New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-05
TAKING THE OATH OF OFFICE.
HOW WILLIAM MKINLEY BECAME PRES
IDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

SWORN IN BY CHEF JUSTICE FULLER-THE
SIMPLE But MAJESTIC CEREMONY WHICH
MARKS THE TRANSFER OF PowER-THE
INAUGURAL. ADDRESS LISTENED TO
O. WITH INTENSE INTEREST AND EN-
e. ENTHUSIASTICALLY APPLAUDED
tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE]
Washington March 4.-The oath Of office as
President Of the United States was admins
tered to William Mckinley to-day by Chief JUS
,,ce E,ul,er Of the Supreme Court of the United
States, iu the open air. under cloudless SKY
and In the presence Of tens Of thousands OF MS
fa,lou-citjzens The scene a most I'M
pressiye as well as glorious and inspiring
tne The ceremony more-it was majestic
as well as impressive and simple as we'll as
majestic. In the brief space OF two minutes
the toll and effort OF long and exciting Presi-
Dental campaign found fruition; Grover Cieve-
land ceased TO be and William Mckinley be-
came President Of a Nation OF more than
7OOOOOOO people.
The ceremony may be described in sentences
The President elect and the Chief Justice stimuli
taneously arose both with barred heads and the
latter wearing his robe of office Inc marshai
Of the Supreme Court held between them an
open Bible provided for the occasion by the
Bishops of the African Methodist Episcopal
Church
ADMINISTERING THE OATH.
The Chief Justice then administered the oath
Of office which was repeated by the PRESIDENT
elect. and then the latter bent his head ana
kissed the book. In twinkling the burdens OF
oxecutive responsibility, power care and anxiety
had been transferred from the shoulders OF
Grover Cleveland who sat there with uncov-
cred head and eypressionless race. 10 those Oh
william Mckinley AS the latter arose. facing
the Chief Justice. he glanced upward to the
s,atue Of Liberty which crowns the great white
dome Of the Capitol and which was bathed IN
the snIendid glory of the sunshine Of balmy
sprInc day As he did so his countenance light
ed and his eyes frightened. and he repeated the
words Of the oath in deep full voice When the
new President-no longer President-elect-
bowed his head and kissed the Bible 10000
voices awoke, and the music of their cheers
filed the great open space which stretches away
from the east front Of the Capitol TO the walls OF
tho MAGNIFICENT new Library Building whose
golden dome flashed back the brilliant rays OF
sunlight this bright spring afternoon. II was
from one of a row Of modest buildings on the
site occupied by the new Library that Thomas
jefferson attended by few frierds, walked
ninety-six years ago to-day. across the grounds
of the eastern reservation OF the Copitol-which
was then only the raw material Of a park inter
sected by footpaths-t the Senate Chamber NOW
the Supreme Court ROOM, where the oath OF Of
flee was administered to him by Chief Justice
Marshall whose statue now stands at the foot
OF the western terrace OF the Capitol. Those
we're perforce days of simplicity in the National
caD,tal. which was then only year old and q
small hamlet and yet. simple as was the cere-
n,ony of JefYerson's inauguration. it was not
more so than that of Mckinley to-day 1t was
avon more formal although not more solemn.
SURVEYING HISTORIC GROUND.
When President Mckinley arose TO deliver his
Inaugural Address he was on historic ground
within n hundred feet Of where he stood four.
teen Presidents have delivered their inaugural
addresses James Monroe did so eighty years
ago to-day from a rude platform where now
s,ands the eastern portico of the Capitol. and
where then stood the blackened walls OF the
original Capitol, which had been burned by
prt,,ab troops under the orders OF General Ross
nearly three years before. In the same place
presiden. Jackson delivered his first Inaugural
Address In 1929 after having taken the oath
Of office in the Senate chamber.
since that Of President Van Buren, sixty years
ago to-day. the tpaugarations Of all tho Prssi-