The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1901-03-08
THE INAUGURATION.

THE INAUGURATION.
Mack and Mark rode together.
There are some people who are
captious enough to criticize this act
of President Mckinley in allowing
Senator Hanna the seat of honor in
the inaugural parade. We do not
see it that way. It has been said
that Republics are ungrateful."
Doubtless the Chief Executive, realiz-
ing that our country is no longer
Republic, chose this unique manner to
show that he possessed gratitude for
the man who has twice elevated him
to the highest place within the gift of
the people. Perhaps it was also
thought to be an excellent time to
exhibit to the world the "Hand of
Destiny" that has been guiding us
into the untried seas of imperialism,
whittier we have been drifting for the
past few years.
The Inauguration eclipsed in gran
deur anything that hasever been seen
in Washington. The recent ascension
to the throne of Edward the VII
doubtless set the pace and gavethose
in charge of the magnificent pageant
many valuable suggestions. This
too is commendatory. The fourth
day of March 1901 will mark an
epoch in the history of "Greater
America" as the imperialists fondly
allude to what was formerly the
United States of America. In all
well regulated empires, display of
tawdry fnery is recognized as a ne
cessity in order to keep the common
people in awe of their rulers. There
was indeed no more fitting time than
this great event to impress upon the
subjects what the new regime means.
Queen Victoria, good woman that
she was, recognized, that at her
death, her subjects unrestrained by
the love they bore for her, would in
some impressive manner, require an
object lesson of the immense power
concentrated in the military, and she
gave minute directions that her fun
eral should be made as war-like as
possible. The pick of the Army and
Navy, including most of the formid-
able warships were concentrated at
Cowes for the one purpose of over
awning the multitude with the power
of the throne. Her example was, to
some extent, copied by those in charge
of the Inauguration ceremonies; by
the immense military display,
together with a number of jackies in
the Navy, the cadets at West Point
and Annapolis. In order to make
the affair the more complete, soldiers
from our newpossession, Porto Rico,
were also swung into line, Gaping
the climax, as it were, by a demon
stration that has never been equalled
in historic old Washington. The
Court of Honor, borrowed from a
heather and idolatrous nation, played
its important part in demonstrating
the striking object lesson sought to
be taught. The Inauguration ballat
night for splendor might indeed be
compared to the feasts of Nero when
Rome was in her greatness.
1t was indeed a great event, and if
we mistake not, one that history will
refer to a thousand years from now.
Doubtless some Macaulay, now I'M
born, will chronicle that the begin
ming of the twentieth century marked
the change in this country from a
vast concentrated Republic to a
scattered Empire, upon whose do
mains the sun never SETS" Will this
same writer record also. "This was
the beginning of her downfall"
This is not the view of a pessimist,
but, if it is the beginning of the end,
history will simply berepeatingit itself
Since the world began the work of
the ancient chroniclers has been but
to record the rise and fall of nations
as great in their day as ours is in this
enlightened period. What has been
the inevitable cause of the decay of
immense empires? The Rulers, drunk
with too much power, so far forgot
the teachings of their fathers, as to
plunge recklessly into uncharted
waters, full of dangerous hidden
rocks and treacherous shoals. The
'''Hand of Destiny" is steering us into
untried currents which have cast
ships of State, as strong as ours,
high and dry upon barren shores and
there left to the mercy ofthe elements.
Mr.. Mckinley can well pause and
consider that while this Unsuitable
appetite for additional territory and
power seems to run mad riot in the
Legislative walls of our National
Capitol, across the river quietly