Evening star., 1909-03-09
No COMPROMISE.

The only dissent from the plan to
change the date of the inauguration takes
the form of the proposition to continue
the official calendar as it now stands and
to postpone. by executive proclamation
or common consent or some legislative de-
vice, the public ceremonials Until a later
day, when the weather is more element.
This would not require a constitutional
amendment
That would never do. In the first place,
a post-inaugural celebration would not be
regarded as respectful. 1t would be a
confession that the people of this country
do not care enough for the office of Presi-
dent to come to Washington at the very
time of change in order to participate
personally in the proceedings, whatever
the risk of climatic visitations. For there
would not be a tenth of the attendance now
attracted by the ceremonies from the
states. 1t would be purely local affair,
in no sense national and in no degree sig
nificant 1t would be surely lkened, to
it's disparagement, to the post-succession
coronation of "a monarch.
The vital meaning of the inaugural
Jubilee as it is now maintained as an
institution, is that it stands for the part
classes in the selection of the chief federal
executive. Sectional and partisan lines
are down The American commonwealth
is represented in the procession of mill
tary and civic organizations. Last Thurs
day democratic governors rode in line, as
closely identified with the ceremonial as
the republican governors. More than one
third of the states were thus represented,
and this number would probably have
been doubled if the inaugural had been
scheduled at a later date, when state
legislatures have concluded their annual
sessions.
Inauguration day appeals to the ma
tional imagination because it is the be-
ginning of q new political period. be-
cause on that day the American execu-
tive gives his pledges to the people. be-
cause the Congress ends and fresh
start is taken in all the activities Of gov
ernment. To organize a pageant in May
to compliment a President who had
taken the oath of office in March would be
little significant of the national senti-
ment. AS we'll might the public joy
making over the change Of adninistra-
tons be scheduled for the Fourth Of
July, four months after the President
had sworn to administer the laws faith
fully.
This country will never abandon the
custom of welcoming the new President
to his Office with 4 great gathering OF
people at the National capital, with d
loud acclaim of voices and with a mill
tary and civic pageant. even though
Congress continues derelict in its duty
and fails to adopt the change-of-date
amendment. 1t will continue to mark
the occasion appropriately as day Of
deep meaning, to emphasize it as a period
of celebration and to stamp it as the
time of triumph for the republican insti-
tutions Of which the newly inaugurated
executive stands as representative before
the world. 1t will not consent to the con-
tinement OF the ceremonies to the narrow
walls of the Senate chamber. 1t Will insist
upoa the President standing forth In the
IimitIess space to pledge fealty to the laws
and to state his principles where all may
hear 1t demands that he may be per-
mitted to do these things at time when
both he and the people will not be eX-
posed to the danger Of death.