The leader-enterprise. [volume] (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1912-1915, 1913-07-04

ward. in their enthusiasm, to strew
roses before him in the way; brought
tears to his eyes by the very artless'
ness of their affection.
When at last the triumphal journey
was ended, the display of every pre-
yious stage capped and outdone by
the fine pageant of his escort OF boats
from Newark and of his reception at
the ferry stairs in New York, the
demonstration seemed almost more
than he could bear.
The display of boats which attend
ed and joined u.s." he confessed in his
diary. "the decorations of the ships
the roar of the cannon, and the loud
acclamations of the people which rent
the skies as l walked along the
streets. filed my mind with sensa-
tons as painful as they are pleas
ant" for his fears foreboded scenes
the opposite Of these. when he should
have shown himself unable to fulfill
the hopes which were the burden OF
all the present Joy.
II was the 2Tth OF April when Wash
,nston reached New York.
Notwithstanding his executive fash
ion az making haste. the rising OF the
couatry to bid him God-speed had
ksp, him four days longer on the way
than Mr.. Thomson had taken to carry
the summons to Mount Vernon. Three
DAVIS more elapsed before congress
had completed its preparations for
his inauguration.
On the Soth of April. in the pres
ence Of 8 great concourse of people,
who first broke into wild cheers at
sight Of him. and then fell silent
again upon the instant to see him so
moved. Washington stood face to face
with the chancellor of the state upon
the open balcony of the Federal hal!
in Wall street, and took the oath OF
Office.
Takes the Oath.
do you solemnly swear" asked
Livingston, that you will faithfully
execute the office of president of the
United States, and will, to the best of
YOUR ability, preserve, protect and de-
fend the Constitution of the United
States?"
81 do solemnly swear" replied
Washington, that l will faithfully
execute the office Of president of the
United States, and will, to the best
of my ability, preserve, protect, and
defend the Constitution of the United
and then, bending to kiss the
Bible held before him, bowed his head
and said $50 help me Cod" in tones
no man could mistake, so deep was
heir thrill of feeling.
Hailed as President.
Long live George Washington,
president of the United States!" cried
Livingston to the people; and great
shout went up with the booming of
the cannon in the narrow streets.
Washington was profoundly NOV
ed, and, with all his extraordinary
mastery of himself, could not hide
his agitation.
It was a company of friends, the
senators and representatives who
stood about him within the senate
chamber as he read his address, after
the taking of the oath.
Some very old friends were there
men who had been with him in the
first continental congress, men who
had been his intimate correspondents
the long years through, men who
were now his close confdants and
sworn supporters. Not many stran-
gers could crowd into the narrow
hall; and it was not mere love of
ceremony, but genuine and heartfelt
respect, that made the whole COM
pany stand while he read.
Washington VisibTy Moved.
He visibly trembled, nevertheless,
as he stood in their presence, strong
and steadfast man though he was,
"and several times could scarce make
out to read" shifted his manuscript
uneasily from hand to hand; gestured
with awkward effort; let his voice
fall almost inaudible; was every way
unlike himself, except for the simple
majesty and sincerity that shone in
him through it all.
His manner but gave emphasis,
after all, to the words he was reading.
"The magnitude and difficulty of
the trust" he declared, could not but
overwhelm with dependence one
who, inheriting inferior endowments
from nature, and Impractical in the
duties of civil administration, ought
to be peculiarly conscious of his own
Deficiencies" and no one there could
look at him and deem him insincere
when he added, "All I dare aver is
that it has been my faithful study to
collect my duty from just apprecia-
ton of every circumstance by which
it might be affected. All l dare hope
is that, if in executing this task I
have been too much swayed by a
grateful remembrance of former in
stances, or by an affectionate sensi-
bility to this transcendent proof of
the confidence of my fellow-citizens,
and have thence too little consulted
my incapacity as well as disinclina-
ton for the weighty and untried cares
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