Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-03-02
The Drama Of Our Presidential
Inaugurations
The simplicity That Washington
wished. and How II Has Given
way TO a Ceremonial Of Pomp,
but One Of Dignity.

President of the United States for the S0th
time, says Theron Lowell Brant. in
Evcrybodys Magazine. The spectacle
ptonIises to be an imposing and dignified
ceremony. as BELTS the character of the
man. the Importance of the occasion, and
the position which the United States nov
occupies among the nations.
Though the oath itself has practically
remained unchanged since its formula
ton, the ceremonies accompanying It's
administration have varied even as tho
Characters Of the central figures have
Uttered. The personality of the president
has always been reflected in his Inaugural
ton rites and those ceremonies which
have proved ooorlcss have usually fore
shadowed ON equally colorless admins-
tinn. The stress of the time. the char
act,r of the campaign. the issues invcl-
cd in the canvass. have all had their
bearing in moulding the outward sem
hlance of the Inauguration. and conselu
entity, if we glance backward We may
view a series Of scenes almost kae-
doscopic in variety. They unfold almost
AZ the scenes Of a play. some intensely
dramatic. some comic. bordering upon the
iarcical others with their touch OF pathos
u lille in some instances there has been
in evidence the overhanging pail of APP
preaching tragedy.
Both of Washngton's inauRurations
/ we're dienified and simple. On the first
occasion Washingtons own desire was for
ns little display as possible, but crate
full and loving people set his wishes
aside, and turned what he had meant to
be quiet journey from Mount vernon
during which he was compelled to re-
ccivc the popular alteration he had won.
At Elizabeth Point.in New Jersey. nc was
met Ivy a delegation Of New York's citi-
zcus and conducted across the harpOr on
Il barge of honor which was surrounds
by an cscorting fotlla. ard on his arrival
at the Battery, the voices of the greater
Iarl cf the 10000 people then composing
,he city of New York went lip in one
great shout of acclaim.
! Even then General Washington express.
cd his desire that the oath be adilinis.
tered to him in private. but he was over
ruled by his counsellors. At moor. &C
cordingly, on April so. 1889. Washington
stepped out upon the balcony OF the
Federal Building at the corner of Broad
and Wall streets. We are told that he
was dressed ir q suit of dark Drown
iroadcloth, white silk stockings. silver
buckles to his shoes. u steel-hilted dress
sword at his side, his lair powdered and
gathered in bag. 1t Is further of inter.
est that his clothing was woven and made
on the looms at Mount Vernon under
the watchful eye OF his wife.
An eyewitness reports that Washing.
tons face was grave almost to sadness
and that his voice was scarcely audible
when after the oath has been admins.
tered he bowed, kissed the Bible, and
said in Il deeply solemn tone: Il swear
SO help me Cod"
Chancellor Livingston, turning to the
crcwd waved his hand ard cried: Long
live George Washington President CT tn,
United States!" The cry was taken ur
and went rolling across the harbor anc
out into the country. The artillery roar.
cd cut it's salute and the bells of the city
gave tongue to tho words.
1.ivingstGn's method Of announcing tc
the people the fact that the oath hat
been taken was severely criticised as be
ing too much after the manner of tn,
n;onarchial shout Of Long live The
king" and has never since been repeated
but in the main features the present
forms If Inauguration are not found tc
> differ widely from those set by Wash
! ington.
On this occasion the inaugural ball mus
: have been a thing of splendor and deyoit
NJ that too democratic flavor which ha.
made it OF late years theme for mirth
1t is remembered that Washington per
formed a minuet with Miss Van Zand
and danced cotillons with Mrs. Pete
Van Brugh Livingston. Mrs Maxwell all,
. others. names in themselves sufficient I,
conjure to the mind something of tn,
scene
Circumstances made II possible TO
Washington more nearly to obtain his dc
sire for simplicity on the occa sion Of h
second Inauguration. He again requested
that the oath be administered in privat
and in this wish he was seconded l.,
Thomas Jefferson. The Senate. however
felt otherwise, ind MS a compromise. tn
oath was administered in the Ssnat
> Chamber in Independence Hall at Phila
.lclphia. where the seat of governmen
then was.
Jeffcrson's inauguration was the first t.
take place ut WASHINGTON. and during th
ceremony there was so much ill-supprosi
Cd acrimonN that III" scene was dranlati
IN the extreme. Adams had made. in tn
last few weeks of his official career. man
appointments that were unnecccssarl
distastoful to Jefferson forcing upon hi
in important positions men who were
Part of the strenuous opposition that liza
made the preceding election the mos
/. stirring up ~ that time. A case ir puir
- was the appointment OF Chief Justic
Marshall, whose duty it was to admins
ter the oath. Jefferson is on record a
a having declared that Marshall had
mind OF that gloomy rlalipnitv whio
would never let him forego the opportun