The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-03-04

The inauguration of a President of the United States is more significant than the coronation >of the monarchial ruler of any country, because 1t is the joyful exclamation of a satisfied people. Sovereigns are given to their subjects and needs must be accepted whether popular or not, but, the Pres ident of the United States is the choice of the people; they of their own free will have elected him to be their chief executive. and so when the day arrives upon which he Is to take the oath of office, vast throng comes from far and near to assist In or to witness the great occasion. Before 1t everything gives way. Streets are blocked traffic stopped. and business holds its breath while the First Man |-of the Nation Is installed in his new position of honor.
 and more brilliant scale than its pre- decessor, and the festivities in honor of Taft and sherman bid fair to outshine anything of the kind which has ever gone before. over 31.000 men are ex- pected to take part in the procession today. At Roosevelt's Inauguration 1Ss.0O0 out of town people were in Washington. and even more are ex- pected to honor Taft with their pres ence These figures would make some of our early President open their eyes in astonishment and uubelief On the occasion of the inauguration Of An drew Jackson it was remarked by Daniel Webster that great multi tude. too many to be fed without miracle, is already in the city and 1t seems that the whole nation has rush ed to the Capitol" The great multi tude" was computed to be about S.0oo people.
 In each inaugural parade there are some unique features. Today the Haose significant division will be company of Confederate soldiers. These brave old warriors who fought so desperate ly and so courageously for the South land, have so far forgotten their olo quarrel as to be willing to come to Washington and take part in the seat ing of a Republican in the Presidential chair. Thus. 1t seems. the propheuc words spoken by Lincoln in his tnaug- ural address, are coming to pass: Ine mystic chords of memory. stretching from every battlefield and every pa triot grave to every heart and hearth- stone all over this broad land. Will yet swell the chorus of the Union' when again touched, as surely they Will De' by the better angels of our nature.
 The first real inaugural ball occurred when Madison took his seat and was held in Long's Hotel. young girl who attended, wrote: There was such a crowd as to be suffocattng ana win dows had to be broken to admit ar. There must have been upwards or 4Vo people, What would she nave salo to the 12,0O0 who took part in Benta- min Harrison's ball, or the. 15.000 for whom provision has been made to- night? The recepits from President Rooseelt's inaugural ball amounted 10 $58OO0 Madison was the nrst Presl- dent to wear clothes of American man ufacture at his inauguration. The wool was raised in this country and the sult made and presented to him.
 At no time is the weather bulletin scanned so eagerly as just before these ouadrennial Fourths of March. Accord ing to general belief, It is the excep- ton when the sun shines upon an iD- augural, but as a matter of fact, this IS not the case. The weather has been recorded for twenty-six tnaugurations, and of these sixteen have been pleas ant and ten indictment. And there is an excuse for the indictment ones. as they follow precedent-on the day and night before Washington's first inaug- uration, the rain poured in torrents.
 If the date for the seating of the chief executive was set by that of Washington. 1t would take place on April 30. The Congress of the Old confederation resolved that the first wednesday in March next" be the time for the commencing of the Presidency. It came on the Fourth that year, hence the custom of using that date. How
 ever. as most of the members of Con- gress, including Washington. were far mers, 1t did not suit them to leave the blowing and planting just then. and 1t was April 30 before Congress convened and the President was inaugurated. Washington borrowed $3.0o0 to de- fray his expenseg to New York, where the ceremony was to take place. He
 went to fredericksburg to bid farewell
 to his mother. and started with two | friends on his drive to New York. IL was @ triumphal progress He was
 met all along the road by bands of men
 and escorts of soldiers. his path was
 atrewn with flowers and flags, and
 bunting floated from every house. On
 his arrival at his destination O spc'
 cial body-guard was given him. all
 though he said that he needed no pro-
 taction other than the affection of the 1 people Just the cortege reached 1 Federal Hall the discovery was made ] that there was no Bible in the building, l Chancellor Livingston. the Grand Mas ter of the Free Masons, relieved the
 situation by sending to the lodge 1 rooms nearby for the one used there.