The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-01-31


ing an empire in Mexico. MaXimilliaI
an Austrian Archduke, had been enthrone
by the French Army to support the occi
patton.
AT the end of our war protest wa
made on the principle of the '.Monro
Doctrine" Napoleon withdrew his troop
in 1866. Juarez, the President of the RI
public, compelled MaXimillian to surreI
der in 1867, he was condemned by a coul
Gil of war, and shot on June 10.
The world has not forgotten the fat
of poor Carlotta, MaXimillian's wife
whose reason was dethrOned. More's tn
pity that the power of the United State
that compelled Napoleon TO withdraw hi
army did not also succeed In the effort (
save Maximilian, who was merely tn
tool of Napoleon. 1t stands out as on
of the horrible acts of man which mad
the whole world stand aghast.
1t was in 1867 Secretary Seward pur
chased Of the Russian Government tn,
Territory of Alaska. He was as muci
condemned for this purchase as the pres
ent Administration is for its position il
the Philippines. 1t was cried aloud tina
there was no commercial value in theSt
possessions. The developments since OF
the seal products, the fish industries anC
the gold output give testimony against
these fallacious arguments. We have
come to take very little stock in the buga
boo hurrahs of men, since history has Sc
often proved them very fallible.
We have reached the time when recon
struction was in the hands of the Repub-
lican party. BY two amendments to the
Constitution not only was slavery abOl-
ished, but the negro was invested with
the full rights and powers of the citizen.
1t was not forcSeen that this would give
political supremacy in the South to the
blacks, but so it worked out. 1t grew
inSufferable, and the South set to work
10 practically disfranchise the negro,
either by driving him from the polls or
refusing to count his vote. And so it is
still. The negro of the South enjoys per-
sonal and industrial rights which the war
won for him, but he is excluded from po-
ltical rights.
The soldiers of Grant and Lee, the blue
and the gray, have met as brethren on the
field of Gettysburg; but the question be
tween the races of the South still awaits
solution.
Gen. Ulysses S. Grant naturally was
placed in nomination By the Republican
party for the 18th President, and Schuyler
Colfax, of Indiana, for Vice-President.
Coy. Horatio Seymour, of New York,
was the Democratic candidate, and Frank
L. Blair, Jr., of Missouri, NicePresident.
An active canvass followed. Gen. Grant
III his letter of acceptance used this ex-
preston: Let us have peace" This and
what it implied was used with great eff
feet by the Republicans. Grant carried
all the States save eight, receiving an
electoral vote of pa, against so.
The election of Gen. Grant to the Pres
idency by the people of the United States
is another instance in attestation of the
gratitude of a Republic to a successful
soldier.
Circumstances. sometimes accidents,
elevate men TO this important office. Strug-
giles such as beset the way of Gen. Grant
win high encomiums the world over. Es-
pecially was this the case with Grant II
was no Ligh-sounding, oratorical effort that
made famous the name of Grant, but ser
vices rendered in the saving of the Union
BY this OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES General.
March 4, 1869, the Inaugural Day of
Gen. Grant, found quite as many people
IN Washington as witnessed the grand re-
view of the troops of Grant and Sherman
in 1865. Eight years before the people in
GREATNESS silence were waiting to see
what next. At the grand review the peo-
pie had grown quiet in an enthusiasm
which began with the fall of Richmond
and ended with the surrender of John
ston; but quiet did not reign in Washing
ton on Gen. Grants Inaugural day, and
enthusiasm ran riot. The streets. the no.
tells. the halls and corridors of Congress,
were a moving mass of humanity. Once
more we had a united country. and why
Should not the people be happy?
The scene at the Capital as the brilliant
procession poured up the Avenue was one
OF the most impressive ever witnessed in
this country. Pennsylvania Avenue was
lined with people moving up and down
like restless sea. Hats were in the air,
handkerchiefs were waving, in the wild
eXhiliratlon of the people. The center of
the Avenue was filed with the moving
cayalcade, with gay flags, silver trappings
and bright uniforms. Down the Avenue
a stream of people poured. 1t was gray
Day fuli OF rain and vapOrOus mists, with
out 4 CLINT of sunshine-a gloomy dawn
ing: but the morning was young, and
brighter things might come.
AT precisely j. o'clock the Chief MAJ
shai gave the order to march. and the pro-
cession, composed Of eight divisions, moved
up the Avenue.
balconies and window-seats were filed
with women in gorgeous raiment: prices
ran up to $25 and $50 a window. Every
building Outdid the other in decorations.
Every niche, portico and window OF the
capital was filled, and not an architectural
projection on the east side of the CAPITOL
but held large or small specimen of hui
mainly. Monuments, trees and fences
were decorated with anxious Iookers-on,
0hN htfSi III tue ulstUFy OF inaugural
pageants were they so repaid for the hours
OF weary waiting; for without doubt it was
the grandest pageant that ever moved on
the Avenue. Every company, with splen-
did record written in golden legend on
their banners, brought rounds Of applause.
The galleries in the Senate Chamber
presented a brilliant appearance. The
wives of the President and Vice President
elect and their friends were seated on the
right of the diplomatic gallery
Mrs. Colfax was becomingly alfred in
a toilet of colored silk, white bonnet.
Mrs. and Miss Mathews, Mrs. CoIfax's
mother and sister, sat beside her
Mrs. Grant, modestly attired in black.
entered and took the seat assigned her, ac-
eompanied by her son, Fred, in cadet uni
form.
The hours of the 10th Congress drew to
a close, and when the hands pointed to
the hour OF II the door opened and the
nero OF the day, clad in neatly-fitting
black suit, entered unceremoniously and
took seat quietly pointed out to him.
seeming utterly obliyiOus of the gaze of
the public around him.
Previous to his entrance ex-Vice-Prasi- |
dent Hamlin, Gov. FentOn, of New York:
John Scott, of Pennsylvania; Gov. Bow
man, Of Virginia; Carl Schurtz: Jesse
Grant, father of the General; Admiral
tarragut; Gems. Sherman, Thomas, Han
cock, Casey and Sickles; Judge Advocate
Holt; Judges and Secretaries, entered the
Senate Chamber. Horace Greeley looked
down from the Press Gallery. Gen. Grants
stan, m full uniform, eptered by the north
door. The House of Representatives then
mi ,Nsd1