New-York tribune., 1905-03-05
TIE INAUGURATION.

Nothing seems to have occurred to mar the
success Of yesterdays inauguration programme
AS pageants our inauguration ceremonies nave
often suffered from mishaps in management OF
the caprices of March weather. but yesterday
all influences combined to give distinction ana
brilliance to this national spectacle Inc sun
sbone brightly on President Roosevelts induc-
ton into office, as it had shone on Major Nc
Kiniey's in 1897 and on Mr.. Ceveland's in 1880
Some kindly fate forestalled a repetition OF the
miseries and dscouragements of the inaugural
tion days of 1889 and 1893 and the cynical
head of the House Committee on the judiciary
who once denounced the shifting or the inaugu
ration date to April so as picayune scheme
''to keep few congressman from catchlhg
cold" found his weather wisdom at least par
TALLY vindicated. A few years ago such
rational and defensible Encouragement OF our
political calendar seemed almost on the point
of accomplishment. But another propltous
March 4. following the two halfway genial and
hearabe Mckinley Inauguration days, will
doubtless postpone this once promising reform
for another decade-if not another generation.
A novelty in yesterdays exercises-and
highly commendable one-was the alteration
both in matter and manner effected in the in
augural address. President Roosevelt returns
70 the better standards of Lincoln and of the
earlier Presidents in giving his speech on tax
ing the oath of office highly generaliZed yet
distinctly personal character. In recent years
inaugural addresses have taken more and more
the diffuse and scattering form of messages to
Congress Under the circumstances which sur
round the ceremony on the Capitol steps an
elaborate and detailed discussion of public ques-
tions is neither considerate nor appropriate. in
the violent storms which often sweep the east
front on March 4 outdoor Oratory becomes
trial both to the speaker and to the many audi
tors whose attendance is matter or of1clal
duty. simple, pointed and succinct SPEECH
such as that made yesterday by President
Roosevelt meets far better the needs and spirit
of the occasion, and mirrors better, as it should
the temper in which an incoming President as
sumes the burdens and responsibilities Of his
great office.
That this years ceremonies were so brilliant
" successful and inspiring was due in part
to forethought and in part to chance. But
even the rigOrs and discomforts of March
storm could not have wholly damped the spirit
which lay beneath yesterdays celebration.
President Roosevelts aims and personality
have won him an affection and influence hard
" measurable by ordinary political standards.
He enters Office the successful candidate of
a political party, yet his extraordinary victory
last November quite overran the narrower linn
itations OF partisanship, and ne begins his full
term WIN inc CONSCIOUSNESS ludL III lHe Work
ing out Of his political ideals he has behind
him the practically united sentiment Of the
American people. He embodies more COM
pletely than any President since Lincoln the
thoughts and purposes of the electorate which
chose him. Popular satisfaction and popular
confidence found an extraordinary expression
in his election, and the same feelings find eX-
preston IN the enthusiastic satisfaction with
which his safe Induction into Office for another
four years is hailed. And this, more than any
outward pompaor pageant, gave true color and
significance to the ceremony so successfully con-
Quoted Yesterday