St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-02-26
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Inauguration Preparations are Practi-
calIy Completed.
White Squadron May BE One OF the Features
Inauguration Bible--CiyiI Service
gress of Mothers.

Plans for the Inauguration are rapidly
reaching an acute stage Of development,
and before another week shall have
passed william Mckinley of Ohio Will
have been duly installed as President OF
the United States. The city takes on
gay and festive appearance already, ana
It hardly seems possible that even on the
day itself can more grandeur prevail IN
WASHINGTON than now. The thousands
Of patriotic Americans who VIII assem-
BILE here will, however, prove a hnlshlne
touch for the imposing ceremony.
Every day one notices the growth OF
the thousand and one perfected details
The executive committee have labored
necessarily to make the affair success
and the only thing which can In the least
prevent such a termination OF its lnde-
fatigabIeness Is inclement weather. Per-
/ fectng plans for inauguration day have
got now to be matter of mere machln-
cry, and everything goes along with that
dispatch and air of satisfactory outcome
as generally is the case with much
smaller and less important exercises In
the little country towns of New England
A man In Washington these days al
most feels like congratulating himself
on the fact that he Is an American citi-
zen. The patriotism which he breathes
during Inauguration and preparations
for it fairly make him pulsate from the
top of his head to the sole of his foot
over the fact that in America he finds the
nation Of nations.
The latest plan for the more grand
conduct of the Inauguration this veal
Is the attempt to have the White Squad
ron, which has recently performed re.
markable naval evolutions at Charles.
ton, under the command of Admiral
Bunce, stationed in the historic Potomac
and at the Washington navy yard dur.
ing Inauguration week, in order that the
hundreds of thousands of American citi-
zens who will gather here during that
time may have the opportunity of see
Ing what grand navy Uncle Sam has
built up within the last few years. Many
OF the people who will come here to see
Mr.. Mckinley indicted into office live
In the interior of the United States, and
seldom see what might be termed a first
class battleship, and so 1t seems to be
eminently fitting that a naval demon.
stratiOn should also be made Inaugural
ton week, and it is not unlikely that
such course will be pursued.
/ asked Secretary Herbert in relation
| to this matter the other day. He was
just leaving for Charleston to attend
the naval celebration there, and so / do
not have the extended interview with
him which | had hoped for | learned
enough, however to convince me that
he is heartily in favor Of the plan and
that if it is feasible for him to accord in
the desire, as expressed by the chairman
OF the executive committee, the entire
White Squadron will be summoned t.
appear, with all it's impressiveness, in
Washington during Inauguration week
The secretary of war has ordered the
band of the Twenty-first infantry, al
Plattsburg barracks, New York, to ac-
company the four troops of the Third
cavalry at Fort Ethan Allen, Vermont
to Washington, on the occasion of the
Inauguration of the president-eect
This action insures the presence of -four
regimental bands in the regular army
division OF the procession. The secre-
tary of war has also ordered that the
battalion of engineers proceed to Wash
ington in season to participate in the in.
augural ceremonies.
AS the White Squadron will represent
the navy during Inauguration, so will
the following companies represent the
military wing of the government:
The company at West Point will join
the companies from Willetts Point, as
they pass through Jersey City, and will
separate from them at that place on
returning from Washington.
Major General Ruger, commanding the
department of the east, with headquart-
ers at New York, has issued the follow
ing special order in regard to the par
ticipaton of the troops in the depart
ment of the east in the Inauguration
ceremonies:
Under instructions from the head
quarters of the army, the troops herein.
after specified will participate in the
ceremonies, at Washington, on March T.
next attending the Inauguration of the
President of the United States:
The four troops of the Third cavalry
from Fort Ethan Allen, Vermont.
The band and four troops of the Sixth
cavalry, Fort Myer Va.
Light battery f., First artillery, from
Washington barracks, Washington.
Light battery ID, Fifth artillery, from
Fort Hamilton New York.
Three foot batteries of the Fourth ar.
tillery, with band, from Washington
barracks, Washington, under a field Off.
Ger.
Four foot batteries from Fort Monroe
Va, with band under field officer.
One foot battery, Fourth artillery, from
Fort McIIenry, Md All of the foot ar.
tillery will be under the command OF
ColonelF L. 1iuenther, Fourth artillery
Bishop Arnett of the African Methodist
Episcopal church was in Pittsburg last
week, on his way to Washington, to ar.
range for the entertainment of the mem.
bors of the committee appointed to pre-
sent to Major Mckinley Bible, for use
In the inaugural ceremonies.
THE Bible upon which Major William
Mckinley win take his oath of office or
March A. as the President of the United
States will be very fine and elegant
volume said Bishop Arnett. THE bool
will be donated to Major Mckinley fol-
this purpose as the gift of the African
Methodist Episcopal church. 1t Is nov
being printed in Cincinnati 1t will b,
handsomely bound, and lined in from,
and back with silk, with suitable dedi
catory inscription on the inside. On tn,
outside there viii be beautiful gol,
plate, in the form Of shield. on which