The herald., 1897-03-05
Mark the Inauguration of the President of
the United States

lace and decorations, and citizens in or
dinary dress, representing the unpre-
tending millions of the land.
The brief ceremonies were quickly
oevr and the official company, forming
in twos, filed out of the chamber and
passed on to the platform at the east
front, With its first appearance the
waiting thousands broke into tremen-
dous cheers of welcome, which rolled
and roared, while the procession, fol-
lowed by the occupants of the galleries.
poured over the immense platform and
crowded its seats. This general acclaim
greeted the president-to- be with shout
which was the climax of its enthusiasm,
and as Major Mckinley advanced to de-
liver his inaugural address, these surg
ing sounds gave way to still more i'm
pressive silence.
He looked out upon wonderful scene.
The steps, the balconies, and every pro-
lection Of the capitol front and the dome
were crowded. 1t was as If that granite
facade was banked to the roof with
visiting thousands. The front of the
library swarmed with people from every
street and avenue. Looking in toward
the capitol, projecting groups Of horse
men and the heads of columns awaited
the order to march, and everywhere
shining banners waved.
Major Mckinley, standing on a raised
platform, well advanced at a salient
spot, was readily distin guished by his
magnificent audience, and tl.ose who
could not hear were well content to
see. There was universal silence as the
black-robed justice of the supreme
court administered the oath which made
William Mckinley president of the
United States. Then the seal of silence
was broken by the reign of sound, all
pervading, dominating sound. as If the
surging sea were rolling over the land
before the driving of the king of storms
AS the many bands Joined the mighty
acclaim. the organized columns marched
into place, the grand review was in
motion. and the currents and waves of
humanity began to flow toward the lines
of its march.
Moving promptly in from all streets
and avenues centering on the park east
of the capitol the column of the parade
quickly formed along the spacious plaza
extending from the front of the house
and senate wing and the central build
ings. The new president entered his car
riage and the column circling the great
white temple of the nations, in and
about which the tribes had gathered
with patriotic purpose, passed down
through its beautiful grounds and wheel
ed into Pennsylvania avenue at the
Peace monument. where its real marcn
began. From this point to the Washing
ton circle. two miles and half distant,
this noted avenue had been made a tri-
umphal way. This great avenue with a
width of 100 feet and perfect concrete
pavement. doubly swept for the occa-
sion, afforded such field for decoration
and ease of movement of columns as can
not elsewhere be found in the land
Looking from the head of the line at the
Peace monument toward the treasury
and White House, a mile and a half
away, was like gazing into a broad
canon whose high walls were mass
of men, women and flags. The buildings,
low and high. plain and stately. were
almost concealed from view by the spec
tators. and these in turn were as thicl1ly
covered with streamers, banners and
bunting, waving in the light breeze or
woven into countless forms of beauty
as are autumnal woods with the glories