The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-01-17


ACE"
was in the midst of all this din, this con-
fusion, in the center of the great heart
ache of the country; who was executing
its laws and holding steadfast that which
we have. The adornmentS. the finishingS.
the artistic environments that were neces-
sary to make this the most magnificent
Capital of the world could wait another
decade, after that anxious, hopeful, sue
cessful. great man in the Executive Man
sion should hand over to his people a
united country-a Capital that should in
verify be a Capital belonging to every
| State and every son and daughter of the
| new Republic.
Amid all the soundings of war and tu-
mutt there were men and women whose
names today suggest histories and prophe-
cies who were intimately joined in this
tangled phenomena of National life. The
display of martial preparation in and
about Washington gave rise to many rI-
mors, especially outside of Washington,
that 1t was in a perilOuS position.
Yet, to those who were in the midst of
it. the scenes became familiar and brought
no evil fOrebodings, and even social mat
tiers continued to 90 on in pretty much
the old way.
THE SECOND INAUGURAL.
The swinging pendulum of time brought
its days of sorrow and joy to country and
people at the end of the first four years
of Mr.. Lincoln's Administration. Four
years of war, with its expenditures, its
losses and drain upon the Government,
was new study for men of affairs. The
wastes of war were everywhere visible.
The Potomac was lined with forts and
protected by soldiery. Another Inaugural
ton was at hand. The citizenship of "a
States was not here to take part in the
peoples festive day as four years pre-
yiously. Eleven States defed National
authority.
Mr.. Lincoln had been reelected, and his
Inauguration was ut hand. The day
opened cloudy, the rain came down in tor
rents, but thousands of people thronged
the streets. There was the same display
on the streets; music, military companies,
cavalry and artillery.
The President had been at the Capitol
from an early hour, attending to official
business. The procession moved without
him.
A miniature Monitor constructed ly the
wOrkmen at the Navy Yard, under the aus
pieces of the Lincoln and Johnson Club,
was a novel feature of the parade. -Four
seamen and four naval apprentices were
detailed to man the ship, with sun-crew
from the Navy Ordnance Department,
who fired salutes at intervals from the
tufret There was the same enthusiasm,
perhaps more intense, that had greeted
other inaugural professions.
1t might have been necessity, and it
might have been prccautIOn, that Kept
Mr.. Lincoln at the Capitol during the
morning We do know plot was laid
that day to end the ceremonies by trag-
edy, but such precaution was male rs to
entirely circumyent the plans.
As we look over the acts of part of the
citizens of this Republic during these
years of strife and war and recall its his
tory in the calmness of the afterthought,
we can but believe that the criticism and
condemnation of coming generations will
be, not that brother against brother went
manfully to war with each other to fight
out q great principle, but against the in
trigue, deceipt, plots and plans for muir
der which were cooly and methodically
studied out; and when the great National
calamity came, if these men were not per-
sonally responsible and individually con-
nected, it was only following out diaboii-
cal methods which they had instigated
and which play no part in honest warfare.
1t is no wonder such methods failed, and
the Union was preserved.
1t is abhorrent to contemplate that a
President of this Republic, founded ON
democracy, and duly elected, must needs
be for safety clandestinely ushered into
the Capital of the Nation.
Mr.. Lincoln was inaugurated for the
second term March 4, 1865. AS he
stepped from the door of the Capitol up
the Eastern Portico he faced as many
people as could be packed into the space
surrounding the Capitol. The sun broke
through the clouds, Illuminating his
rugged, sad face; a thousand voices cried,
Happy omenp' and so it was to the coun-
try.
THE INAUGURAL BALL.
Ehe day ended in glOrification and JOLT
ficatiOn. The Inaugural Ball was held in
the Model Room of the Patent Office, just
completed. 1t was the largest audience
room in the world This was the first
and only time the building was taken for
such purpose. Soon after cases and
models took the place Of dancers and
guests.
The President and Mrs. Lincoln were
there, surrounded by the Presidential par
ty. The scene was one of great brillancy
Senators and Congressman, with their
wives and daughters; Diplomatic Repre-
sentatiyes in gold lace and royal parapher-
nalia-but the most observed of all, after
the President, were the representatives
from the Army and Navy, whose names
had become household words for the ser
vice they were rendering for their coun-
try.
TIE WIFE OF THE PRESIDENT.
The influences of selfish strife and sec.