The record-union., 1897-03-05
William Mckinley Takes the Oath
as President
Garrett A. Hobart PreSideS Over the
United States Senate.
The Inauguration a Non-PGtiSan Demonstra-
ton Of Vast Proportions.
American People, Without Regard 10 Section or POIl-
cal Alliance Hall the New Chief EXGGQ-
tive Of the Nation.

WASHINGTON, March At has
been day of acclaim-a non-partisan
demonstration of vast proportions, by
which the American people, without re-
gard to section or political alliance, have
hailed new President and watched the
launching of his Administration upon
unknown seas. 1t is the only day in any
Presidents career when, from sunshine
to the putting out of lights in the inau-
gural ballroom, there is unbroken and
enthusiastic celebration by citizens of
every section and every shade of polit-
ical belief.
Before readers scan these pages the
line of the opposition will be forming
in the gray of the morning for assault
on the new Administration, but for the
one day the people of all ranks and
classes and politics, as if uttering a ma
tion's laundering voice, have welcomed
and aided TO install their President, not
as the Executive of any party, but as
the head of the National Government.
1t has been a great state affair. not in
its broadest sense a tribute to the man,
but natinoal demonstration of respect
for the high office.
The weather was appropriate for such
a day. gloriously beautiful.
No previous Inauguration has equaled
it in careful preparations In every feat
ure outside the Capital jurisdiction. ex-
cept the visiting delegations, it is a
Washington affair." 1t is the only ma
tional administration in which the un-
represented residents of the Capital are
the leaders and in sole control They
guarantee all expenditures by public
subscriptions, and, through a large and
energetic committee of its most infiuen-
tial citizens, Washington gives months
of time and unremitting effort to these
preparations for properly receiving a
President. On this occasion Washing
ton has well played her brilliant part in
the opening drama of an administration.
The city was early astir. Its own
population and the strangers within it's
gates moved in great tides from all
quarters toward Pennsylvania avenue
to view the decorations. Hours before
the organized columns passed over the
line Of march. an army Of visitors, closed
in mass, far exceeding the formal array
that was to follow. swarmed for hours
over it. The citizens of every grade
and station. in most dramatic fashion.
took first view of everything. After this
general inspection by the people came
their two servants, numerously and gal
lantly attended.
Mr.. Cleveland. whose stewardship
was ending, escorted Major Mckinley
to the Capitol, where the honors and
burdens of the succession We're to be
laid upon him. Meantime from every
quarter came the sounds Of bands lead
ing the columns into their appointed
places east of the Capitol whence later
they would file into the united lines
of the grand parade. Great streams Of
citizens poured into the immense spaces
open to them eastward from the re-
viewing stands in front OF the Senate
wing awaiting the appearance of the
official party from the Senate cham
ber. In and about that room the off,
cial pageant OF the inaugural cere-
monies gathered. The Senate wing was
closed TO all except those formally con-
nected with the exercises and the few
invited guests which the contracted
chamber could accommodate. Four
tickets to each Senator, two for a Rep
resentative. twenty as the sole provis-
ion for the leading employees, and 200
for the press of the entire county.
Those crowded the galleries and looked
down on the concentrated representa-
tives of our Government in it's various
branches and the ambassadors and
Ministers of the nations. The members
OF the defunct House of Representa-
tives. leaving their chamber at noon,
appeared last upon the floor of the
Senate.
The new President took the oath of
office. new Senators were sworn in.
and until the waiting President-elect
should proceed to the platform in front
of the Senate and there be inaugural
ed, Mr.. Hobart would be acting Presi-
dent
The nation could furnish no more i'm
posing official audience. Crowded up
on the small floor of the Senate and
the three coordinate branches Of the
Government, in the persons OF then
most prominent men; the legislative
branch in force, the Executive of the