Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1909-02-11
LINcoLN's INAUGURATION.

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A feeling Of relief was manifest In
both houses of Congress when 1t was
known the journey had been made
without trouble, and that Lincoln had
arrived at the Capitol.
Shortly after twelve o'clock the
President and the President.cleCt ap
peared at the eastern front, In the
sight Of the waiting thousands on the
broad esplanade. Overhead, ugly der.
ricks hung about the yet unfinished
dome, while the great bronze statute
of Freedom still stood on the ground
biding the time when IL should be
swung into its lofty place above and
crown the completed Capitol. A bat.
talon Of soldiers was drawn up near
the steps, and from the windows, rife.
men scanned the scene with vigilant
Ieyes, while a battery Of flying artillery
was posted in the rear Of the crowd.
As Lincoln stepped to the place
where he was to he invested with his
stupendous responsibilities TO his coun.
try and mankind, he was the center
of remarkable group Of historical
characters.
Within reach Of his arm stood the
President, James Buchanan, about to
pass into retirement after forty years
of distinguished public service: Roger
b. fancy. the learned and venerable
Chief Justice, from whose bred Scott
decision Lincoln had made his success.
full appeal to the nation; Stephen A,
douglas, a witness here to the final
victory OF his lifelong rival: John C.
breckenridge, another defeated candi
Idatc for President In the recent con
test, who but n few minutes before
had laid down the gavel Of the Vice
President. and who ere many month
would be In arms against the Union ;
finally, William II. Seward, who was
lconsoling himself for the loss Of the
Presidency with the hope that he
might become the master Of this nov
ice, whom the Chicago Convention had
strangely preferred to him.
Still another interesting figure was
there, a man Of striking appearance
who waved his outspread hands, and
with a peculiar pride In his bearing
introduced to the people Abraham Lin
coin as the President.elect Of the Unit
ed States. This was L. ID. Baker, now
a Senator from Oregon, but formerly
one Of that cOteric Of budding states
men who gathered In front OF the open
fire In the store over which Lincoln
slept in the early days Of his lifeiT
Springfeld-thc ambitious youth who
wept over the Constitution of the
United States when he learned from
II that a native Of England like him
self could not aspire to the Presi
dency.
As Lincoln moved forward to begiI
his address, only faint cheering
greeted him from his half.unfriendl!
laudience. Removing his brilliant neV
silk hat, he was seeking a resting plac
for IT, when Douglas stretched fortl
throughout the ceremony. BY thi
simple but dramatic act of courtesy
the Democratic leader OF the Mort
lsignalized alike to the friends and I
the enemies of the Union his READINGS
to serve and sustain the new Presiden
in the crisis which confronted him.
All the exultant joyousness Of an II
auguration was missing from Lii
=, coins. Like his childhood, like his bo!
hood, like his young manhood, like hi
, Hove and marriage, his inaugural da
must be tinged with melancholy an
clouded with forebodings of evil. r.
, lery other President had received hi
, lgreat honor from a united country.
! came TO him from Union torn by di
, cord and broken by secession,
|, Each of his predecessors could CHEF
himself with the hope that he migl
= have the happy fortune to hand dow
the shield of the nation with an add,
star. With Lincoln, on the contrary,
-, Twas a very different question. Ho
many stars must he lose and no
many could he save, was the heal
4 wracking problem with which he era
. pied rs he stood there on The steps
:, the Capitol registering In Heaven,
a he said solemn oath to preserN
. protect, and defend the Constitute
;, and the Union.-From Abraham II
- coin, the Boy and the Man" by Jam
~ Morgan, Reproduced by permissi
- Of The Macmillan Company New loI
,, Little Clsrence-"Say, papa,