West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1901-03-21
THE INAUGURATION.
speeIaI cons.p0ndeaee Of 1.nr Aneys

cNN"t - -" Wal 10, lYOis
This has been strictly a military
Inauguration, that for military and
naval show has not been eaualed
since Grants first term, but unlike
that Inauguration the veterans OF
the civil war were nowhere to be
seen in this.
They say that the President de-
termined to make this the most COR
geous event ever witnessed in this
country. Strictly up to date, with
nothing but brand-new soldiers from
our brand-new 100, 600 army, with
nothing like the bent and crippled
old veterans TO mar the symmetry
OF the great show-and all for the
purpose of impressing foreign gov
ernments, for four years ago the
Executive Eayes-droppers who were
stationed among the great crowds
and among the foreignt visitors,
heard many such remarks as this f:
care these the soldiers America
would depend on in time of war ?"
l would answer, No But they were
the men the Government did count
on forty years ago, and it was not
disappointed, and right there and
then, it is said, the President de
termined that if elected again, the
feeble old veterans should be re-
placed by regulars and State troops.
Some say that he was ashamed of
the colored veterans, many of whom
live in the city. He now appears
to have made up his mind that as he
has most of the rich manufacturers
brewers and corporations on his
side, he can, with Dayton, say,
"The old soldier be damned"
But of the Inauguration. 1t has
been a dismal afternoon, fit only
for wild fowls, but many thousands
of people stood for FIVE or six hours
in rain and sleet most OF the time
to see the President take the oath
anew and TO see the great parade
that in the future will be looked
upon as the DeS~ that points to the
the initial attempt to overthrow free
institutions and the Constitution,
and to crush the common people,
soldier and citizen alike, for now
one Congressman Crumpacker, Of
Indiana, boldly comes out and gives
1t as his opinion that the Govern
ment must be made stronger, and
that an Empire would suit the peo-
pie much better-but let that pass.
1t was great pageant, and let us
remark, in passing, that the grizzle
old Confederate cavalry leader, Joe
Wheeler, elected more enthusiasm
than any other person, not even ex-
cepting the President.
The crowd was hungry for vet
Grams, and they had one in him.
Even two old colored men who stood
near me waived their hats and
cheered him, and remarked, "He's
a warm one"
Another surprise was that "Dixie"
was more played and more cheered
than any air, though the city is
crowded with Republicans and
northern visitors.
The Pennsylvania bands were al
most sure to play Southern airs, and
they fairly set the crowd wild.
In Dixie the homely expression
of love of home is loved North and
South now, though 1 believe good
old Preston is little shy of it yet,
though if any one of her citizens
heard it in foreign land it would
warm their hearts, for all the world
loves lover, whether he be lover
of home, sweetheart or mother.
The West Point Cadets marched
beautifully, though it was thought
that slight odor of tobasco sauce
could be detected as they passed by.
The Governors of Maryland and
Illinois called forth more applause
than any others.
The Puerto Rican troops present.
ed a fine appearance, and we're all
good-sized men of even height,
much more uniform in size than the
other State troops, and it was sig
nificant that not Spanish war vet
eran marched with these men whom
they delivered from the oppression
OF Spain. They, too, we're offended
by the Presidents treatment.
The saddest occurrence Of the
parade was when Gen. Shaw, the
Commander of the G. A. r., was
standing in the dense crowd of com
mon people on the sidewalk, and
when invited by the President to
take the vacated seat Of John Hay,
the half Englishman, accepted the
seat offered him. 1t was hardly fair
to his comrades.