The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-04-04
INAUGURATION DAYS
IN TIMES LONG AGO

The Inauguration of President Taft
has inspired writer in the New York
Evening Post to recall other inaugura-
tions of simpler days. The triumphal
progress of Washington from Mount
Vernon to New York City prefaeed
the first inaugural, which took place
April 80, 1889 We read:
For several weeks before the cere-
monies visitors from every one of the
thirteen colonies had been crowding
the city, filing up the taverns and
boarding houses, and giving the city a
lively and gala-like appearance. The
inauguration took place at Federal
Hall, which stood on Wall Street, at
the head of Broad Street, where the
Sub-treasury now is. The building
originally erected in 1899 had served
as the City Hall, and had been re-
modelled later by private subscription
for the reception of Congress. Wash
ington rode from his house, on Frank
lin Square, to Federal Hall at noon, in
coach and four, accompanied by
several companies of infantry and a
troop of cavalry, some 500 men in all.
After receiving the members of the
Senate and House in the Senate cham
Der, the President-elect, accompanied
by John Adams, the President,
proceeded at once to the second-story
balcony overlooking Broad Street. He
was simply dress, writes Senator Mae
lay, Gin full suit of dark brown
cloth, manufactured at Hartford with
metal buttons, with an eagle on
them. - The oath of office was admin
istered to him by Chancellor Robert
r. Livingston. After he had sworn
and solemnly kissed the Bible the Pres
ident stood with bowed head, while
the Chancellor slept forward, raised
his hand, and cried: "Long live
George Washington, President of the
United States.'' At (which the crowd,
the largest New York had ever known,
chat thronged the streets, and crowd
ed the windows and housetops, sent
forth prolonged cheers, which present
ly were almost drowned by the ring
ing of many bells and the booming of
cannon. Washington, after standing
Il moment looking out upon the crowd.
a moment looking out upon the crowd,
reentered the hall, where he deliver
ed his inaugural address.
John Adams was forced to play
stsecond fiddle at his own Inaugural
ton. As the. writer tells it:
The ceremony was held in the
chamber of the House of Representa-
tives in Independence Hall, Philadel-
phia. There was large and fashion
able crowd in attendance, many ladies
occupying seats on the main floor. A
distinguished array of members of
Congress, judges, foreign diplomats,
and Cabinet officers helped to make the
assemblage a notable one. As Wash
ington, who had driven to the hall in |
his coach. preceded by two sergeants
at-arms, with long slaves, passed
through the lane that was made for
him, the assemblage rose to its feet |
and cheered. From that moment it |
was evident that it was Washington
and not Adams who was to be the |
central figure of the occasion. 4!
Adams exprest his feelings in a let |
ter to his wife, who was not present, |!
the next day. Of Washington, he |
wrote: He seemed to me to enjoy a |
triumph over me. Methought / heard |
him say, Aye! I am fairly out, and |
Won fairly in. See which of us will be
happiest. =
Jefferson was the first President to
be inaugurated at Washington. The |
persistent myth that represented the
yirginian, in his everyday clothes, rid
ing alone ON mulebaek to the Capitol, |
the writer dispels and continues thus:
AS matter of fact Jefferson's first |
inauguration was attended by more /
ceremony than any since the first in
of Washington. The President
elect was met at his lodging, only a |
few hundred PAGES from the Capitol
hill. by body of militia eomprizing /
both infantry and cavalry, and large !
delegation of citizens, with whom he |
proceeded on foot to the unfinished |
Capitol. There, in the presence of
most of Adam s Cabinet, Vice-Pres |
sdent Burr, and the members of Con-
rress. he delivered his inaugural adj