Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-03-01
IN YEARS GONE BY.
INAUGURATIONs FROM PRESIDENT
wAsHINGT0N's TIME.
CEREMONY n LITTLE CHANGED.
WASHINGTON DEVISED 1T, AND IT
HAS BEEN USED SINCE.
First Inausuratfon Was in New York
John Adams Inaugurnted in
PhfladeIphia-When 4Jeffer-
son Went In-Recent
InauSurntions.

/ washington. Feb 2S-The inauguration
| sof president is a ceremony absolutely
| s5istirctively and uniquely American. Here
| is no despotic seizihg by force of arms
of the governing power; no corona
| tien with tinsel Accomplishments oi
emperor and king forced upon al
unwilling people by the iron law of sue
| oession or monarchical expedieEcy, but in
Contrast the sublime spectacle of a man.
| one of the people yesterday, to-day before
| his peers taking solemn oath to carry out
| their mandates expressed in their con-
stitution and through their representatives,
TO govern their country and his for n short
term of years. and then to relinquish his
great charge at their bidding.
Impressive and beautiful IN its inception,
though the lapse of years has added to its
magniGcence, the grand motive underlying
all of the pomp and ceremony still stands
out in all of the simplicity and with all the
potent meaning that it had in 1889, when
George Washington, the first of the presf-
dents of the United States, bowed his head
in deep emotion over the Bible upon which
he pledged himself TO keep the Union, so
help me God"
When Washington assumed the presiden-
cy, among other duties he was Obliged to
devise the form and ceremonial of an i'll
auguration. Like the other results of his
handiwork, 1t has been found good, and
has endured with little change, and that
SSa!y Sag. IN the nne OF expansion down 10 'h's
Inauguration of Washington.
The general was living quietly at his
home. on beautiful Mount Vernon, when
notified of his election. The seat of govern
dent-elect made the journey TO New York
on horseback, in stage coaches and barges.
The country has never since witnessed
such scenes as attended his progress: in the
country the farmers gathered along the
roadside to greet him; in the towns and
cities PROFESSIONS We're formed to escort
him. and his carriage was dragged by hand
by hundreds of. enthusiastic people. The
City of Brotherly Love. distinguished for
its loyalty in those early days. was lavish
iy decorated. ana Washington, mounted on
a magnificent white charger, rode beneath
triumphal arches and streamers of ever
green. On every side was flung to the
breeze the flag now known as ''Old Glory"
but a new sign in the armament of nations
then. In the Jersey, towns young girls
scattered flowers in his pathway, and
everywhere was the sign of national re-
joicilg.
The hrst president was inducted into his
office in the old Federal building in New
York city. which was then the place of
meeting of the new congress. He himself
laid down the order of exercises. A mill
posry saoppnr plaee oh on i Gherrv m ms
They were all regular United States troops
for the volunteers who had freed their
workshops and laid aside, for time the
tools of war! The president-elect rode alone
in his carriage In the line for there was
no retiring president TO bear him company.
Special committees appointed by congress,
just as the senate does to-day. attended
Mn him into the presence Of the senate, y where h,
Chancellor Livingston. and the. formal
announcement to the multitude assembled
out-of-doors was the signal for general re-
jC.cing and merrymaking that was con-
cluded by display of fireworks at night.
At the date of Washington's second in
1..r1
been removed to Philadelphia, and the cere-
monies We're more elaborate in details. A
great coach drawn by six white horses
of congress on Chestnut street. and WASH
iEgtol himself WAS attired. in the greatest
splepdor. even for those days, in black vel;
buckles and silken hose, with powdered hair
and cooked hat.
Adams and Jefferson.
The first great trial of the stability of
the new REPUBLIC came with the. inaugu-
ration of John Adams, and the result was IL
superb vindication of the. wisdom of its
founders. for it made certain the fact that
Inc h @ geea EN- S o az eight e Years e eouId
cheerfully and willingly surrender the
reins of power into the hands of another;
in Philadelphia, and with similar ceremony.
Then followed another strain upon the
young republican system, for Adams sue
elected by the people, but had been chosen
by the house of representatives after a
bitter contest, in the first exercise OF It's
constitutional power to act in case of tie.
jefferson. the Sage OF Monticello, was
man of plain tastes. He. cared nothing
for forms and ceremonials, and besides
the times were not suited to ostentatious
display with SO much ugly temper and
adverse political feeling abroad in the
land. Again the seat of government had
been moved, this time to its permanent
abode in Washington, and here Jefferson
was inaugurated with simplicity much
to his liking. With very small resident
population and removed from the popu-
lous centers, the number of people that
witnessed his assumption of the presi-
dental office In this day would seem RI
of the surrounding country focked into
the city, and although there were no
great crowds along Pennsylvania avenue,
evidences OF enthusiasm and hearty greet
ing TO the president-eect were not want
ing. A local artillery battery fired salute
at daybreak and COMPANY IIrs OF j., AisSanr exam.
of parading before his house.
Jeffersonian Simplicity.
The president-elect had come into Town
almost unnoticed and alone on horseback
all the way from his estate at Monticello;
not for lack of proffered escort. but be-
cause he preferred that course. The same
simplicity marked his inauguration. Like
Washington he had no retiring president
to escort him to the capitol. but for another
reason; President Adams In n bitter frame
q
Jefferson rode on horseback to the capitol
attended merely by "a number of his party
friends in congress and some leading clti-
zens; with his own hands he hitched MS
horse at the eastern entrance and made his
way into the senate chamber, now occupied
by the supreme court. out OF the regular
order the new vice president, Mr.. Burr,
had been previously sworn in and seated.
He surrendered his chair to Mr.. Jefferson.
who received the oath at the hands of
Chief Justice Marshall and delivered his
rtsal aad n a NJ
gress. Throughout the proceedings Mr.
jefferson wore his boots and spurs, but no
uniform. An artillery salute announced
the accession to Office and the president
his first day in office by a leyee
and popular reception at the White House.
A peculiar feature of Jefferson's Inaugural
tion was the celebration of the event in
other cities. notably In philadelphia, where
the display far exceeded that in the capital.
Madison and Monroe.
that of President Madison. Ten thousand
people, a great crowd for Washington, In
those days. gathered on the eastern ter
race of the capitol. and the militia forces,
as well as the United States regular troops,
formed the nucleus of the procession. A
troop of cavalry escorted the president
elect from his home to the capitol and
after the ceremonies there were concluded
salyos of artillery fire announced the event
and nine militia companies formed guard
of honor in the march to the White House
He was perhaps the originator of the
.'home market agitation, for he made 1t a
point TO wear suit of clothing made en-
tireiy of American wool. This inauguration
also concluded with a reception in which
ex-President Jefferson was a. prominent
figure. l.t=-
the question as to the right of the senate
or the house of representatives TO conduct
the inaugural ceremcnies-a question since
settled in favor of the senate. In a spirit
OF overcautiousness he gave notice several