The Ordway new era., 1913-10-31

r y
execute the once of president of the
United States, and will. to the best
| of my ability. preserve. protect and
defend the Constitution OF the United
States" and then. bending to kiss the
Bible held before him, bowed his head
and said 80 help me God!" in tones
no man could mistake. SO deep was
their thrill Of feeling.
Hailed as President.
Long live George Washington.
president Of the United States!"- cried
Livingston to the people: and q great
shout went up with the booming OF
Washington was profoundly NOV
ed. and, with all his extraordinary
mastery of himself, could not hide
his agitation.
1t was q company of friends. the
senators and representatives who
stood about him within the senate
chamber AZ 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
the long years through. men who
were now his close confidants and
sworn supporters. Not many stran-
gers could crowd into the narrow
hall; and 1t was not mere love of
ceremony. but genuine and heartfelt
respect, that made the whole com.
pany stand while he read.
Washington visIbly 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 difhculty 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
deficiencles:" and no one there could
look at him and deem him insincere
when he added. "All dare aver is
that It has been my faithful study to
collect my duty from Just apprecia-
tion Of every circumstance by which
1t might be affected. All dare hope
is that. II in executing this task !
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 we'll as disinclina-
ton for the weighty and untried cares
before me. my error will be palliated
by the motives which misled me. md
its consequences be judged by my
country with some share of the par
TALLY with which they originated
Some Vital Truths.
His hearers know how near the
truth he struck when he said. The
smiles OF Heaven can never be ex-
pected on nation that disregards the
eternal rules of order and right
which Heaven itself has ordained;
and the preservation of the sacred fire
of liberty. the destiny Of the repub-
lican model of government, arc just
ly considered as deeply. perhaps as
finally. staked on the experiment in
trusted to the hands Of the American
people,"
1t was. no doubt. "a novelty In the
history of society to see great peo-
pie turn a calm and scrutinizing eye
upon ITSELF" as the people Of Amer
lea had done; ito see 1t carefully ex-