The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-03-10
THE NEW PRESIDENT.
FORTY THOUSAND PEOPLE HEARD
MCKINLEY'S INAUGURAL.

FORTY THOUSAND PEOPLE HEARD
MCKINLEY'S INAUGURAL.
The New President, Surrounded by Nota-
bles of This and Other Lands, Speaks o.
His Policy Amid Deafening Plaudits-
People Hurt in the Press.
WASHINGTON, March 4.-President
Mckinley pledged his fealty to the
American people on the East terrace
of the Capitol in the presence of a
great multitude. The people massed
on the plaza had waited patiently for
hours 10 see the President, and it was
eminently fitting that he should take
the oath in view of those whose SER
want he was to become. A dazzling
and inspiring scene spread out before
him as he appeared on the steps of the
Senate wing. The background of the
splendid scene was the great marble
building with its classic outlines and
its huge dome, hung with huttering
flags and surmounted by the heroic
bronze statue of liberty, typical, not
of political dynasties, but the enduring
majesty of the people.
In the foreground was the imposing
granite library building, with its beau
tiful architecture and its shining gol.
den dome, rivaling the splendors of
the sun. From the central wing floated
the stars and stripes. Immediately in
front acres of upturned faces were
wedged in so close together that the
broad plaza seemed vast pavement
of human heads. The people extended
back to and choked up the mouths OF
the rad1ating avenue. Through the
naked limbs of the trees which
yelled the park appeared patches OF
brilliant coIor.fragments of the pa.
geant-gay plumes of horemen, gor.
geous squares of resplendent military
bands, streaming pennons, tluttering
banners, thousands of cleaning gun
barrels and glistening bayonets, which
marked the massing of the troops OF
the escorting legions awaiting the
moving of the procession.
The broad platform, smothered with
national flags, on which the ceremony
occurred, was built out into the crowd
in the form of a right angle. Itran
parallel with the Capitol front from
the Senate wing to point directly
opposite the north line of the main en-.
trance, where it bent back sharply to
the main. building. Mr.. Mckinley
faced the park full of people from a
small raised and carpeted platform,
rallied with blood red bunting, at the
apex Of the angle. The square space
at the iuncture of the angle was filled
with ABOUT q thousand kitchen chairs
reserved for the Cabinet officers, Sena
tors, Representatives, members OF the
diplomatic crops, the Supreme Court
and other dignitaries who were entitled
to admission to the floor of the Senate,
and the benches which ran back tier
on tier in both directions were occupied
by those who filled the Senate gale
ries.
Preceded by two military aides.
Mrs. Mckinley and her party emerged
first from the Senate wing and were
escorted to their seats on the platform
| in advance of the procession. Mother
Mckinley and the other members OF
the party were shown seats just in the
rear. The crowd waited fifteen min
utes more before the head OF the pro.
cession proper appeared at the door OF
the Senate wing and tha closely
packed multitude moved and pressed
suddenly forward as if thrilled by an
electric shock. First came Mr.. Will
son, marshal of the District of Colum-
bia, and Mr.. McKenny, marshal OF the
Supreme Court. Following them
came Chief Justice Fuller and Justices
of the Supreme Court, their glossy
black satin robes displaying the curves
of their generous figures. Then the Sen
ate committee on arrangements IN
which the tall spare form and intellec-
tual countenance Of John Sherman, !,
the new premier, was conspicuous.
Then came Mr.. Mckinley and Mr..
Cleveland, arm in arm. Almost in
stantly they were recognized by the
multitude that had been straining for
the first glimpse of them. The univer'
sal shout with which their appearance
was greeted began with a ripple that
ran down the platform, swelling as il
went, until it fell upon the sea OF
faces on the plaza and broke into a
thunderous roar that recoiled from
the dome and rolled away through the
diverging avenues. AS Mr.. McKin-
lev and Mr.. Cleveland descended the
steps and emerged upon the platform,
the formers Napoleonic head was
thrown back and his clear cut, cameo.
like features were softened by the trace
of smile as he advanced along the
platform with a confident air and an
elastic tread at Mr.. Cleveland's side.
Mr.. Cleveland now faced an inaug.
uration audience for the fourth time,
once more than any other President
of the republic. Although he appeared
twenty years older than he did when
he was first inaugurated twelve years
ago, as evidenced by his almost bald
head and the lines which official cares
have chiselled in his rugged face. yet
he never looked better in his life and
his face displayed in no way the fati,
que of the oppressive work OF the past
few days, but his gait was rather slow
and hauling. As they walked down
the platform the yells and shouts be-
came deafening and when they step
ped upon the raised platform, Mr..
Mckinley felt called upon to acknow,
ledge the reception by bowling right
and left.
He then took q seat in the big
| laather chair The OresS against the