The Washington herald., 1909-02-28


than they did Carfeld-of how he had to
summon the police 10 keep excited ad-
mirers from Gnhstching the horses OF his
carriage and drawing It thernseives-of
how everywhere he went. at least half
the hoaors OF the day were clearly and
Enthusiastically his.
A truly dramatic and unique inaugUra-
ton feature. with the dead" would-be
king acclaimed as wildly and sincerely
as the Tive" one-a situation that must
have given some little secret personal
satisfaction and joy to Gen Hancock
But outwardly, and with a polished tact
that made the crowd cheer for him more
vociferously than ever. he quietly en-
deavOTed at ali times to efface himself as
much as circumstances would permit. Il
the interest OF Gen. Garfield. His behavior
on that day affords a striking contrast
10 the Inauguration III humor OF other
well-knOwn historical characters. appre-
ciably less skilled in the rare and precious
art Of self mastery.
Effects of III HumOr.
This lack OF self mastery and the re-
sultant III humor has been the underlying
cause Of dramatic incidents marking al
least three inauguraIs; and in each case
party feeling and personal differences
were so intense that the outgoing Presi-
dent refused 10 SLOW the time-h0norec
c0uTtesies to his successor.
After the election OF Grant, in 1859
Washington gossips fen to speculating a.
to what johnson would DO about IL OF
the coming 4th OF March. Since the i'm.
peachment days Johnson and Grant had
not spoken 10 each other Yet the belief
still prevailed that johnson would over.
come his personal feelings in order to OBJ,
serve time-honored custom.
Until almost the last moment neither
Grant nor johnson intimated their inten
tons Finally. this message was brought
TO the President-elect;
johnson SAYS he won't ride with you. ="
I'm glad OF it, responded the one
time war chief.
And two hours before Grant returned
from the Capitol TO the White HOus'
johnson departed from its portals for
ever
Both the two Adsmses. by a coinct
dental turn OF fate. refused TO partici
pate in the Inauguration Of their success
sors. The elder Adams had been can
didate for reelection IN one OF the mos
bitterly fought campaigns in the historl
OF the country. Upon the election o.
Thomas jefferson, Adams told his friendi
that he would quit Washington befoTl
his successful rIvaI set foot there Ant
he did.
The political estrsngement betweer
John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson
as the result OF two campaigns in whici
they had been pitted against each other
might have been bridged over sufficiently
10 have brought both TO the Inauguration
OF 1879. had not the breach been sti
further widened by domestic grief j
the Presidential canvass Of the preceding
year Jackson-s wife had been made III
victim OF many newspaper attacks. som
OF which Jackson thought had been mad
with the knowledge OF Adams This be
lief had been strengthened fn Jackson
mind by the fact thar even the organ o
the administration had joined in the jour
nalistic assault Mrs. Jackson died IN
/ following winter as the result, her hus
band felt. OF the newspapers virulence
{ Therefore, when Jackson reached tn
( CAPITAL he ignored the time-hon0red Gus
tom Of calling on the President Accord
! ingiy Adams declined TO take part IN IN
/ inauguration exercises
Too Much HANDWRITING.
OF course. history credits an even stil
more dramatic-and a unique-inciden
TO the first incoming Of the hero OF Ney
/ Orleans. such an Incident that IS in
/ possible Of recurrence. no matter how IA
/ into the future Presidential Inauguration
may carry. This was the utter demora
! Iization OF the inaugural reception, no
by the weather. rs has frequently bee
| the case. but by a far more potent con
| fusing force-John Barleycora.
AS jackson regarded himself as a MA
OF the people. he believed that a hand
shaking affair would be more demo
cratic than the stately miauet of an 81
augural dance. Accordingly. he invite
everybody up" 10 the White House. an
told them to enjoy themselves. The
did. as every schOOibOy knows
| I never saw such mixture. sal
Judge Story. one OF WashingtOn's lighr
Of those DAYS The reign Of Queen No
| seemed triumphant
At least one explanation OF the crowd
Ieffervescing spirits was a large cousigr
ment Of orange punch. wine. and brand
led ices. which was doled out literally [
the White House guests. So thirsty wer
the men that the women. amid the couft
sion. were pushed into the background
As a Gecoy several tubs OF punch wer
carried into the garden. This thinned OF
the crowd in the White House somewhat
and II might have saved the day had NJ
those who remained climbed upon til