River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1899-01-26
PRESIDENT RECEIVES
Annual New Years Gathering Was
a Great Success.
Thousands of Citizens Joined the
Diplomatic and ofticiaI World In
Paying Homage to Their
Chief Executive.
Especial washington Letter.l

Another cycle of time has been weld
ed 10 the endless chain of eternity. The
pendulum which licked the time for
1895 has swung across its segment, and
licked the time for New Year 1899.
Bells and bugles have peaed and
blared; and deep-throated cannon have
added their blazing diapason to the
universal chorus of joyful welcome 10
the new year. Only the winds sough-
| ing through the snow-laden boughs
have made a requiem for the old year,
which lies upon the bier of oblivion.
The public reception given on New
Years day by the president of lhe
United States is an object lesson of the
reserve force, simplicity and power of
the plain people There were no sol
oilers, marines or uniformed watch
men in or around the executive man
sion that day. There was no artillery
| present, nor were the sacred precincts
| patroled by the cavalry or infantry of
the little standing army of the republic
of the new world The chief magis-
trate of a great nation, man of the
people, and who came from the peo-
| Pile and who will return TO the peo-
Pile, clad in the severely plain garb
of a citizen of the republic. stood in
the parlor of his private residence and
official home. with his wife, beautiful
little matron, by his side, and cordially
grasped the hands of his fellow citi
zens who came to pay their respects
to the gentleman, their fellow citizen,
- ~ -
the laws of the land for a constitu
tional period.
He received the titled and decorated
diplomats of the nations of the civil
lied world, with glittering golden in
sigma of the favors of potcntates,
municipalities and powers, as an Amer
lean gentleman might receive his per-
sonal friends in his own home. The
uniforms and clanking sabers of am
bassadors, ENJOYS and ministers were
in striking contrast with the unosten-
tation of the unadorned broadcloth of
the president of the United States, TO
whom, and to whose office, respectful
salutations were given.
There were no officers of the law, no
guardians of the peace mingling with
the throng. The rulers of other ma
tions are surrounded with bristling
bayonets upon all occasions, to protect
them from their subjects. But in the
capital of this republic the glory and
browning grandeur of the day was the
fact, felt rather than seen, that every
American is a conservator of the peace,
lover of law and order, and in his
own person protector and defender
of that fellow citizen who temporarily
occupies the highest Office in the gift
Of the people. 1t matters not what
may be the individuality, the political
affiliations, the policies or principles of
the man who fills the office, which was
created by the blood and heroism of
the plain people in the revolutionary
armies. Our American citizens respect
the office which was first occupied by
Washington, and has since been graced
and honored by jefferson, jackson,
Lincoln and Grant; and no military dis
play of force is necessary at any time
fer the protection of the incumbent of
that office upon public occasions.
The president of the United States is
impregnably bulwarked by the strong
patriotism of the people. Therefore
no army-blue uniform, nor glistening
bayonet, is necessary when the doors
of the white house are thrown open
to the poor and lowly, as we'll as to
the rich and great in the pomp and
pride of the worldly estate
The officers of the army and navy,
in full uniform, called to pay their re-
spects to the commander in chief. The
veterans of the Grand Army of the Re