The Washington times., 1917-03-05

stand and back again. Secret Service
men and detectives watched for any
unseemly act on the part Of any one.
Like Lincoln Inaugural.
And SO, in comparative sense, 1t
was when Lincoln, the rail splitter
from Illinois, came to Washington to
become President of a Union that
was about to go to pieces. Read
paragraph 'or two from Creelman's
story of the life of Lincoln and his
first inaugural:
by a secret change OF plan Lincoln
managed to reach Washington in
safety There was artillery
in the streets and ominous swarms
of soldiers. Even on the roofs sharp
shooters were to be seen. Grizzled
old General Scott had sent this word
from a sick bed to the President
elect:
"T'lI plant cannon at both ends of
Pennsylvania avenue, and IL any of
them show their heads or raise
finger I'll blow the INTO he'll
aust before he closed his speech
Lincoln looked up from bis manu-
script and his gray eyes-those eyes
that could be so tender as to make
his gaunt face beautiful-sought the
silent, listening crowd. There were
dark circles under his eyes. His
whole bearing was THAT of a man in
pain. Then he raised his splendid
head and made that last sublime ap-
peal against war:
Must Not BE Enemies.
"T am losth TO close. We are not
enemies, but friends. We must not
be enemies. Though passion may
have strained, it must not break our
bonds of affection The mystic
chords of memory, stretching from
every battlefield and patriot grave to
every living heart and hearthstone
all over this broad land, will yet
swell the chorus of the Union when
again touched. as surely they will be,
by the better angels of our nature
"As Lincoln kissed the open Bible
in the hands of Chief Justice Taney
who wrote the Dred Scott opinion
supporting slavery-the thunder of
artillery announced his vow to de-
ferd the Union"
It's long lapse from 1861 and
disunion to 1917 and the union that
exists today, and yet Woodrow VIII
son, whose face, too, is careworn, and
who, il he smiles. must force it, stood
before the American people shortly
after noon today and confronted re-
sponsibilities probably as burdensome
as those that made Lincoln unhappy
more than a half century ago.
No InternecIne Strife.
This nation faces no internecine
strife. Fort Sumter is not under
seige. There is no secession. There
are forty-eight stars in the American
flag and there are one hundred mil
lion people back of the President.
Yet the inaugural today could not
/, be one merely of spectacular perform
, ance and domestic significance. The
Wilson inaugural address had its echo
in foreign lands. 1t stirred anew the
patriotism of America. 1t was de-
liHered while more man half the
world continued the greatest war of
all time.
This war has been brought to the
very ports, the watery doors, of the
United States. No man, not even the
President whose guiding hand must
see this nation through 1t all, can
look forty-eight hours into the fu-
ture-
Much the Same Attitude.
So Woodrow Wilson stood at the
Capitol today much in the attitude of
Abraham Lincoln in 1861. The shadow
of conflict hung over the national
horizon. That the impending danger
was international rather than domes-
tic but added to the gravity of his
utterances, to the solemnity OF the
hour.
Again there was a silent an | listen
there failed to appreciate the signifi-
tion of the scene.
About the President of the United
States on the inaugural stand were
the men who must share his burdens
IL war comes.
High officers of the army and navy,
in their dress uniforms, typified the
spirit OF national defense. The mem
bers of the Presidents Cabinet, shar-
ing his confidence in a period of world
disturbance, sat with solemn faces
within a few feet of where Mr.. Will
son stood before the assembled thou
sands and uttered hopefully a doctrine
OF world peace.
Lawmakers on Each Side.
The members OF the Congress of the
SNoNNSB NAiS power,
occupied stands to the right and left
OF the President. The justices of the
Supreme Court were near by. The
governors of States, who have said
that their national guardsmen are
ready. sat within the sound of the
Presidents voice.
Out in front were soldiers and
sailors. guardsmen and men repre
sentative OF the volunteers who will
take up arms should II become neces
sary. Out in front there were tbou
sands Of just plain Americans-men
women, and chiIdren-with quicken
ing pulse under the influence of q
great event
Now the scene of the nationaI
drama shifts TO Pennsylvania avenue
"a thoroughfare up which all Presi
dents, from Thomas jefferson to vii
son, have gone after assuming III.
oath of office.
street Lined Once Moro.
Once more that street is lined with
the thousands who come to Wash
ingtOn quadrennially to celebrate tbs
perpetuity of American institution.
and to acclaim the First Citizen In
the greatest republic. The sidewalk.
are filled with cheering Americans
The reviewing stands contribute I,