New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-05
REPUBLICANS AT THE HELM


OF American political sentiment; TOT 10 WIFI
greater length can political charity go thah u
salute with studied and decorous pollteness the
passing OF a President repudiated by his party
Of a leader deserted by his following or an ao-
mInistrator on whose trustceship the stamp "
ignominious failure has been publicly afiSeo'
No President since Johnson. indeed has ever
abandoned office under conditions SO niue pro-
vocativc Of either party sympathy or party con-
dolence as those which Mr.. Cleveland mas hao 10
face. no President since Grant has assumed
power amid more eager acclamations or pleasure
or more fervid expressions Of relief than those
which greeted Major McKiniey's installation to-
day. THE King is dead" has been shouted
with JUNCTION over many departed rulers: but
rarely has the sentiment embodied in this I'M
feeling cry found responsive an echo on our
American CORONATION day" Certainly seldom
before has the companion cry. Long live the
king" been raised with more general cordially
and unaffected fervor
INCOMING AND OUTGOING PRESIDENTS To-
GETHER
Some sense, more or less poignant OF this uni
versal sentiment could hardly fail to steal across
the minds OF the President and President-eect
as they drove side by side this morning through
the cheering throngs which lined the great ave-
nue. from the Treasury Building to the Capitol.
Public men learn early. however. not to carry
their hearts upon their sleeves, and In neither
face could be read the signs OF any buried emo
tons The new President. little pale from his
recent Illness gravely smiles and lifts his hat In
recognition Of the noisy greetings from the al
ready crowded stands and sidewalks. His COM
panion. still nursing the rheumatic govt which
has come to plague his last hours in the Chief
self oIcnr nod nd G.
sve.
1t Is Mr.. Clevelands fourth successive passage
down the long line walled with eager faces.
which stretches from the White House to the
portals OF the Senate. No other President. no
other American. has made that memorable jour
ney so often. and as a stated actor in the 1nau-
Eural drama the retiring Executive may perhaps
he pardoned for his seeming air OF ennui. HOW
wildly however must his mind recall the details
Of those other eventful progresses to the Capito-
with Arthur In 1850 to take his first oath OF Office
under skies az balmy and genial as those OF May.
made as his devoted following fondy believed
at the time to match the brilliancy and promise
OF his own expanding political fortunes again
with Harrison. in 1850. in the driving, peitins
rain of n ptilcss March storm, to surrender the
insignia Of authority TO a victorious rival; once
moro With Harrison in the freezing blasts Of the
blizzard Of 1893. to resume. with added prestige
and confidence his temporarily broken lease OF
power. ,-
The sun shines again to-day as it did In lSSo,
but its Austertzan effulgence floods the poht''
cal pathway OF a new Napoleon to whom he must
in another hour relinquish the great once uhoer
whose weight he has for four years staggered
alorg from one political disaster TO announcer
VIVA. contrasts could he not draw between the
alluring conditions under which the restora-
ton, ~ 1899 was accomplished and the melan-
choIy loneliness which marks his exit from the
chief Magistracy to-day? But to such reiiec-
lions the leisure of country life would perhaps
he more conducive than the rush and hustle OF an
Inauguration Day
ARRIVAL AT THE CAPITOL.
Tho tourney to Capitol Hill, favored by every
condition overhead and underfoot' has run us
course with surprising smoothness ana prompt
ness and already the ratty cavalry escort from
Fort Myer is drawn up In two deep Mes 10 al
low the carriage OF the President and President
elect TO be swallowed up in the porte-cochere
of the Senate wing Of the Capitol
THAT norton Of the Inaugural drama which Is
enacted I'm the Senate chamber Is from q po-
litical point of view wholly incidental ana SUD-
sdary: vet in personal interest and dramatic
effectiveness II easily overshddows any o'h"r
feature OF the days elaborate programme. Not
that the installation If the Vice-President ana
the swearing in of the new Senators VINO nave
appeared to claim their seats at the specia' SEES
sion called for noon on March offer unusua'
spectacular attractions but the minor ceremony
n, the Vice Presidential Inauguration has now
become the fixed starting point for the greater
function on tho Capitol steps. and the Senate
,da1y fnrq 20
official groups and 2ersonages Of distinction who
are to see the Presidential oath administered and
have the sometimes doubtful privilege Of lis
toning to the Inaugural address,
INNOVATIONS INTRODUCED.
As the sole continuing and permanently or
ganized branch Of Congress. the Senate mas III
recent years more and more asserted its prerog-
alive to control and supervise the quadrennial
ceremony OF inducing n new President into or
fce-a prerogative which 1t seems to have sue
ceeded in establishing this year by removing the
scene OF the oath-taking to its own east portico
and excluding the House OF Representatives
fro =, all but a most passive participation in the
exercises there. Another innovation introduced
by the Senate managing committee has been the
cutting down ot the representation OF the Diplo-
matte Corps by two-thrds or three-fourths.
only Ambassadors. Ministers and other actual
heads OF legations being invited to-day to wit
ness the ceremonies in the Senate chamber and
on the pOrtico
This change. whatever may be said OF Its pro-
rriety and justice. had the effect at least OF de-
rriving the pageant at the Capitol Of an undue
share Of that variety and brilliance which it has
heretofore derived from the lavishness and goc-
gocusness Of foreign diplomatic costume With,
however the gayly uniformed chiefs Of the Dplo-
matte Corps. the Major General commanding
the Army the ranking Admiral Of the Navy, the
Governors Of dozen more Staees, the Justices
OF the Supreme Court the Cabinet. the min
ged digni,aries and medocrties of the two
houses of Congress, the Senate floor by II o'clock