Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1901-03-15
Inauguration or Coronatiou-W Which?

Inauguration or Coronation Which?
1t WAS SAID that ten miles Of var
ships lined up to do honor To the mem
orr OF good Queen Victoria, at her Oh
sequos, a few week ago, and it is now
boosted, b. Republican newspapers,
that "teu miles ii differing soldiers
were in line to do honor to the inau-
guration OF the Goth President of the
great republic OF the United States
1t is, however, in strict keeping with
the spirit OF the times to use warlike
objects for estimate and comparison,
or to give some idea Of the pomp and
grandeur which always attends the
use OF autocratic power, and nobody
need be surprised that the most salient
feature of the Inauguration should
have been the flash of steel, the glitter
OF golden epaulettes and the wave of
gorgeous pompons.
Ten miles Of soldiers, What a con-
trast to the spirit which animated our
nation at the close of war when the
noble patriots, filled with a zeal for
popular government adopted the SIM
pie methods for installation of their
rulers which accord with the individ-
uality OF the citizen. The Inaugural
ton Of the first Presidents-men noted
for wisdom and statecraft-was at
tended by simple form. which created
no line Of dcmarkation between those
called upon to rule and the governed
1t was simply selection of one of the
PEOPLE, to embody and give expression
to the will Of all, rule that had no
need for bristling bayonets for support
Ten miles of soldiers The first
President OF the Nineteenth century
was inaugurated in the spirit OF pa
triotism, love, peace, and full acknowl-
edgment OF the rights OF man; the
the first OF the Twentieth century, in
the spirit of Imperialism, of caste, OF
bitter political contention and the
domination of wealth. Behind this is
lined up the troops, in resplendent
uniforms, with eagle faces and ma
chine-like movements" as one report
expresses it, "the methodical, I'M
thinking, clockwork, tramp, tramp,
tramp" pledged to tear down at COM
mand, as much as to protect, the tenn
pie erected by free people.
The scene was impressive. 1t diff.
fered so much from the traditions OF
our government and the professions of
its people. It was a revelation to the
more thoughtful, demonstrating by
what easy means and steady grada-
tons the masses may be swayed from
any outward expression Of devotion to
principles. or thought of protest at
their prostration, that mean so much
for each individual and involve so in.
timately the existence OF popular gov
eminent throughout the world.
To all outward intents it was more
than an Inauguration: it was coro-
nation, attended by its essential hand
maiden, the army, wearing the insig.
mia of Imperial Power.
The N. Y. World correspondent, an
eyewitness, in commenting upon this
remarkable display, writes thus of the
object of display:
Mr.. Mckinley was not only the central
figure OF all this proud pageantry of
force; he was the only distinct figure.
All the rest-all the great officials OF the
Republic, its soldiers, its sailors, its mi
litia, its cheering multitudes of citizens
all these fade into a mere blurred
background. You saw, you distinctly
remember, only that white, rather un-
healthy face, so suave yet 80 ambitious,
so benevolent yet SO crafty, SO smiling
yet SO suggestive of something remote
from smiles-a handsome face, without
magnetism, yet most fascinating.
As you think over the scenes of the
day you remember this face and you
forget the civilian attire and feel the
framing of bayOnets, just as after you
have once felt the iron haLd you can
never again see the velvet glove.