The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1911-03-29
THE LINCOLN INAUGURAL.

his father, who was then in congress.
Il remember dining on the day pre-
ceding the inauguration,' said Mr..
Adams to the Boston Herald, at the
house Of Secretary Seward. 1t was
Sunday, and the midday meal was of
a very informal character. There
were eight Or ten guests. visitors in
Washington like myself.
After the conversation had follow.
ed commonplace topics for sometime
Secretary Seward caused something Of
a stir by announcing that he had spent
a part Of the morning in reading the
manuscript Of the inaugural address
which Mr.. Lincoln was to deliver ON
the following day. Of course, Mr..
Seward did not give any detailed in
formation As to it. but he said that he
thought it was a very sensible docu.
ment. and that it would be generally
considered satisfactory.
"He then added, which in the light
Of subsequent events proved u peril.
nent comment, that he considered the
most characteristic Of the presidents
style vas q vein of sentiment and i'm.
sginatlon which ran through his writ.
ing.
The day of the inauguration was
clear and, as l remembered it. some.
what blustery. Any one who has ever
encountered on Pennsylvania avenue
a March dust borne on March wind
is not likely even in the Washington
Of today to covet repetition Of the
experience, and fifty years ago the
streets, as yet unpaved, were always
either impossible from mud or ankle
deep in dust. None the less for that,
from an early hour the whole town
seemed to gather toward the capitol.
During the earlier proceedings 1
was present in the reporters gallery OF
the senate chamber, surreptitiOusly
struggled in, as l remember it, under
the friendly wing Of General James
Watson Webb, the famous editor of
the New York Courier and Enquirer;
but l can recall nothing of what took
place below, except the impression
made on me by the two chief person.
alities of the occasion-the outgoing
president and the president.elect. In
spite of his wry neck and dubious age,
l could not but feel that Mr.. Buchan-
an was undeniably the more present.
able man of the two; his tall, large
figure and white head appeared well
beside Mr.. Lincoln's lank, angular
form and hirsute face; nor did the
dress and bearing of the latter indi-
cate that knowledge which was desir-
able of the amenities Of the time and
place. As whole the scene impress.
ed me as being distinctly unimpressive.
During the delivery ofthe iuaugur-
al | could only distinguish Lincoln's
words now and then, without ut all
following the trend Of the address.
As spectacle it was not heartening.
The capitol, it must be remembered,
was at that time in wholly unfinish-
ed condition, and derricks rose from
the great dome as well As from the
sedate and representative wings.
"On the staging front l saw tall,
ungainly man addressing a motely
gathering-some thousands in mum.
ber-with a voice elevated to its high
est pitch; but his delivery, as l remem-
Der it, was good-quiet, accompanied
by little gesture and with small pre-
tense at oratory. The grounds, at the
east front are so large that it is diff.
cult ever to compute correctly as audi
ence there gathered. should say,
however, that the mob Of citizens on
that occasion did not exceed four or
five thousand.
at was a very ordinary gathering,
with somewhat noticeable absence of
pomp, state. ceremony, or even Of con-
AS l remembered not a
uniform was to be seen. recall it as
q species Of mass meeting evincing lit
tie enthusiasm: but silent, attentive,
and wonderfully respec-
table and orderly.
"Throughout, however, a curious
sense of uneasiness prevailed-a sort of |
expectancy. The thought
was ever present in my mind. as l
fancy in that of every individual there
of something on the program about to
occur. l did not myself really fear,
much less expect it; but, none the less.
very distinctly recall the latent men.
Al