New-York tribune., 1901-03-05
IN TIE SENATE CHAMBER.
ROOSEVELT TAXES THE OATH OF
OFFICE AS VICE PRESIDENT.
TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TR1BrNE.l

TBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE.I
Washington March I.-Whatever the vicissi-
tudes of the climate outside, the interior
of the Senate Chamber maintains at all
times in the ceremonies of inauguration an at
mosphere of dignity Outside there are the
throngs Of neople who take as it were. their
lives in their hands in order to get a glimpse
of the pagesnt the jostling crowds in front of
the Capitol the marching and countermarch1ns
troops the busting aids. the ubiquitous fakirs
and venders-here there Is an assembly any
member of which is conscious of the right to
reserved seat, and has the sense OF security
which that consciousness gives him. There is, In
other words an air of repose about the proceed
ings i'm the Senate lacking everywhere else on
the day of Presidential inauguration which
stamps the gathering in the upper chamber Of
the national legislature with a character of its
own.
They may order things of this kind differently
elsewhere: there may be more "pomp and
circumstance" attending the formal entrance
into office Of other heads Of State but there
can nowhere he more Impressive simplicity and
a more genuine expression of innate strength
and power dscarding tawdry and ephemeral
the trappngs Of authority, than this step i'm
medately preceding the final consummation of a
peoples choice made at the polls In details
there is much that might he improved upon. no
doubt, but on the whole the ceremony Is Ih-
pressive in the lack Of ''frus and furbeIows"
which may well enough appeal to the magma
ton Of an unthinking rabbIe, but which to an
audience of rejecting men cannot seem other
wise than incongruous and out of joint with the
times
The Senate had been in session. with few In
tel missions all night. Toward morning a recess
had been taken 70 permit of the chamber being
put in some semblance of order. BY the time,
. however those fortunate enough to acquire tick
cts of admission presented themselves at the
doors. the Uttered floor had been cleared. desks
had heen moved about, and a number OF camp
chairs placed in the rear Of the chamber for the
accommodation OF the invited guests. Before
10 o'clock every seat in the gallery. with the
exception of the rooms reserved for the Presi-
dents family and the family OF the Vice-Presi-
dent-eect. had been taken by a crowd in which
the feminine element was largely predominant.
giving the sombre chamber. which an overcast
sky but feebly illuminated an air of unwonted
color and gayety. The friends and families Of
the Senators were among the first to arrive.
The women of the Cabinet were quick 10 follow.
In that part or the gallery reserved for the
diplomatic corps the picturesque costumes of the
Chinese Minister and his wife and attendant
We're easily disccrnible
II was not long before Mrs Roosevelt. accom-
Mrs. Cowes. the latter n sister of the Vice
President entered They quickly followed
by Mrs. Mckinley. leaning the arm of Gem
eral Corhn, and accompanied by Abner Nc
kiney and other members Of the family, Then
entered on the floor below. in quick succession.
the members Of the House of Representatives
the Cabinet. the supreme Court. the diploma tic
corps. and. finally. tho Vice President and the
President
RpOSENELT'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
The oath of office was administered to Mr.
temPore of the senate. The now Vice- President
then spoke follows,
Tho history Of FREQ government is in large part
tn" history Of those representative legislative
bodies iu rhch. from the earliest times free
government tas found its Ioftiest expression
They must eve hOtd "a peculiar and exalted
position IN the record which tells how the great
nations Of the world have endeavoTed to achieve
and preserve orderly freedom No man can rem
der 10 his fellows greater service than is rem
dered 10y him who. with fearessness and hon
esty. with sanity and disinteTtSJeGuess. does his
life work as = member cf such body Espe
cIH!S Is this tn" case when the legislature in
the governmental machinery OF one If those
world powers 10 whose hands. III the course OF
N" ages. Ia intrUsted a leading part in shaping
tn" destinies or mankind. For veal or for woe
for good or for evil this is true OF our own
mighty nation Great privileges and great pow
Hrs ours and heavy are the responsibilities
that 60 with these privileges and these powers
Accordingly as We do we'll or i'll. shall man
kind in the future be raised or cast down.
We belong 20 A young nation, already Of giant
strength. Yet whose present strength is but
forecast of the power that is to come. We stand