The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-05


filed out of the chamber and passed on to
the platform at the east front. With its
first appearance the waiting thousands
broke out into tremendous cheers of well
come which rolled and roared while the
procession followed by the occupants of
the galleries. poured over the immense
platform and crowded its seats. This gem
eral acclaim greeted the Presdent-to-be
with a shout which was the climax of its
enthusiasm, and as Major Mckinley ad-
vanced to deliver his inaugural these surg
ing waves of sound gave way to a wonder
full scene. The steps, the balconies and
every projection of the Capitol front and
dome were crowded. 1t was as if that
grand facade was banked TO the roof with
visiting thousands. The front of the Ii
brary swarmed with people. From every
street and avenue looking toward the Capt.
tol projected groups of horsemen and the
heads of columns awaiting the order TO
march. And everywhere SHINING banners
waved.
Major Mckinley. standing on a raised
platform. was readily distinguished by his
magnificent audience, and those who could
, not hear were well content to see. There
was universal silence as the black-robed
Justice of the Supreme Court administered
the solemn oath which made William NC
Kinley President of the United states.
Then the seal of silence was broken by the
reign of sound-deep. swelling aH-perNdu-
ing dominating sound-as If surging sea
were rolling over the land before the oriV-
ing of the king OF storms. AS the many
bands joined the mighty acclaim the or
ganized columns marched into place, the
grand review was in motion. and the cur
| rents and waves OF humanity began to now
toward the lines of its march
LIKE A WIDE CANYON.
Moving promptly in from all streets ana
avenues centering on the park east Oh tne
Capitol, the column of parade was quickly
| formed along the spacious plaza eXtehuihe
| in front of House and Senate wings anu 'ie
central building. The new President en-
| tered his carriage. and the column circling
the great white temple OF the Nation in and
about which the tribes had gathered with
| patriotic purpose, passed down through its
beautiful grounds and wheeled into Penn
| sylvania Avenue at the Peace monument
| where it's real march began. From this
point to Washington circle, two miles ana
| q half distant this noted avenue had been
transformed into n triumphal way Other
| American cities with their narrower streets
have been as gaily decked. But this great
avenue, with width of 16O feet and IA per-
| feet concrete pavement, double swept Tor
| the occasion. afforded such space for deco
ration and ease of movement OF columns
| as cannot 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 broad canyon whose high
walls were a mass of men, women and
flags The buildings, low and high. plain
| and stately, were almost concealed from
view by the spectators, and these. in turn,
| were as thickly covered with streamers.
banners and bunting, waving in light or
woven into countless forms of beauty as
are our autumnal woods with the glories of
| autumn. And everywhere. as in those
woods, was coloring of gold twined with
banners to suggest the central plank Of the
victory.
| AS a basis for decoration the inaugural
! committee distrlbate6 s0oee national flags
! to all on the line of march who would use
| them in their windows. So great was the
| demand that there would have been 100000
used if they had been provided. Upon such
| a background each individual owner builded
| and wrought out such forms of beauty as
| his patriotism suggested. The wide pave
/ ments on each side of the avenue through
| out the line of march were packed. Rising
| above these came the crowds in the show
| windows. then the thick ranks of the bal
! comics. Every window and cornice had its
| full quota of spectators, and so upward to
the fringes of men along the edges of the
roofs. every available point of observation
was not only filled, but crowded to its ca
/ pacity.
| THE GREAT STANDS.
The great stands which lined all the
| parks and reservations were for the first
| time in the history of inaugurations both
| attractive in plan and beautiful in decora-
| ton. They were built under specifications
| approved by the inaugural committee from
architects OF standing and taste, and the
| contractors carefully followed these. Thus
was removed, so far as that was possible
the former horrid defects of the barnlke
structures Of rough lumber which have
| heretofore marred all attempts at a COM
| prehensive decoration of the avenue.
| Over such triumphal way and thus hon.
ored by magnificent preparations. and the
| presence and the thunderous applause OF
never-endlng crowds, President Mckinley
was escorted to the White House, whence
he soon proceeded to the stand in front of
1t to review the imposing columns of
marching thousands which had followed
him from the Capitol, elciting at every
step unbounded admiration and a wild ac-
claim, which, at intervals. drowned the
music of their bands.
The Presidents reviewing stand occupied
| two-t thirds of the front Of the White House
| grounds. 1t a solidly built and fin
ished structure carefully designed and
tastefully decorated. The background was
white. the columns were twined with green
and the national colors, in floating colors
and woven and draped designs, were the
| chief ornament. The stand seated one
thousand. The President stood in a pro-
dience was notable in all its elements The
| official life of the Nation was fully repre-
sented. The ambassadors and ministers of
| all nations honored the occasion The po-
litical magnates of both parties had seats
The families of these various dignitaries
were present in force and the press of the
land was numerously and ably represented.
| Opposite the Presidents stand and much
overlapping il was one which extended
along the entire front of Lafayette square,
distance OF two blocks. In the center of
this. directly opposite the President, it had
| been announced that Mr.. Hanna had pur-
| chased go seats for himself and friends and
the national committee.
The parade was a famous column. nota-
bly, commanded. General Horace Porter,
grand marshal, at its head, recalled to all
veterans the campaigns of Grant. his chief.