The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-03-05
THE INAUGURATION
OrwIlII.m Mckinley as President OfthS
UnIted SLaLaa.

OTVyIIIGm Mckinley as President of the
United States.
WASHINGTON. March A.--Presldent
Mckinley made his fealtY 10 iheAmerI-
can people on the east terrace OF the cap
ltal. in the presence OF great multitude.
A dazzling and inspiring scene spread
out before him as he appeared on the
steps Of the senate wing 10 take the oath
and deliver hls Inaugural. a glorious.
golden southern spring sun blaZed from
a blue sky, an auspiclOus augury Tor MS
administration.
Except for Mr.. CleveIand's first inau-
gurlilOn in 1885. there has been no such
ideal day for this mumentouS ceremony.
The background NJ the splendid scene
was the great marbl. building with Its
classic outlines and It's huge dome hung
with fluttering flags aud surmounted by
the heroic bronze statue OF Liberty typi-
cal, not OF political dynast!es. but the en-
during majesty Of the people.
In the foreground the Imposing gran
lie library building with its beautiful
architecture and it.y shining golden dome,
rlyalling with the splendOrs OF the sun.
Immediately in front acres Of upturned
Laces were wedGed In 50 close together
that the broad plaza and radiating aNen-
ues seemed vast pavement OF human
heads
The broad platform. smothcred with
national flags. on which the ceremony
occurred. was built out into the crowd in
the form OF an right angle.
IL ran parallel with the capitol front
from the senate wing to point directly
opposite the north line OF the main en-
trance, where Il bent back sharply TO the
main building. Mr.. Mckinley faced the
park full OF people from a small raised
and carpeted platform, rallied with hIooo
red bunting, at the apex OF the angie;
THE sauare space at the juncture of the
angle was filed with about thousand
chairs reserved fur the cabinet officers.
senator's. representatives, members or
,br Diplomatic corps. the supreme court
and other dignitaries who were entitled
"a admission to the floor OF the senate
and the benches which ran back. tier on
Her in both directions, were occupied by
,bnae who filed the senate galleries.
Preceded by two military aides Mrs.
Mckinley and her party emerged hrst
from the senate wing ana were escorted
TO their seats on the platform IN advance
of The procession. The future mistress
os the white house, heavily wrapped
rpSted on the arm OF john AuuiSon ior,
ter she walked somewhat feebly and
W,a, givan large leather chair imme-
S,a,.iy behind the platform from which
S,"r b1sband was to deliver the tnauEu-
,oi Mother Mckinley and the other
members OF the party were shown seats
irot in the rear. A parasOl was raised
TO protect her eyes from che glare oil the
SUI The crowd waited fifteen minutes more
boC5ra tha head OF the procession proper
,nrcarpl at the DOR Of the senate wing
,nd the closely packed multitude moved
and nrrsscd suddenly forward as II
thrilled by an electric shock
FIRST came Mr., WILSON, marshal OF the
DITrict oH Columbia, ana MI, Mcksn-
nay marshal OF the supreme court. The
former does not look unlike MT CIeNe-
i,rJ aud the latter ls about the stature
~ A.. Mckinley. 50 that for an instant
,bo crowd mIstook them for the chief
a,,,rs In the drama to-day and great
'So,tt vent up. But when the mistake
80, orunrpnt the cheering gubaidcd
rhundtrouG Roar GTesis Mckinley
r,,,oylrg them came Chief Juatice
rull,r mud the Justices Of the supreme
conr, their glossy black robes display
Inr the curves OF their generous figures
t,InS,n"5Infply tIS In their rear followed col
nrigbt sofgcant-ut-arm OF the senate
and a, The senate committee on arrange,
,'",,, - IN which the tall spare form nnd
i,m,,'Ii.,iU,I rnuntrnancr Of John Sher-
,a,, i,sn Inc new premer was conspicuous.
Fhnn came MI Mckinley ana MI
rIrycinnd. arm-in-nrm, Almost n
sia1tIv ihsv were recognized by me
multitude that had been stIainlnG Tor
ihr nrst glimpse ot thGn. 'Inc ui,ivep- ,i'..
~, si,T,,I With which their appearance
7' ..|,t.I began with q ripplc that
,-, .i,r.r iNn platform, swelling as II
wont untiI II fell upon the sea Of faces
nn NJ t1c pIaza ard broke into lhuh-
m m5.ro@,s @ lolr that rernilcd from the
dome ana rolled away through the dl-
is Mr Mckinley nn1 Mr. Cleveland
descended the steps and emerged upon