Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1901-03-06
PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION pAGEAnTRY
Magnicence Of Mckinley Ceremony In Stronq
Contrast 10 Democratic Simplicity.

Washington, March 2.-Tho second in.
auguration of President Mckinley will
probably DO tho most imposing civil aud
military demonstration of tho kind that
has taken place in tho history of tho re-
public. The army and the navy will be
represented on largo scale; there will
be heavy contingcnts of the militia reg
ments from adjoining States, while many
civic bodies have made arrangements to
participate in tho ceremonies. All this
is as it should DO. The pageant. or what,
ever it may bc called, will be, so far as
expense and representation go, q trpar-
tito function on tho part of tho Federal
government, tho State governments and
tho people. TO it, tho people will con
tribute most of all in mon and in money
Washington and the elder Adams are
the only Presidents not inauguratcd in
Washington City. The handsome capi-
tai of to-day, one of the most beautiful
in all tho world, was practically wildcr-
ness when the conqucrCr of the third
British George, and his foremost mill.
tary chieftians, drove through it from
Mount Vernon in his numbering coach,
to be installed in New York as tho frs,
Chief Magistrate. 1t was called in the
old records or on tho crudo maps of the
period, Conogocheaguc. Washington
was not inaugurated until April 80, 1888,
80 that he is the only President that did
not take tho oath Of office on tho fourth
of March. His Inauguration was a
stately ceremony. There was flavor
of tinscl royalty about it, but Washing
ton WAS not to blame for that. Every
toned to that sort of thing, and pre-
ccdont, on a small scale, was followed
1t was tho beginning Of now govern.
ment in which tho effects Of tho abso
lutte control of the people was an I'M
solved problem. That was then the
greatest of all problems in government
Washington, in submitting to tho rules
and regulations of tho sticklers for gov
ernmental etiquette, and his submission
to them, against his own judgment and
inclination, proved that he WAS devoted
to the genuine Democratic principle.
John Adams, when he was inaugural
ed, did not depart in any essential par
ticnlars from the Washington example.
An historian in describing this transi.
tion period of Republican government
as it is now understood, writes: "Therc
was certainly then a degree Of ceremony
observed, rejecting somewhat the pa
gcantry OF European Courts, which has
not since been continued. President
Washington every fine day walked out
Two aides accompanied him, who were
kept at respectful distance never en-
gaging in conversation. IIo had three
very splendid carriages. He drove to
church with two horses; into the coun.
try with four; and six magnificent
cream colorcd chargers drew him to the
Senate. His servants wore livery of
white, trimmed with scarlet or orange.
Both Washington and Adams 'wcrc gen.
tlemcn of tho old school, reserved and
somewhat stately in courtesy. An eye
witness describes the scene presented as
Washington opened a session of Congress.
AN immense crowd filled the street
through which he was to pass. AS he
of the cdice, and paused upon the
upper platform. There ho stood for Il
moment, distinctly seen by everybody.
Ho stood in all his civic dignity and
moral grandeur, erect, serene, majestic
Ills costume was n full suit of black
velvet; his hair, in itself blanchcd by
time, powdered to snowy whitcness, a
dress sword at his side, and his ha,
held in his hand. Thus he stood i'm
silence, and what moments those were.
Throughout the dense crowd profound
stiffness reigned. Not word was heard
not a breath. Palpitations took the
place OF sounds. 1t was a feeling inln-
itcly beyond that which vents itself in
shoutS.'"
Jcffcrson's election to the Presidency
brought with il a revolution. Cream.
olorcd chargers went out of fashion.
Livericd lacqucys i'm white, scarlet or
orange trimmings, found themselves
"llhont occupation. Simple messages
to Congress were substituted for
speeches" f.0m the Republican throne.
English parliamentary precedent was
abolished. a President with a sword
bnckled to bis side disappeared forever
Ana so 1T has remained ever since. II
was change for the better; for it up
lifted American manhood and American
cltizenship to dignity that had not
been heretofore achieved, and that since
has not been lost, but, on the contrary.
has gained fresh strength in the cyolu
tion of the years.
The great founder Of the old Dcmoc-
racy was the first President inauguratcd
in the National Capital. His accession
was s'unnndons event in all world his
tory, for it gave an irresistible direction
to a conflict that is as old almost as
humanity itself, and that, apparently.
will continue through all time. His in.
auguration was what has been called in
derson simple True, it was ''sim.
plc' SO far as he was concerned, but it
meant the recognition of the sovereignty
OF the people. Aud because of this fact,
what he then did has been outrapcously
falsiiicd by historians hostile to the
principles for which he sto 3D. and for
which he, CT all men that ever lived
stands to-day. a large number of these
writer's with tho purpose of casting ridi.
cule on Jefferson. assert that she rode
to the Capitol, hitchcd his horse to tho
palings and walked in to take tho oath