The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-04
Inauguration Day.

ond Inauguration Of the Hon. William
Mckinley as President Of the United
States. and his first as personal ruie1
of the American Colonial Empire
Friends and admirers of the Chief Magis
trate and sightseers generally, not Il
speak of distinguished official visitors, in
GLIDING the Governor General of Canads
and Governors of States. and thousand:
of troops. have been pouring into tbs
Capital by train and boat for days. Tbs
result is that no previous inauguration
ever has gathered SO great or so brilliant
an assemblage as the one which, actively
or passively, win participate in the func
lions and ceremonies of the day. Presi
dent Mckinley has reason to be proud
of the personal popularity of which this
unusual celebration in his honor is evil
dence. To any shortcomings Of which his
Administration may have been guilty, the
masses of the people appear to be blind
or Indifferent. All they see or think abOI.t
is the genial and smiling War Preside 1t,
under whose reign the country has gro Tn
to the proportions of a great world Power.
with its flag floating over rich new ISL
and possessions in the Atlantic and Pa
chic. The present is not "a time to criti-
else this popular devotion to the doctrine
OF expansion of which Mr.. Mckinley is
the embodiment. In any case the doe
trine is right. whatever may be said of
certain methods and practices which have
grown up under it. For today il is only
proper to join with all good citizens in
offering congratulations and doing honor
To the man whom the American people i'm
their right and might have selected to
rule over them for the next four wears
what changes have come to pass snca
that bright March morning in 1897. when
Mr. Mckinley drove down the Avenue to
take the Presidential oath of office for
the first time, Then the territory of the
United States was confined to the Amer
Jean Continent. Now it includes the
Hawaiian and ~part of the Samoan
Islands, the island OF Guam. and The
great Philippine archipelago. in the Pa
citc. and Porto Rico and the Isle of Pines
in the West Indies. with Cuba as a pro
tectorate. Under the present Administra-
ton the map OF the world has been
changed to the expansion. glory and ad-
vantage Of the United States. Four years
ago the voice of our Government was I'M
heard in the family council Of the ma
lions save in connection with strictly
Eneriean affairs. Now Washington. as
well as London, Berlin. and St. Peters
burg must be consulted whenever world
politics is in labor and likely to bring
forth something desired or undesired.
-Four wears ago the United States had
so long ago turned its sword into a plov-
share and its spear into pruning hook.
that its military spirit seemed dead. our
army amounted to no more than a small
police force, with an organization con-
structed on the model of Frederick the
Greats time, and was armed with archaic
weapons which had utterly outIived their
usefulness as means of offence or defence
against modern arms. Without time for
adequate preparation, but with supreme
confidence in the prowess of American
soldiers and sailors. a year after Mr..
Mckinley became President, we rushed |
into war with Spain, and in an incredibly 1
short space Of time were able to put an |
army Of two hundred thousand men in
the field. Our boys did what was expect
ed OF them in the short campaigns in
Cuba and Porto Rico. and found a brief
opportunity 10 show their pluck devotion.
and, in cases, heroism, in the operations
around Santiago. Our raVy was yet un-
tried against the navies of the Old World
It had been engaged Up no foreign adven-
tures Of moment since the wars with
Great Britain and the Barbary States
early in the nineteenth century. Yet it
possessed the confidence Of the country
in a high degree. and events proved that
confidence to be well placed. The magni-
ficent victories Of Dewey in Manila Bay
and Schley OFF Santiago have crowned
the service with undying laureis and
glory eternal
Since the close of the Spanish war the
acquisition Of the Philippines, accom-
panied by a serious and protracted ma
tive insurrectiou on two or three of the
many hundred islands. and the war in
China, again have tested the endurance.
discipline, morale, ana fighting powers of
our soldiers marines. and bluejackets.
and their deeds in those far on quarters
IF the earth will live while American his
tory shah be read. Other things preg-
lant Of import to tine future Of the coun-
ny and Of mankind have happened dur
ng tie past Quadrennate, but they may
be passed over at this time.
The United States four years ago was
It'll in form. and. 10 outward appearance. ,
n spirit. the simple Republic Of Washing |
on. jefferson, Jackson, and Lincoln.
What It is today it would be hard TO ,
iefine with exactitude. but there can be !
70 doubt that grave institutional changes /
nave occurred since March J. 1897. OF /
hese we do not care 20 speak now, for
-Vddy Is an ocecsion for good words. and {
,heers. and brass bands. and merry max
ng. 1t is day upon which I, sound the
ruce and to forget political st4jfe ans
PASSIONS. Nevertheless. IL must ocr.,r IN / 6
very Intelligent observer Of affairs tina. (
he ruler who viii be acclaimed today
occupies a position greatly different from ]
hat of any Of his predecessors. He IS NOT '
'nly the Constitutional Monarch Of the !
states OF the Union-all Presidents have 9
zen that-but the Autocrat OF its new and '
rand insular Empire
1t is, therefore, fitting that his second 8
scension to the Chair Of State should be J
marked by a pageant Of imperial graz
eur. IT viii be one. II careful and labori- q
us conception, organization. and the ex- S
endlture Of money in preparation for II o
cunt for anything. And why should II
ot illustrate the new and exotic ideas OF !
oyernment which appear to have spread y
throughout the Union Of late? 1t was for
President-EmDeror. knowing that he
'ould be one If elected, that the American
eople voted IN November. 'Vox popuu
OK Del" What majority Of the people :,
the United States want they will have. =
hey wanted William Mckinley. They -
ave him, and the right to do him all the :,
onor they please.
For ourselves, We heartily wish the h
resident of the United States wisdom a
nj the guidance and blessings of divine ;,
roNfaence in the conduct OF his must. D