The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-03-05
INAUGURAL ADDRESSES.
Those which Were Delivered by
Presidents in the Past.

Thero a. a TRADITION, ,,ti,t In, ,,cn, or,,s
| :, -. -,
'a''Neu III ii" "i'"i''' Jaw requiring 'Ho
president who takes the oath Of office TO
| deliver an inaugural address to the peoule
| ,yhoeo o,iof ,no,istrato be 10 IN ho ,rbis
| S"'tVI'I' uVNun ny Neoise ""slilnst"'l' hds
never been broken nor has there been
| tbroush the history NJ the Government any
,,,,,. ,,,,r...
| "'"N N'i' Viva )" 'u' N''a'"''S' vi 'pe
| speeches with which presidents have be
| gun their official service.
/, ,,.o f,,t,,ro.. ,,.r,,, ON ot Tho osd..s,,os
. $50 " Wv
nave peeh cast III the same inoid, Tor al
/ ost without exception they have been be-
Gun win an introdrctorv sot,,,.,co oy,res.
i"S III A"''e ioi'ii 'he h'a'''uue Vi inc preS'-
dent for the high honor which the people
have conferred upon him. and they buye
cnd,1 h,, al, i,,.o,o+io,, -, "a, ,,.,, %, a..
" va Wv "''P VI Wv
.,"Pr'nie Being IN performing the dutt $ OF
We ONCE lhe oody OF the address has
Varlel according to the spirit OF the times
III Whlch II mas been made. The inaugural
speeehes OF the ilrst presidents. those who
served turing the FIRST quarter century of
the government, were largely treaties upon
a republican form OF government, contrast
ing the peace and prosperity which IL gave
10 me leople OF the United States with The
wars which We're disturbing the monarchies
OF Europe, and rrasng the balance between
the Federal authorities and the States Sc
cured hv the constitutions.
In later years, particularly since the.
war of the republic. the presidents have
given themselves to the discussion Of
absorbing current issues. and judged by
the standards of the 'aOre modern al
dresses those of the old school style. Il
Pa rad ifrlN /
GUS ami academic The inaugural ut
tcrances of the presidents have rarely
been tiuged with craftsmanship, and they
| have not often been the most importe~--
official utteraEces of the men who have
spoken them. With he notable excep-
tion of lincon's second inaugural ad-
dress the inaugurals are not held in the
FIRST rank of state popcrs. either by their
| rhetorical or political worth. The whole
of Lincon's second address is preserved
| in the school readers and rocitol on the
| platform. but other presidents have
spoken few sentences on their in
stallation which have been considered cpl
grammatic or are often quoted The more
important and historic uttcranres OF the
| presidents those which have married out
! policies have been conveyed through mes
sagos to congress.
THO average length of N inaugural adj
! dress has been about 1900 cords, enough
| 10 I'll two columns OF a newspaper, ami
they have taken about forty minutes
| for their delivery. The longest speech
ever made was that by General Wnliem
II. Harrison. which contained SEQ words
| the shortest was that with which George
WASHINGTON bcgaa his second term. Tho
latter was formal and personal utter
ance of only 1874 worls, and did NOT touch
upon any puhlic questions. The inaugural
| was Ia the Oil Independence hall in
Philadelphia, where the rhlrl congress
sat in 171a. and was in the room where
tho nocl1ration OF Independence hal been
signed, Al the officials of the govern
ment and foreign ambassa dors, with
prominent citizous, were present. NASH
| ington's first address. made in the Fed
eral building in New York on Aprll 80,
/ 1TS9. contained 1900 words None 81 me
| spco ches except General william Henry
1 Harrison's have been more han 5000 words
long while the vice presidents VINO have
been called TO The presidency by the
death II four presidents haze made very
hricf nrocIomatlons. except John Tyler.
! Three DISTINGUISHED soldiers who have