The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-03-01
Inauguration Day For
All The Presidents
Washington Devised the Plan Of the Ceremonies Which Are
Simple and Without Great Display-No Change Has
Been Made in the Ceremonial Since the First
President Was Sworn In.

! 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
President into office is distinctively
American. Conceived in the minds and
hearts of the nations fathers, while
they yet were in the throes of a great
revolution, it is grand in it's motive
sublime in It's simplicity. Through the
lapse of years, since the establish
ment of the American government, sub
stantially no change has been made in
the ceremonial FORM although elabor-
ate and beautiful accomplishments, in
recent years, have become notable fea-
lures of this most important of Amer
lean functions.
In the time of Taft, as in the time
of Washington. the spectacle bears the
same simple impressiveness. Here is
no emperor, or king, or dictator, ar
rogating to himself through the law
of succession or monarchial eXpediency"
the powers of government but the
i creature of a willing, enthusiastic and
homogeneous people taking upon him
self, through the expression of his
peers, the responsibility of carrying out
their mandates and directing the execu-
ton of their will. Yesterday he was
one of a 100, 600, 900 people; today, yet
one of the people, but chosen for a
brief time to direct their destinies and
to protect and defend their nation.
1t was Washington who, to a large
extent, devised the plan of a Presi
dents inaugural. In this respect, as
in others, his work has stood the test of
time. 1t will endure. too, for so long
as the nation may live, in it's original
form of beautiful and impressive sim
plicity.
Washington Sworn In.
Washington was indicted into of
flee at New York. At the time of noti
fcation of his election he was resid-
ing at his beautiful country home,
Mount Vernon. He proceeded to the
then seat of government on horseback,
in coaches and in eight-oared barges.
His journey was a triumphal march. No
such scenes of enthusiasm ever had
been witnessed in this country as at
tended his progress. The country peo-
pie gave him hearty greeting by the
road side; in Philadelphia the citizens
had decorated the streets and buildings
deliberately and he rode on a splendid
milk while charger beneath triumphal
arches; and in towns and hamlets far
Their east his pathway was strewn
with flowers by women and children.
Details of the ceremony attendant
| upon the administration of the oath
of office were work ed out after his ar
rival in New York. 1t took place in
! the old federal building, which then
was the seat of the Congress, and the
oath was administered by Chancellor
Livingston. The first President was
waited upon by committees of the
House and Senate at his temporary
abiding place and "a escort of regular
| United States troops accompanied him
| to the capitol" He was driven In
handsome coach. and he had no pre-
decessor. he was alone in the car
rage. When the announcement was
made formally that Washington had
taken the obligation which made him
the first President of the United States
the multitude waiting outside of the
building gave itself up to an enthusi-
astic demonstration. Speeches were de-
livered and patriotic songs were sung
and that night there was display of
fireworks.
Second Term.
ington took place in Philadelphia.
While the ceremony was more elabor-
ate in it's Accomplishments than the
first had been, 1t remained, as always,
in its essential form, simple and i'm
pressive. Washington was conveyed to
the capitol in handsome coach drawn
by six white horses. His attire was
notably elegant being of black velvet,
with diamond studded buckles silk
hose and cooked hat.
Four years later John Adams was in
augurated as President, also in Phil
adelphia. Apprehension had been ex-
pressed that the young government
would be unable to Withstand the strain
of a change of Presidents; but the re-
suit was superb vindication of the
wisdom of the fathers. Washington
passed the reins of government to
his successor with the same patriotic
grace and willingness and wisdom that
had characterized his every public ac-
ton.
The real test of the governments in
situations came four years later when
Thomas jefferson became President. He
was not elected by the people. but by
the House of Representatives. The
election had resulted in a tie and the
House of Representatives exercised it's
constitutional prerogative of choosing
the President. The contest in the
House was very bitter; but again the
nation withstood the strain magnif-
Gently.
Jefferson on Horseback.
1.-THE Sage of Monticello" as Jefferson
was affectionately termed. was the first
President to be inaugurated in Washing
ton, the seat of government again having
been changed. Accompanied by only a
few friends he rode on horseback from his
home to Washington. He was Joined by
small detachment of cavalry which es-
corted him into the city. He went, I'M
accompanied In his carriage, to the cap
itol, not because he had no predecessor,
but because President Adams, embittered
by the result of the action of the House,
left the city early in the day, declining
to await the new President. The inau-
gural ceremony took place in the old
Senate chamber, the oath of office being
administered by Chief Justice Marshall.
At its conclusion the new President pro-
ceeded to the White House. According
to coptemporaneous accounts "a vast con-
course of about thousand people stood
in the gardens, fields and strips of wood
land alcng Pennsylvania avenue and gave
Jefferson enthusiastic greeting. AS Wash
ington was nearly inaccessible in those
DAVIS celebrations of the Inaugural ton