The National tribune., 1900-11-15
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By MARY S. LOCKWOOD.
Martin Van Buren,.
Copyrighted, 1900, by THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE.

head, and the other'party, which assumed
! the name of Wing, with Henry Clay at its
| head. The spirit of the old Federalists
had become rejunevated into the Wing
party, and the Jeffersonian Republicans
into Democrats. The Wings stood for
protection and internal improvements; the
| Democrats for State rights and q strict
| constructiL, of the Constitution. And
here they stood when Martin Van Buren,
was elected President.
THE INAUGURATION.
His Inauguration took place March 4,
1887. One of the writers of the day
graphically describes the days proceed
ings: The Republican procession, con-
sisting of the Presidents and their fami-
lies, escorted by a small volunteer corps,
arrived soon after II. The General and
Mr.. Van Buren, were in the Constitution
Phaeton,' drawn by four grays, and as
they entered the gate of the Capitol
grounds they both rode uncovered. De
scending from the carriage to the foot of
the steps a passage was made for them
through the dense crowd, and the tall,
white head of the old chieftain, still I'M
covered, went steadily up through the agi-
tated mass marked by its popularity from
all around it.
1.-The crowd of diplomatists and Sen
ators in the rear of the column made way
and the ex-President and Mr.. Van Buren,
advanced with uncovered heads.
"A murmur of feeling came up from
the living mass below as the infirm old
man, Just emerged from a sick-chamber
which his physicians had thought he would
never leave, bowed to the people. Mr..
Van Buren, then advanced, and with a
voice remarkably distinct, read his address
to the people.
1.-THE air was elastic and the day still,
nj . Sc, hat 600
pie heard him from his elevated position
distinctly"
When he had concluded Chief Justice
fancy administered the oath of office.
When finished President Jackson ad-
vanced and took him by the hand, while
the band played Hail to the Chief" and
the crowds cheered.
President Van Buren, and ex-President
Jackson were escorted back to the White
House, the order being reversed, President
Van Buren, sitting on the right and the
ex-President on the left in the carriage
For several hours q Surging mass of hui
mainly pressed forward to congratulate
the President. The multitude was a
mixed one; order and decorum had taken
a vacation. In the evening two Inaugural
Balls were held, both of which the Presi-
dent and officials honored by their pres
ence during the evening. But when the
sun rose on the 9th of March the new
President faced all the difficulties of q
country in distress, and he stood face to
face with the storm that was sweeping
over the country. The flying of the fnan-
cial danger signals were no longer a ne
cessity-an irresistible force was testing
to their limit the spars and rigging of the
old Ship of State. A general suspension
of the banks, deprecated currency, and
an insolvency of the Federal Treasury was
at hand. On May 10, 1897, the banks
throughout the country suspended specie
payment. Nothing daunted, President
Van Buren, still insisted upon the payment
Of all public moneys in gold and silver,
and out of all this trouble was established
the financial policy of separating Bank
and State and establishing the principle
that Government revenues should be paid
in coin only.
President Van Buren, INDUCED in a re-
fined and elegant taste in the refurnish-
ing and additions to the White House.
Public opinion and Congress were exas-
perated at his extravaganza, and so it
came that Mr.. TylOr, member of Con
gress from Pennsylvania, took it upon
himself to portray to Congress through
a speech that lasted days the evil times
upon which the Nation had fallen.
1t was called the Gold and Silver" Ad-
ministration, because of the gold spoons
silver knives and forks and cut glass used
at the White House. This economical
Congressman asked, What will the plain
Republican farmer say when he discovers
that our economical refOrmers have ex-
pended $4,000 of the peoples cash for