily distinguished.
and those who could not hear We're
well content to see. There was uni
vcrsal silence as the black robrd JUS
tice of the supreme our administered
the solemn oath which made William
Mckinley president of the United
States. Then the seal of silence was
broken by the reign Of sound. deep.
swelling, all-peryading. dominating. as
if a Surging sea We're rolling over the
land before the driving Of 4 king OF
storms. AS the many bands joined tho
mighty acclaim. the organized columns
marched into place. the grand review
was in motion, and the currents of hui
manity began to follow toward the
lines of it's march. Moving promptly
in from all streets and avenues, cen
tering IN the park east of the capitol.
the column of parade was quickly
formed along the spacious plaza cX-
tending in front of the house and SEN
ate wings and the central buildings.
The new president entered his carriage
and the column, circling the great
white temple of the nation, in and
about which the tribes had gathered
with patriotic purpose, passed down
through it's beautiful grounds, and
wheeling into Pennsylvania avenue at
the Peace monument, where its real
march began. Looking from the head
of the line at the Peace monument to-
ward the treasury and the White House
a mile and a half away, was like gaZ-
ing into Il broad canon whose high
walls We're Il mass of men, women and
flags. AS a basis for decoration the
inaugural committee distributed $4,000
national flags to all on the line of
march who would use them in their
windows. SO great was the demand
that there would have been 100000
used if they had been provided. Upon
such a background, each individual
owner builded and wrought out such
forms of beauty as his enthusiasm and
his patriotism suggested. First was
the clean swept floor of the wide ave-
nue. rOped in throughout it's length, and
clear of every object ave the lining OF
police. The wide pavements on either
side throughout the line of march
were packed. Every window and cor
nice had it's full quota of spectators,
and so upward to fringes of neil along
the edges of the roofs, every available
point of observation was crowded to
its capacity. The great stands which
lined all the parks and reservations
We're beautifully decorated. Thus was
removed the former effect of the barn
like structures of rough lumber which
have heretofore married all attempts at
a comprehensive decoration of the ave-
nue. Over such triumphal way, and
thus honored by magnificent prepare
tions and the presence and
Thundcrous Applause
Of %unending crowds. President Nc
Kinley was escorted to the White
House. whence he soon proceeded to
the stand in front of it to review the
imposing columns of marching thou
sands which had followed him from
the capitol, eliciting at every step un-
bounded admiration. and 81 wild ac-
claim. which, at intervals drowned the
music Of the bands. The presidents
reviewing stand occupied two-thirds of
the front of the White House grounds.
The president stood in a projecting
was notable in all its elements. The
official 1ifo oe tho r0fiOn xx-o fully rom
resented. The ambassadors and min
listers Of all nations honored the &C.
casion. The political magnates of
both parties had seats. The parade was
n famous column. notably commanded.
Gen. Horace Porter, grand marshal, at
it's head, recalled to all veterans the
campaigns of Grant, his chief. Follow
ing his numerous and brilliant staff,
upon which the sOns of Presidents
Grant, Hayes, Garfield. Arthur and
Harrison were prominent figures, came
Gen. Granville NJ. Dodge, commanding
the first grand division, which en-
braced all the military organizations of
the parade.
The many glories of the day We're
eclipsed by the brilliancy of the vari-
GUS night displays. The decorations of
the ball room have not been equalled
before. 1t is certain that they have
not been approached in this country.
Those who have attended noted fetes
abroad insist that they have not been
anywhere excelled. The fireworks and
the street Examinations have not been
equalled in the past, and the enter
tainment for the thousands who could
not attend the ball was varied and
ample.
Never before was an administration
launched upon it's unknown future with
more impressive or enthusiastic DEM
O%nstratiOn.
The lights are out in the ball room;
the flags no longer CLEAN against the
darkness of the sky; the city lights
burn low; the wild acclaim of the null
titudes is stilled; after a day Of fer
vent patriotic emotion the national cap
ital sleeps.
With the sunrise the new administra-
ton, which all our clans have united
to welcome. stripped itself for the
countless tasks which will test. its
strength.