Evening star., 1909-02-28

In the time Of Taft, as in the time Of
Washington. the spectacle bears the same
simple impressiveness. Here Is no EN-.
peror. or king. or dictator arrogating to
himself. Through the law of succession
or monarchial expediency," the powers
Of government; but the creature of a
willing, enthusiastic and homogeneous
people taking upon himself. through the
expression Of his peers. the responsibility
Of carrying out their mandates and di-
recting the execution of their will. Yes
terday he was one of a hundred million
people: today, yet one of the people, but
chosen for brief time to direct their
destinies and to protect and defend their
nation.
Planned by Washington.
1t was Washington who. to large ex-
tent, devised the plan of a Presidents
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 beauti-
full and impressive simplicity.
Washington was inducted into office at
New York. At the time of notification of
his election he was living at his beau
tiful country home, Mount Vernon. He
proceeded to the 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 coun-
try as attended his progress. The country
people gave him hearty greeting by the
roadside; in Philadelphia the citizens had
decorated the streets and buildings elab-
orately and he rode on splendid milk
white charger beneath triumphal arches:
and in towns and hamlets farther 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 worked out after his arrival in New
building, which then was the seat of
Congress. and the oath was administered
by Chancellor Livingston. The first
President was waited upon by commit
temporary abiding place and an escort
OF regular United States troops accom-
panied him to the Capitol" He was
driven in a handsome coach and as he
had no predecessor he was alone in the
carriage. 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 enthusiastic demon
stration. Speeches were delivered and
patriotic songs were sung, and that night
there was q display Of fireworks.
Inaugurations in Philadelphia. ;
The second Inauguration Of Washington
took place in Philadelphia. While the
ceremony was more elaborate in its ac-
compartments thap the first had been it
remained, as always. In its essential
form. simple and impressive. Washington
was conveyed to the Capitol In a hand
some coach drawn by six white horses.
black velvet. with diamond-studded
buckles silk hose and cooked hat.
Four years later, John Adams was in
augurated as President; also in Phila-
delphia- Apprehension had been expressed
that the young government would be un-
able to withstand the strain of a change
Of Presidents; but the result was a
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 action. The real test of the gov
ernment's institutions came four years
later. when Thomas Jefferson became
people, but by the House of Represen-
tatives. The election by electors had
resulted in tie, and the House of Rep
resentatives exercised its constitutional
prerogative of choosing the President
The contest in the House was very bit
ter; but again the nation withstood the
strain magnifcently.
First Inauguration in Washington.
'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 only by a
few friends. he rode on horseback from
his home to Washington. He was joined
by a. small detachment of cavalry, which
escorted him into the city. He went.
til to- 1t ~rln L,
Capitol. not because he had no predeces-
sor, but because President Adams, en-
bittered by the result of the action of
the House, left the city early in the day.
declining to await the new President.
The inaugural ceremony took place In
the old Senate chamber the oath of
office being administered by Chief JUS
tice Marshall. At it's conclusion the new
President proceeded to the White House.
According to contemporaneous accounts
"a vast concourse'' of about thousand
persons stood in the gardens fields and
strips Of woodland along Pennsylvania
avenue and gave Jefferson an enthusi-
astic greeting. AS Washington was near
of the inauguration were held in many
cities and towns throughout the country.
First Inaugural Parade.
1t is reported that a throng of ten
thousand persons assembled on the east
front of the Capitol to witness tbs in
auguration of President Madison. An
immense crowd that was for Washington
in those days. Regular troops and militia
formed the nucleus of a parade, which
was the first real inaugural procession.
The ceremony was concluded with re-
ception at the White House, at which
former President Jefferson was prom
inent figure
President Monroe was the first to take
- Df 90 M q n n a. oct
front of the Capitol. midway between
tatives. He had announced that he pro-
posed to have the obligation administered
in the hall of the House. but the Senate
objected. The result Of the wrangle
that ensued was that the ceremony took
place in the open air, as 1t takes place
now. 1t was regarded as an omen of
good that American eagles flew majestic
ally over the Capitol at the time of Mon
roe's inauguration.
Inauguration Day Postponed.
The struggle over the election of John
Quincy Adams by the House of Repre-
sentatives was SO long that the inaugura-
tion had to be postponed until the latter
part Of March; but 1t was the most
elaborate ceremony that yet had been
held In Washington.
The Inauguration Of Andrew Jackson in
1899 was a notable ceremony. 1t prob
ably would have been even more spec
tacular than It was had the President
not suffered the loss of his wife shortly
before. AS It was, however, washington