The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1901-03-14
PRESIDENTIAL
INAUGURATIONS
MaGriticcrcc Of Mrkinlcv's Cerc-
molly and Simplicity OF Jener-
SONS

The second inauguration Of President
MCKINLEY has been the most imposinr
civil and military demonstration OF the
Kind that has taken place III the history
OF the republic. The army and the navy
were represented on large scale there
were heavy COntinGrntS Of the miljtia
| regiments from adjoining States, while
many civic bodies were there to lartici
pate III the ceremonies. The pageant,
or Whatever It may he called, SO far ns
expense AnN representation go. is a tri
Mrlllc junction ON the part OF the
| ftNtrAI government. the State govern.
mcntS and the people. To il. the pro
ulc contributed most oi ali in men and
N money.
Washington and the elder a dams are
the only Presidents not inaugura,cd in
aShlnEt"n City. The handsome cap
i'a. ol tN0Ay, one O! the most beautiful
III ~. the world, WAS practically a viii
| Tcth'sS Whtn the cNnQucrUI of the third
| British George and his foremost military
rnirftAInS drove through it from Mount
Vernon IN his lumOcrlng coach, to be
Installed in New York as the first Chief
Magistrate. II WAS called in the old re
c"F!S or ON the crude maps of the
| period, oGochcaguc. Washingt On
WAS not lnaugurMcd until April 80, i,S9,
So that he Is the only President that did
not take the oath Of Office on the fourth
OF March. His inauguration was a
stately ceremony There was q flavor
OF unsel royalty ah ,ut it, but Washing
TON WAS not to blame for that. Every
Amerlran then living had been uccus
'"mc" To that sort OF thing, and pre-.
Cc0cnt on small scale, was followed
II was the beginning of new govern
| hn
!utc control OF the people was an nm
solved problem That was then TN,
greatest OF AL problems in government
washington, III submitting TO the rule:
ana regulations OF the stiCklcrs for gov
eThmcntal etiquette, and his submission
10 thcm, against his own judgment AN,
inclination, proved that he WAS devote,
to the genuine Democratic principle.
John Adams, when he was inaugural
cu ana not depart in any essential OAR
tlcuIars from the Washington EXAMPLE
AN historian in describing this transi
ton period Of republican government sc
1t IS now understood, writes: "Tbcr,
was certainly then degree of ceremony
observed, rejecting somewhat the IA.
gcantry of European courts, which has
not since been continued. President
washington every fine day walked out
TWO aides accompanied him, who were
kept at n respectful distance. never en-.
gaElng IN conversation. lie had three
very splcndid carriages. He drove to
chufch WIN TWO horses, into the coun.
try with four; and six magnificent
cream colorcd chargers drew him to the
senate. His servants wore livery of
white, trimmed with scarlet or orange.
Both Washington and Adams were
gentlemen Of the old school, reserved
and somewhat stately in courtesy An
eyewitness describes tho scene presented
AZ Washington opened session of Con
grcss. An immense crowd filled tho
street through which he WAS to pass
AS he left his carriage, he ascendcd the
steps Of the cdiice, and paused upon tho
upper platform. There he stood for q
moment, distinctly scon by everybody
TIC stood III all his civic dignity and
moral grandeur, erect serene, majestic
Ills costume was full suit Of black vel
vet his hair, in itself blanchcd by time
powdered TO snowy whitcncss n dress
sword at his side, and his hat held in his
hand Thus he stood in silence, and
what moments those were! Through.
out the dense crowd profound stillness
rcigncd. Not u word was heard, not n
breath. Palpitations took the place of
sounds. II was feeling infinitely be-
yond that which vents itself in shouts y
Jcilcrson's election to tho Presidency
brought with it a revolution. Cream
colorcd chargers went out of fashion
hivcricd lacQucys in whito, scarlet or
orange trimmings. found themselves
without occupation. Simple messages
TO Congress were substituted FOR
"',spccchcs from the republican throne
English parliamentary precedent was
abolished. A President with sword
cucklcd to his side disappeared forever.
ana 80 IL has remained ever since. Il
was change for tho better; for it uD
llltcd American manhood and Amu,i.
can citlZcnship to dignity that had not
been heretofore achieved, and that since
has not been lost, but, on the contrary,