Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-03-11


chamber, where seats had been assigned
them. The justices OF the supreme court
OF the United States. robed in silk gowns
occupied front row Of chairs TO the
right of the presiding officer. Behind
them, in their order OF precedence, en-
tered the diplomatic corps, all OF whom
except the representatives of the Swiss
and South and Central American repub-
lies, were respondent In official uniform,
and adorned with the insignia OF deeora--
tons conferred. Among the crowds of
visitors In the gallery were Nine. Yang
Yu, wife of the Chinese minister. accom-
panied by MIR. SEE and a number OF la
dies, and the former Queen Liliuokalani.
The presidential family party was seated
in the east reserved gallery. Mrs Mckin-
ley, accompanied by her sister TOOK q
front seat, reserved for her. She smiled
frequently as she surveyed the crowd.
Following came his venerable mother,
| Mrs Mckinley.
The vice president-elect Mr. Hobart.
| entered from the right door, bowed slight
! ly to the standing senators and officials
and stepped 70 the seat near the presid-
| ing officers desk.
When. promptly at noon, ex-President
| Cleveland and President Mckinley entered
| the chamber, the whole assemblage arose
| to receive them as they took the seats OF
| honor set apart for them. Mr.. Hobart
| advanced TO the desk, raised his right
hand and took the oath in accordance with
| the constitution Mr.. Stevenson then de-
| livered his brief valedictory address. Mr..
| Hobart now advanced TO the presiding
chair and for the first time exercised his
| official functions by calling the senate to
| order. He then moved aside for the blind
| chaplain OF the senate, Rev DR.. Milburn,
| who, in impressive tones delivered the
! first invocation TO the new senate. As the
| chaplain closed, Nice-President Hobart
| addressed the senate for the first time.
speaking in strong, well-modulated tones.
| The proclamation of the outgoing Pres
ident, calling an extra session of the SEN
ate, having been read, Vice-President Ho-
| bart requested the new senators to ad-
vance and take the oath OF office. While
! the oaths were being administered Mr..
| cleveland and Mr.. Mckinley sat talking
| in a low tone. 1t was clearly most
agreeable change. for they smiled now
and then as they nodded acquiescence to
! each other,
been administered. and then the formal
! exit began, the supreme judges going first,
| then Mr.. Cleveland and President Nc
Knley, and the other officials following.
| Airs. Mckinley and the mother of the
| President were escorted from the gallery
! TO the east front of the capitol. where
the oath OF Office was to be taken by
! Mr.. Mckinley.
a dazzling and inspiring scene spread
| before President Mckinley as he appear
! "a on the steps of the senate wing to
| take the oath and deliver his inaugural.
| Immediately in front, acres Of upturned
| faces were wedged i'm so close together
! that the broad plaza and radiating ave-
nues seemed a vast pavement of human
! heads. Through the limbs of the trees
| which yelled the park. appeared patches
OF brilliant color--fragments of the pa
geant-gay plumes of horsemen, gorgeous
squares of respondent military bands,
streaming pennons, huttering banners,
! thousands Of cleaning gun barrels and
glstening bayonets which marked the
massing of the troops of the escorting
legions awaiting the moving Of the pro
cession.
while Chief Justice Fuller in his flowing
robes administered the oath in the pres
ence of that tremendous multitude. The
new President kissed the large, gilt-edged
Bible presented by the bishops of the
African Methodist church. to seal his
oath. With yells and shouts the people
continued TO roar Holding the manu-
script of his inaugural in one hand, he
turned to the multitude of people and
lifting up his hand, as If in admonition
for order began his inaugural address.
Mr. Cleveland, with his silk hat on his
hands resting on his umbrella, listened at
tentively to every word Mr.. Mckinley's
tones We're clear and ringing. As he con-
Guided the impressive words of his adj
dress, the multitude again cheered and the
cannon in the distance roared as the sig
nal office on the roof of the capitol flashed
the signal over the city.
A delay after Mr.. Mckinley had de-
livered his inaugural occurred, owing to
for him TO partake Of lunch at the cap
itol before resuming the procession back
to the White House. AS President Nc
kinney and Mr.. Cleveland. arm i'm arm,
emerged from the capitol after their lunch
the cavalry buglers sounded a salute.
the troopers came 10 present arms. and
catch a glimpse OF the new President.
Cheer on cheer went up. Mr.. Mckinney
took the rear seat on the left with Mr..
Cleveland beside him on the right ON
the front seat were Senator sherman
mufIled i'm a fur collar. and Senator
Mitchell. OF Wisconsin. Marshal Porter
gave the word TO advance, the troopers
swung into company front, followed by
the presidential carriage. 1t was one con-
tinuous ovation from the start. The Presi-
dent raised his hat time and again, bow
smiling naknny(i nmRnfG
From windows, roofs and trees rang con-
tinuous cheers while flags and handker-
chiefs were waved i'm demonstrative greet
ing. Mr., Mckinley, seeing that his sa-
lutes were continuous. at last sat. bare
headed, hat in hand. waving acknowledge
msnt TO the multitude. At the peace mon
tment the brilliant escort and the presi-
Dental rartv swung into the broad ave-
nue. and took its course along the crowded
thoroughfare to the executive mansion.
Looking from the head of the line at
the Peace monument toward the treas
ury and white house, a mile and half
away was like gazing into a broad can
yon whose high walls were mass of men,
women and flags. The buildings, low and
high, plain and stately, were almost con-
Jealed from view by the spectators, and
these, in turn, were as thickly covered
with streamers, banners and bunting,
waving I'm light or woven into countless
forms of beauty, as are autumnal woods
with the glories OF autumn. And every
where, in those woods, was coloring
of gold twined with the banners to sug-
basis for decoration, the inaugural COM
mittee distributed 5000 national flags TO
all on the line of march who would use
them i'm their windows. SO great was
their demand that there would have been
100000 used If they had been provided
over the 'rlumphal way. and honored
by tile magnificent preparations and the
presence and thunderous applause OF I'M
ending crowds. President Mckinley was
escorted TO the White House, whence he
soon proceeded to the stand in front of IL
TO review the imposing columns Of march
ing thousands which had followed him
from the capitol eliciting at every step
unbounded admiration and wild acclaim,
which, at intervals drowned the music Of
their bands. The presidents reviewing
stand occupied two-thirds of the front of
the White House grounds. IL was "A sol
idly built and finished structure careful
ly designed and tastefully decorated The
background was white, the columns were
twined with green and the national col
ors in floating colors and woven and
draped designs were the chief ornament
The stand seated l00. The president
stood in a projecting area, shielded by
glass. The audience was notable in all
It's elements. The official life of the naticn
was fully represented. The ambassadors
and ministers of all nations honored the
occasion. The political magnates Of both
parties had seats. The families of these
various dignitaries were present I'm force
and the press Of the land was numerous
v and ably represented.
The parade was famous column nOta-
bly commended. Gen. Horace Porter.
grand marshal, at its head. recalled to all