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

ten and all interest In a change In the inaugural
calendar has died away. On a town. too, like
Washington, with less than 100000 white inhab-
itants. the quadrennal irrupton of 100000 eager,
bustling sghtseers imposes burdens to which no
spirit Of hospitality, however eager and cordial.
can adequately arise. Some measure OF hard
ship may therefore have fa.'en to the lot OF many
Of the weary tat still Jubant and good-natured
visitors. uniformed or ununiformed. who fill the
streets and avenues Of the Capital tonight
GREATER CROWDS THAN EVER BEFORE.
Yet, with all its drawbacks and discomforts,
the great spectacle Of the peaceful transfer from
one President to another Of a power greater
than that perhaps committed to any other con-
stitutional or autocratic ruler in the world still
holds Its interest and fascinatons for larger
and larger circle Of American citizenship. Great
er crowds saw President Mckinley installed to-
day in office than have witnessed the Inaugural
tion OF any Of his predecessors Four years and
eight years hence. no doubt, still greater multi
tudes will gather here tn enjoy and profit by
what cannot fail to be a similarly attractive
object-lesson in the play OF the great forces OF
our National political life In variety. interest
and picturesqueness the sights Of Inaugural
ticn day should indeed repay the most fastid-
icus curiosity seeker The well-ordered drama Of
a Presidential installation, through which move
In dignifed procession one and all OF the con-
trolling figures in National politics.: the Pres-
Dental partys drive in state down Pennsylva-
MIA ave. TO the Capitol the scene in the Senate.
where within four narrow walls are assembled
the retiring President, the President-eect. the
outgoing and incoming Vice Presidents; the Cab
iret. the Supreme Court, the Diplomatic Circle.
the membership Of the two houses of Congress.
all the personal forces which control and operate
the Federal mecharis,n the ceremony Of the
oathtaking on the east portico of the Capitol, in
the view OF the thousands OF spectators who
crowd the asphalted plaza: the joint military
ard civic parade. which for hours fills the great
avenue with color sound and motion; the pleas
ures and excitements Of the huge inaugural ball;
ali the panoramic effects Of great popular fes-
tiva! set against the never-faillnS background
OF the natural beauty with which Washington
at all seasons clothes herself-these and similar
satisfactions must sink deep into the mind and
memory of every intelligent and observant visi-
tor.
IN JEFFERsoN's TINE AND NOW.
In their overwhelming elaboration and in.
creasing gorgeousness OF trappings the cere-
monies of modern inaugurations have simply
followed the inevitable trend OF modern taste
and customs; yet in their spirit and sentiment
they are Enthusiastically democratic now as
when. just ninety-sx years ago to-day, Thomas
Jefferson the exeinplar OF democratic SIM
pcity" tied his legendary horse to the legend
ary Capitol fence. AS matter Of fact. Jeffer-
sons Journey to the Capitol to take the oath OF
office was made even more simply and unos-
tentatiousy. Walking from a neighboring
boarding house to the still unfinished Senate
Chamber. he mounted to the Vice-Presidents
dais, and there, seated between his two bitter
est and most inveteratc political enemies. Aaron
Burr and John Marshall, assumed the burdens
and responsibilities Of executive power Proha-
bly, 300 400 people followed the delivery Of
that celebrated first inaugural which for a
hundred years has been counted the sheet
, anchor Of Democratic theory and policy. and
the new President, after the address was fin
shed returned TO his lodgings In as modest
state he had left them an hour before.
Over 100000 people have taken part to-day in
the inaugural exercises which have put in JEFF
ferson's seat a man OF quite as simple tastes
and unaffected bearing the Sage OF Month
cello while the scope OF the modern Inaugural
tion programme has been widened from a single
ceremony Of perhaps thirty minutes. to a series
Of public functions covering all the day and
half the night. Yet the feelings underlying to-
days celebration have been as unforced. as
popular, as democratic, rs any that could have
inspired the inauguratons OF the. earlier days
OF the Republic.
Az mere civic military spectacle. an
American Inauguration. even with its most
modern settings cannot hope TO rival the splen-
dors Of the coronation of an Emperor or Car.
Its significance and suggestiyeness lie beneath
the surface; where perhaps only the instructed
Imagination can read the lessons Of National
confidence sobriety and self-control told by the
easy and frictioness passage fro m one agent TO
another, or from one party to another. of a po-
ltlcal power as comprehensive and vast-reach-
ing as any the world now knows. BY virtue of
very genuine democratic instinct the American
Inauguration remains a popular rather than a
military or governmental function. 1t has it's
minor crudities. its simplicites its vulgaritles.
perhaps; yet those are the very ear-marks OF it's
democratic qharacter-ear-marks which a we'll
grounded Amercanism may well hope 1t may
never lose.
A DISTINCTLY AMERICAN SPECTACLE.
American optimism and light-heartedness crop
out as readily In politics as In any other kindred
field OF National activity and each recurring In
augurat ation ceremony serves to demonstrate the
! essential good feeling which lies beneath the
seeming ocerbity and passion OF our political
str,fea The same gayety Of spirit the same
serenity Of temper with which public opinion
| welcomed the coming and sped the parting
| President four years ago have disclosed them
selves at every turn and winding In to-days
vast but orderly political pageant. II anything.
| the farewell greeting 10 the retiring Chief Mag
istrate was noticeable for greater coldness. ana
| that to the Incoming one for an unusual warmth
| and fulness OF satisfaction and confidence. fet
/ Continued second Page.