The National tribune., 1901-03-14
ROOSEVELT.

huzzahs that greeted them. How quickly
the record of the days passed in retro
spect since Mr.. McKinley's Inauguration
four years ago. No President has handled
problems of greater magnitude. -Four
years ago there were no clouds on the
political horizon portending a war with
Spain and the acquisition of Porto Rico
and the Philippines; the Hawaiians were
only waiting Republican hand shake.
The events of the following year, COM
ing in quick succession, are familiar to
all. The people believed i'll President Nc
Kinley, and trusted him to carry out the
great and impending problems that face
the country, and the people will be his
support.
Standing upon a haIlowed and historic
spot, where many of the Nations great
men have stood, Theodore Roosevelt,
VicePresident of the United States, took
the oath to sustain the Government in
peace and in war, duty he had per-
formed before. 1t is always an in
siring scene. The historic Senate
Chamber requires no decorations; it is al
ways superb in its old-and-white beauty.
When Mr.. Frye. Yice-President pro tenn,
uttered the last word of the oath, and
Vice-President Roosevelt clasped his
hand, the coiors were flashed in the gal
leries and handkerchiefs tiuttered. Upon
ceremony, were men OF distinction and
honor. The President was there, Senators
and Representatives, members Of the Su-
preme Court, Governors of States, the
Diplomatic Corps, Army and Navy otfi-
GERS, and men distinguished in all the
walks of life. Lady Pauncefote, wife of
the British Ambassador, occupied a seat
an the Diplomatic Gallery; Madam Wu,
wife of the Chinese Minister, occupied
front seat. She was attired in a gown Of
gorgeous Oriental silks, and wearing a
blue silk band, studded with diamonds,
around her jet-black hair, and attracted
many eyes. Madam Takahirs wife of
the japanese Minister, was there. Ths
Diplomatic Gallery was filed with inter
ested spectators.
After the Viee-President's address, his
first official act was the direction to the
Clerk to read the proclamation OF the
President calling the Senate iuto extraord-
mary session. The next move was to take
up the march to the East Front, where
the President was to renew his oath and
give his Inaugural Address.
While the rain came down gently, it did
not cool the ardor of the multitude, and
when the ceremonies were over and the
line OF march formed the scene was spec
tacular in the extreme. Along the route
there were all those little scenes and In
| cidents which give touches OF light and
color to all great festivities. People
jostled and elbowed each other good ma
turedly along the hag-lined Avenue,
neither minding sunshine or rain; men,
women and children rollicked in reyelry ;
white babies and 'pickaninnies' lined the
| sidewalks; cakewalks and breakdowns
were as continuous as the music of hun
dred bands, and it would be a drawn guess
.. which attracted more attention, the pro-
| cession of glittering military array or the
sideshows of the sidewalk. Eyerybo
( was hsppy-everybody' President was
being inaugurated.
When the Presidents carriage passed,
lady from New York. who has been
more or less abroad, innocently asked {:
| Where is Mrs. McKinley's carriage
Does not the First Lady OF the Land have
| any part in this?" ''Oh, no." she was an
| swered; women are not citizens in the
United States. You must go to royalty
and monarchies TO find women taking part
| But when Mrs. mckinley's carriage fell
In toward the end of tho escort, behind
| the ambulance, the disgust OF the fair New
Yorker was very visible
The Inaugural was a great success,
barring rain and a few incongruitiss, and
| the Committee should have the hearty
| thanks Of the citizenship of the country.
| The 4th Of March, 1901, has come and
| gone; the tocsin which announced to the
| people Of the United States, from sea to
| sea, the end of one Administration and
| the beginning of another has ceased it's
| echoes; ts the ends OF the earth has gone
the message that the same President is
| doing business at the old stand that said
| TO Spain barbarities must cease In this
| latitude; that said 70 the Eiiipinos we Of