The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-03
The INAUGURAL DAY
MCKINLEY THE FIRST TO SUCCEED
HIMSELF SINCE GRANT.
THOUSANDS WILL BE THERE.
ceremony SIMPLE. BUT EXERCISES
WILL BE IMPOSING.

the Oath. But Any Justice of the
Peace Could DO So - The Usual
OratIons 10 Waiting Thousands
who Hear Nothing Will he De-
nvered-Mnny Changes Have Oc-
CURED Since MIR. McI<inley's For
mcr Inauguration and He viii
Have Plenty to Talk AbOut-POrto
Ricnn Troops to BE in Line.
Washington, March 2-On Monday
thereafter, William Mckinley will be-
come President OF the United States
again for the term beginning on that day
and closing on March 3, 1905. He will be
the first man since Ulysses S. Grant, who
has succeeded himself in that office of
more than kingly power. The ceremony
of inaugurating him will be simple
as BETTING a republic, but impressive as
in keeping with the majesty and respon-
sibility of the high office the duties of
which he is TO assume.
Standing with barred heads in a rever-
entail attitude. Mr.. Mckinley will repeat
after Chief Justice Fuller the words Of
the oath pledging him to uphold the Con-
stitution of the United States and to adj
ministrate the laws of the land TO the
best of his ability He would be just
much President Of the greatest republic
the world has ever known if he were to
go before a notary public and there sub
scribe to the oath required by the Con-
stitution. The administration of the oath
IS all there is of the ceremony of inaugu-
ration. The inaugural parade and the ball
in the evening are no part Of the cere-
mony. They are but the spectacular
parts which custom has grated upon the
ceremony. They appeal to the love of
display and military pomp.
Some Points of Difference.
This Inauguration will be less notable
than many of its predecessors simply be-
cause Mr.. Mckinley is his own successor.
There will be none of that confusion at
the White House which betokens the de-
parture of the retiring Presi-
dent and his family The recep-
ton hall of the executive Mansion
will not be Uttered with boxes and
bundles. There will be no formal calls
between the incoming and the outgoing
President. Mr.. Mckinley will ride from
companied not by the outgoing President
but by Senator NJ. A. Hanna and Repre-
sentative John Dalzell, who are the leading
members of the joint committee of the
two houses of Congress, charged with
the duty of making preparations for Mon
days ceremony. AS both have been
mentioned as good men for the Republi-
can party to nominate in 1903 to succeed
Mr. Mckinley. it is more than probable
hof ha in of
what may occur four years hence. An
Inauguration naturally divides itself into
four parts: The installation of the new
Vice President in the Senate chamber,
the oath-taking of the President on the
east front of the Capitol. the inaugural
parade and the ball in the pension office
at night.
In the senate Chamber.
The ceremony in the Senate chamber
is not as impressive as that which takes
place on the east front of the Capitol,
although 1t will be attended by all those
who participate in the other ceremonies
and the brilliant uniforms of the diplo-
mats, army and navy officers and bright
dresses OF the ladies in the galleries, con-
trasted with the somber black broadcloth
of the men, will form a stately picture.
Senator Frye, the president of the Senate
will preside there until he has declared
inc senate OF the fAty-SlNln congress
adjourned sine die. He will deliver a
short valedictory and then administer the
oath to Vice President-elect Roosevelt
The new Vice President will then imme-
diately call the Senate to order, in obedi-
enee TO the proclamat ton of the President
converting the Senate i'm extraordinary
session for the transaction of eXecu-
tive business. He will undoubtedly
have a short address to deliver
but as all this is delaying the
administration of the oath to the Presi-
dent, it will behoove him to make haste,
and defer to some future day the express
sion of such sentiments as he may hold
The new senators-elect, some twenty odd
in number viii be called to the bar Of
the so-called Upper House, and will be
sworn in. Then everything will be ready
for the main event The few thousand in
the Senate chamber win go to the plat
form erected on the east front where
other thousands have been seated for an
hour or more waiting patiently for the
speaking of the few words which will
give the Republic new President.
Stirring Piture.
A panorama sufficient to stir the most in
different soul, will meet the eSes Of the
President-elect. The great plaza in front
OF the Capitol will be black with human
ity, the mass extending back so as to
streets which here converge TO form the
large open space where millions OF peo-
pie have stood TO hear all the Presidents
since Lincoln took the solemn obligation
10 administer the affairs of this great ma.
ton. Heretofore it has been che custom
for all those in the Senate chamber to
follow the President-elect out upon the
platform, but this year the order will be
reversed Mr.. Mckinley will remain in
the Presidents room in the Capitol until
all the invited guests are seated, and then
The small party, composed of the represen-
tatives OF the two Houses of Congress, the
Chief Justice and the President-elect will
take their places This arrangement in
sures absolute quiet when the Chief JUS
tfce asks the President-elect to arise and
rcpeat after him the oath OF Office. When
the President has done this, he reverent-
~ touches the pages Of the sacred book
held by the clerk of the supreme Court
rhis act signifies to the thousands who
cannot hear the spoken words that the
President assents to all the conditions
laid down in this solemn pledge. That
assent as heretofore stated, makes him
who gives It the President of the United
States. Were he so disposed, Mr.. Nc
Kinley could, at this point, return to the
White House and perform any Of the du-
ties OF the high office without the slight
est ground for questioning his right SO
10 do. But custom says that he shall tell
the thousands. whose eyes are upon him
what IN his opinion, the government OF
the United States should accomplish dur
ing the four years term upon which no