The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1913-08-02

e Ol6ry, ZIG OoCOI0t4Oub VI gU0 oulpn
the roar Of the cannon, and the loud
acclamations Of the people which rent
the skies as walked along the
streets, filled my mind with sensa
lions as painful az they are pleas.
ant: for his fears foreboded- scenes
the opposite of these. when he SHOULD
have shown himself unable to fulfil
the hopes which. were the burden OF
all the present Joy. r. s..ry .. " I: ,4...
It was the 9th ofApr1l when Wash
ington reached New York. .
Notwithstanding his executive fash
ion of making haste, the rising Of the
country to bid, him God-speed had
kept him four days longer on the way
than Mr.. Thomson had taken to carry
the summons to Mount Vernon. Three
days. more elapsed before congress
had completed Its: preparations TO,
his inauguration. 4 Il ~ .
On the 30th Of April, in the pres
ence of a great concourse of people
who first broke into wild cheers al
sight Of him, and then fell silent
again upon the instant to sec him SO
moved, Washington stood face to face
with the chancellor Of the state upon
the open balcony Of the Federal hall
In Wall street. and took the oath Of
Office. =. ~...
Takes tho Oath.
do you solemnly swear" asked
Livingston, t.that you WIN faithfully
execute the office Of president Of thu
United States, and will, to the best Of
your ability, preserve, protect and de-
fend the Constitution of the United
States?"
II do solenmly swear" replfed
Washington. that I will faithfully
execute the Office of president of the
United States, and will, to the best
Of my ability, preserve, protect, an1
defend tho Constitution of the United
States" and then, bending to kiss thu
Bible held before him, bowed his head
and said $50 help me God!" in tones
no man could mistake, SO deep wa
their thrill Of feeling:
-. Hailed az President.
Long live George Washington
president Of the United States!" Grief
Livingston to the people; and a great
shout went up with the booming o
the cannon in tho narrow streets.
Washington was profoundly NOV
ed, and, with all his extraordinar,
mastery of himself, could not hid.
his agitation.
It. was a company OF friends, thu
senators and representatives whit
stood about him within the senat,
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 correspondence
the long years through; men who
were now his close: con1ldants and
sworn supporters. Not many stran.
gers could crowd into the marrow
hall; and It was not mere love OF
ceremony. but genuine and heartfelt
respect, that made the whole com,
pany. stand while he: read. !: ,s.5:: 4 !
" Washington VIsibly Movsds:s:
He. Ytsthly .trembled, nevertheless,
as NJ he stood in: their presence, st1ong
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 despondence one
who, 1nheriting 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, 1nsincere
when he added, "All dare aver: is
that It has been my faithful study to
collect my duty from q just apprecia.
ton Of every circumstances by which
1t might be affected. All I dare hope
is that, if in executing this task
have been too much swayed by .
grateful remembrance of former in
stances, or by an aftectionate sensi-
hility to this transcendent proof Of
the confidence Of my fellow-citizens,
and have thence too little consulted
my 1ncapacity as well as disinclinar
ton for the weighty and untrted cares