Evening star., 1901-03-04
AGAIN |NAUCURATED
Mr.. Mckinley Takes
Oath a Second Time.
A BRILLIANT PARADE
Military and Civic Bodies in
Line.
CEREMONIES AT CAPITOL
Column Reviewed From in Front
of White House.
CEREMONIES AT CAPITOL
SCENES AND INCIDENTS
MARCH 4, 1sG1-MARCH 4, 1S65-ABRA-
HAM LINCOLN


HAM LINCOLN.
MARCH 4. 1S97-MARCH 4, 19O1-WIL-
LIAM MCKINLEY.
Between the respective dates two periods
that were transformed by events as poten-
tial as they were unexpected into the great
est epOchs in the history of the greatest of
republics. At the head of national affairs
leading their countrymen in overcoming OBJ
stacles unparalleled. and meeting the might
lest OF issues, two men, true Americans, eX-
alted citizens, earnest, patient, forbearing,
kindly. firm, determined courageous. Sig
nificant is today In the sense of retrospect
There is as striking an analogy In the pc
RODS there Is in the men. The periods
were both redeemed by the blood of broth
ers shed in the common cause of humanity.
In the first those brothers were opposed in
fratricidal strife, engaged in the most SAN
culinary conflict of modern times, inspired
by their respective beliefs in the truth and
righteousness of their causes and in every
awful battle conscience ordered each charge
and aimed every gun. The world, which
stood aghast and appalled, at the struggle
became amazed when the smoke of the
last fight cleared away and the sun shone
down upon nation where every man was
to be free henceforth and forever.
In the second period the same brothers
fought again, but now side by side and
shoulder to shoulder against a common
enemy, in another struggle for freedom,
this time in behalf of foreign peoples long
crushed beneath the pitiess domination of
monarchical despotism. The later was the
logical outcome of the earlier period and
both were the natural sequences of the orig
inal successful struggle for liberty that
changed the colonies into states. 1t IS the
law of destiny that men who have fought
for their own domestic and political free
dom are to eventually strive to shatter the
shackles that bind the limbs of others un-
able to help themselves, and a mind need
not be optimistic to realize that the lessons
the world has learned from the republic of
the west will make stronger and stronger
in every human hearc the determination to
be free until crowns and thrones shall be
known upon the earth no more forever
Both periods were alike in that their
events were undreamed of. Lincoln was or
course, aware of the critical condition of the
relations between the sections, but his pro-
found faith in the great common sense of
his fellow countrymen, which in himself at
tanned its apotheosis led him to believe and
TO believe with confidence, that the differ
ences would be arranged in that spirit OF
fraternity and charity which he exempii-
fed so broadly.
Disappointed in his expectations, his high
hopes dashed, he rode the storm calm and
serene, If agonized and heartbroken, and
how he met his responsibilities IS a precious
part of the nations heritage.
Still less did Mckinley dream four wears
ago today. that he would be called upon to
lead his countrymen through dangers
scarcely less threatening. The Union was
reveling IN ever-increasing prosp1.ty, and
happy in the enjoyment of profound peace
There were no entanglements at home or
abroad, and the citizens were sturdily ad-
Vanctng in domestic progress. glad, hope
full and contented. Suddenly, avalanche
like, aCCentuating the cries for help from a
down-trodden community at our very doors
came wrongs that could only be righted in
the final court of war. That court was held,
and, brief as was its session. its edict
changed the stature of the republic to even
more gigantic proportions.
1t found that its environment formerly
more fortunate than that of any country on
earth. had been stretched. as by a miracle
to the nethermost side of the globe 1t
found too. that the fading remnants Of
Mason and Dixon's line had been complete
ly washed out In the American blood that
flowed ere Santiago fell, and that the north
and south were heart to heart as closely as
their sons had been shoulder to shoulder
when battling under tropical sun
AS the periods were similar In events So
again. were the conditions that grew out of
them. The problems of reconstruction and
the cooling Of sectional heat succeeded the
first; those of expansion, with all the at
tending questions of providing the best
forms of government for our newly ACQUIRED
territories and their peoples, succeeded the
second. A proud and grateful nation con-
fdent that leaders who had proven them
selves so capable when tried and tested
through the tempests of wars chose them
again to guide it in meeting the newer diff
fculties. To Lincoln was not vouchsafed
the further glory of carrying his country to
the fulhllment of its immediate purposes
Hatred was still hot and seething when he
took the oath of office the second time, and
that hatred produced an awful instrument
10 tragically close his illustrious career.
In this respect March 4. 1901, is different
from March 4. 1866. Where there was
anger then, there is naught but love now
and 1t is inspiring to realize that beneath
the panoply and behind the pageant, un-
derlying the pride of the paraders and DOM
mating the acclaim of the populace, there
flames the burning spirit of American vaIor
and courage, as ready to cope successfully
with the issues of the future as 1t has with
the issues of the past, and that every heart,
whether it beats In breast Of man or bosom
Of woman, pulses with true American
patriotism.
The Parade, and the People.
Early the crowds began to gather on the