The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-03-05
INAUGURAL PAGEANTS.
Nothing Like Them Elsewhere
on Earth.
HONORs TO NEW PRESIDENTS.
The Custom Began During the Nations
Infancy-But Some of the Ceremonies
Were Quite Simple. Notably That of

WASHINGTON, March 8 - Special. =
These inaugural parades have become we'll
established periodical pageants in the re-
public No other nation has anything like
them. Once in awhile the monarchies of
Europe have "a coronation, which is effected
with tremendous pomp and ceremony, but
so far as is known here none of the great
republics, like France and Mexico. einulates
our example in great parades on the occa
sion of inducing into office new pres
dent. The custom of escorting the presi-
dent elect to the place where he takes the
oath of office with troops and marching
companies began with us in the infancy of
the nation When George Washington
drove from Mount Vernon 10 New York TO
become the first president he was not only
given grand ovation along the route. but
he was met in New York by military es-
cort. After taking the oath Washington
| went TO church and gave thanks to Proyi-
dence. In the evening they had fireworks.
Washington also received the members of
congress, a custom which was not followed
| in after years.
| The second time Washington was inau.
/ gurated, at Philadelphia, there was a fine
display of military, and in the evening a
ball was given, the first of long line of
such entertainments in which the ladies
could play part. John Adams was also
inaugurated at Philadelphia with pa
rade, a ball and other demonstrations
This was the last of the inaugurations
away from Washington, for during the
closing days of Adams administration and
just at the beginning of the century the
government was removed to the new CAPT
tai on the Potomac.
jefferson Rode Horseback.
John Adams for some reason or other
which the historians have never properly
explained, failed to do the courteous thing
by his successor. Instead of riding to the
capital with jefferson, Mr.. Adams left
town early in the morning of the inaugural
day. jefferson had intended to ride to the
capitol with a coach and four and expect.
ed Mr.. Adams to accompany him. For
some reason, probably on account of Mr..
Adams departure from the city, the coach
was not at Mr.. Jefferson's lodgings at the
appointed hour, and 50 the president elect
mounted his Virginia mare and rode to
the capitol, hitched her TO the fence, en-
tered che senate chamber and took the
oath OF Office. This ceremony over, he
mounted his mare again, rode back to his
lodgings and held "a reception. There was
a parade on this day, several military COM
Jeiferson's lodgings, but they did not es-
cort him TO and from the capitol There
was no ball at night, but the citizens of
the town, then dirty, struggling village,
Illuminated their houses.
jackson Supplied Punch.
When Andrew Jackson came in the
parade was much the largest that had ever
been seen. His friends were jublant over
his success after his defeat by Adams, and
young Hickory" clubs, which had played
such an important part in the campaign,
descended upon the capital in great mum
bers. Washington was then a town of
$4,000 or $4,000, and its hospitality was
taxed 10 the utmost General jackson
rode his favorite white horse to and from
the capitol and took the oath of Office in
the oron air in the presence of great
multitude. When the crowds reached the
White House, they found that several bar
rels Of punch had been provided for their
entertainment. Many of them became in
toxicated, and the scenes were so unpleas-
ant that on tie occasion of his second in
auguration General jackson left out the
punch. John Quincy Adams initiated his
fathers example and remained away from
the inaugural ceremonies of his successor.
Van Buren, s inaugural parade was much
Harrison came in after the "Tippecanoe
and Tyler, too" campaign excitement was
at fever heat. The parade which escorted
General Harrison to the White House was
the greatest ever seen in Washington up To
that time. The procession was over mile
long. 1t was composed of military socie-
ties, political clubs, trade displays and was
replete with log cabins, live coons, barrels
of hard cider and ingenious reminders of
the hot campaign. The veteran Indian
fighter rode To the capitol at the head of
the procession mounted upon his favorite
war charger. He was barehcaded practi
cally all of the time, and Notwithstanding
the inclcmcncy Of the weather, light
snow falling, he appeared to like it. He
caught cold pleurisy developed and he
died in a month His funeral was the oc-
casion of another great demonstration
Military Enthusiasm.
When the Democrats came back into
power with the election Of Polk over Clay,
they set out to eclipse the Harrison inau
gural record. For the first time in the his
tory of the country large numbers of out
of town military organizations partici-
pated. Baltimore and New York military
clubs were conspicuous in the procession.
One of the latter brought gun with him
and fired it with so much energy and pow
der that 1t broke lot of windows i'm
the public buildings President Tyler held
q reception ut the White House.
The pageant which did honor to the in
auguration of General Taylor was very
picturesque, for it brought to the front
many heroes OF the Mexican war. "Old
Rough and Ready" as the president was
affectionately called, rode to and from the
capitol with President Polk, accompanied
by % great number of Rough and Ready
clubs and many military organizations.
The martial spirit of the times found vent
in the appearance in the parade of a com
pany of boys, well drilled and carrying
guns, the first record of cadets in an in
augural parade. In the evening there
were two inaugural balls. A little more
than year later the funeral of General
Taylor was the greatest pageant ever seen
in the capital. General Scott commanded
the military escort, and the funeral car
was drawn by eight white horses. After !
them came the dead presidents favorite |
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