Gilpin observer., 1901-03-07
VICE.pRESIDENT ROOSEVELT
TAKES THE OATH OF OFFICE

Washington, March 4.-Standing up
on a spot hallowed by history and in
the presence of brilliant and distin-
guished assemblage, Theodore Roose-
yelt of New York to-day was inducted
INTO the office of vice president of the
United States.
The solemn OATH the taking of which
places Mr.. Roosevelt in the van of a
long list of eminent patriots and states
men, was administered by Senator
William Z. Frye of Maine, president
pro tempore Of the United States Sen
ate. The ceremony was thoroughly
democratic, yet in It's simplicity pro
foundly impressive.
The setting of the scene would lend
inspiration to the artists brush. The
historic Senate chamber, superb in its
white and gold beauty, was without
decorations of any kind. Not even the
Stars and Stripes were displayed ofii-
cially, although as the last words of
the oath of office fell from the lips of
the stern-visaged, silver-hnired sena-
tor from Maine, and Vice President
Roosevelt fervently clasped his hand,
the galleries We're splashed with the
national colOrs, many silken hand flags
fiuttering breezily among hundreds OF
handkerchiefs.
Upon the floor of the chamber, intent
upon the ceremony, were men whose
names are household words in every
city,
The President of the United States
was there. Senators and representa-
tives, members of the Supreme Court
of the United States, governors of
many states, members of diplomatic
,,,1
distinguished in all the walks of life
We're passive participants in the cere-
mOny. The galleries presented n spec.
tacle of marvellous beauty, the hun
dreds of brilliantly attired women, gay
in handsome toilets, lending a color
scene to the almost too sombre sur.
roundings.
Before the delivery of the speech the
venerable chaplain of the Senate
Rev. DR.. William II. Milburn, invoked
the divine blessing upon the assem-
blage and the ceremonies.
At the conclusion of the prayer the
vice president began the delivery of
his address. The inaugural was brief
and was listened to with the utmost at.
tention.
In full the address was as follows:
1.-THE history of free government is
in large part the history of those rep
resentative legislative bodies, in
which, from the earliest times, free
government has found its loftiest ex.
preston. They must ever hold pc.
culiar and exalted position in the rec.
ord which tells how the great nations
of the world have endeavored to
achieve and preserve orderly freedom
No man can render to his fellows
greater service than is rendered by
him who, with fearlessness and hon.
esty, with sanity and disinterested.
ness, does his life work as n member
of such body. Especially is this the
case when the legislature in which the
service is rendered, is vital part il
the vital government machinery OF
one of those world powers to who's,
hands, in the course of the ages, is en-
trusted n leading part i'm shaping the
destinies of mankind. For veal or
for woe, for good or for evil, this is
true of our own mighty nation. Great
privileges and great powers are ours
and heavy are the responsibilities
that go with these privileges and these
powers. Accordingly as we do well
or i'll, so shall mankind in the future