Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-03-04
William Howard Taft Will Simp.
ly Repeat History When He
Takes Office.
AN AMERICAN CEREMONY
Washington Devised the General I,lou
of Inaugural Ceremony - worked
Them Out After He Arrived in
New York-History of
Other Inauguration,

Washington. d. c.. Feb. ss-History
again will repeat itself next Thursday
when William Howard Taft bows his
head over the Holy Bible and takes the
solemn obligation which shall make him,
for stated period, the Chief Magistrate
of the United States.
The ceremony Of the induction of a
President into Office is dstinct,vely
American. Conceived in the minds and
hearts of the nations fathers. while
they yet were in the throes OF a great
revolution. 1t is grand in its motive
sublime in its simplicity. Through tho
larse of years. since the establishment
of the American government, substanti-
ally no change has been made in the
ceremonial form, although elaborate
and beautiful accomplishments, in recent
years. have become notable features Of
this most important of American func-
tons.
In the time OF Taft, as in the time Of
Washington. the spectacle bears the
same simply impressiveness. Hero no
Emperor. or King. or Dictator, arrozat-
| ing to himself. through the law Of sue
cession or monarchial expediency." the
of willing enthusiastic and homosen-
! eous people taking upon himself
| through the expression of his peers. the
responsibility Of carrying out their man
| dates and directing the execution of
their will. Yesterday he vas one of q
hundred million people, to-day. yet one
OF the people, hut chosen for a brief
time to direct their destinles and to pro-
tect and defend their nation.
! 1t was Washington who. to a large ex.
tent, devised tho plan of n Presidents
inaugural. In this respect as in others
his work has stood the tast Of time. II
will endure. too for so long MS the ma
tion may live. in it's original form OF
beautiful and impressive simplicity.
WESTINGHOUSE TRIuMpHAL
MARCH
| Washington was indicted into office al
New York. AT the time of notification OF
his election, he was residing at hi:
beautiful country home, Mount Vernon
He proceeded to the then seat Of govern
ment on horseback in coaches and II
eight cared barges Ills Journey was
tr!umphal march. No such scenes OF en-
thusiasm ever had been witnessed II
this country as attended his progress
The country people gave him heart,
greeting by the roadside; in Philadei
ph.a the citizens had decorated tn,
streets and buildings deliberately and h.
rode on splendid milk white charge,
beneath triunphal arches; ard in town.
and hamlets farther east his pathwa,
vas strewn with flowers BY women anc
children
Details of the ceremony attendan
upon the administration Of the oath o
office were worked out after his arriva
in New York. 1t took place in the ole
| federal building which then was tn
Federal Building. which then was tn
seat Of the Congress. and the oath wa
administered by Chancellor Lving st on
The first President was waited upon h,
committees of the House and Senate a
his temporary abiding place and an es
cort OF regular United States troops ac
companied him to the Ca pitol." He wa
driven in a handsome coach. and as h,
the carriage. When tho announcement
was made formally that Washingto,
had taken the obligation which mad
him the first President OF the United
states. the multitude waiting outside o
the building gave itself uD 20 an enthusi
astc demonstration. Speeches were dc
livercd and patriotic songs were sung
and that night there was a display O
| fireworks.