The Washington times., 1917-03-05

play and, the feet of marching men
keep step.
With the precision OF long drilling
the gray-coated West Point cadets, the
army officers of the future. swing up
| Pennsylvania avenue. They receive
the applause that is their due.
The dark blue of the Annapolis
midshipmen-the youngsters of a
navy now alert on the Atlantic
comes into view and lends additional
color to a spectacle of animation and
patriotism. They. too, file by with
even tread and the tramp of many
feet sends it's echoes against the
crowds and the overhanging buildings
and stirs one to think of John Paul
Jones, Farragut, Porter, Schley, Samp-
son, and Dewey.
Fighting Color Predomlnates.
| Behind come other military organ
1 izations-the soldiers and sailors of
the regular army and navy, the Dis
trict national guard, the State troops
| typifying the nations second line OF
defense. Olive drab is the FREEDOM
mating color-it's the fighting color
of the troops of the United States
and again the standing thousands on
the sidewalks feel that the day is
worth while and the glory of the ma
tion still lives.
Elsewhere is told the detailed story
of the parade parade that excelled
all others because of the underlying
sentiment of aroused patriotism, of
new national idea and the determine
tion to meet half way whatever to-
morrow may bring whether 1t be
peace or war.
This sentiment spread through the
civic organizations as well as those
which revealed the colors. The
'Tammany Braves" one thousand
strong. with bands playing patriotic
airs, the governors Of states and their
respective escorts, the veterans OF
other wars, the marching clubs of po-
liticsI affiliations, and the citizens
organizations which found a place in
the line, were just as much American
and just as patriotic today as the blue
jacket and the trooper.
1t is probable there has never been
an inaugural with less partisanship
about It, This was not Democratic
! jubilee; it was not an occasion OF
Republican repining.
70 Crisis Dominant Note.
1t is true there were Democratic
marching clubs along Pennsylvania
avenue and many, many Republicans
at the Capitol and elsewhers ~ the
program was followed, but he inter
national crisis was the dominant note
Of every ceremonial, and men and
women forgot everything except that
Woodrow Wilson was "our President"
and Just now the spokesman for all
America in its healings with the war
ring world.
Persons who have attended many
| inaugurals somewhow felt that even
the music of the day was different.
The march tunes meant more and
the national airs had about them
something that thrilled as never be-
fore. 1t was a sorry American who
did not feel stirred as he stood at the
Capitol or on Pennsylvania avenue
| this afternoon and watched the nation
declare anew its faith in the future,
| in a republican form OF government
| and in Woodrow Wilson.
Thus the story OF the second in
augural of President Wilson Is un-
| folding itself as these words are writ
| ten. Tonight there will be another dis
play of patriotic throngs. Tomorrow
the inaugural visitors will begin TO
go home and Washington will resume
| its routine.
And tomorrow, too-and the WORD
here means the future-the nation
will await the tidings of whether the
second Administration OF woodrow
Wilson, of New Jersey, is to be one
of peace or war.