The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1917-03-08
PRESIDENT WILSON
RE-INAUGURATED.
EXECUTIVE AND VICE
PRESIDENT SUCCEED THEM
SELVES IN OFFICE.

Washington, March ., 5,-WooHoW
Wilson, with the major part of the
world at war and America poised on
its verge. consecrated his second in
auguration as President ofthe United
States today with a last message of
hope for peace.
Standing in the shadow of the ma
tons Capitol, with his face turned
toward the eastern war-seared skies,
the President renewed his oath of al
Ilegiance to the Constitution, praying
to God that he might be given wisdom
and prudence to do his duty in the
true spirit of the American people.
While trumpets blared and martial
accoutrements ratified prophetically
about him, the President pictured
the deep wrongs the United States
patiently had borne in the conflict of
other peoples. without wishing to
wrong or injure them in return. AS
serting tragedies of another continent
had removed proyincialism and made
Americans citizens of the world, and
that the principles of this republic
should be applied to the liberation Of
mankind, he resolutely voiced de-
termination that America, standing
firm in armed neutrality" must
demonstrate her claim to a mini
mum of right and freedom of action"
in world affairs.
Peculiar interest and significance
in the light of the rebuke last night
to Senator'S who prevented the pas
sage of the armed neutrality bill were
attached to the Presidents assertion
on this point. Even more interest and
concern were aroused when he added:
I'VE may even be drawn on by cir
cumstances, not by our own purpose
or desire, to a more active assertion
of our rights as we see them and a
more immediate association with the
great struggle itself. But nothing
will alter our thought of our purpose.
We desire neither conquest nor ad-
vantage. We wish nothing that can
BE- had only at the cost of another
people. We always have professed
u1selfsh purpose, and we covet the
opportunity to prove that our profess
sions are sincere"
Making no attempt to review the
legislative record of the last four
years. the President said this was no
time for retrospection. The time was
one to speak of thoughts and pur-
poses for the immediate future. To
be Indifferent to the influence of the
war upon America. or independent
of it, he said, was impossible. and he
was firm in the conviction that the
part this country wished to play in
the vital turmoil was the part of
those who mean to- vindicate and
fortlfy peace.
These were the dominant thoughts
of the President as he addressed the
cheering multitude in the broad pla-
"a of the Capitol grounds. In the as
semblage before him American citi-
zens of all nations had sung "Ameri-
ca with mighty voice. while wait
ing for his appearance on the inau-
gural stand. And in the procession
which followed him to the White
House and passed in review com.
posite and cosmopolitan people" gave
graphic evidence of loyalty and pa
triotism
I'VE are American citizens. fiared
from banners borne by once alien
hands. I'VE are ready to fight and
die for America" was the stirring
message blazing from the standard
waving over the heads of new Am
erican citizens from Poland. Men
of many foreign ancestries held to
the breeze as they marched past the
chief executive other insignia of pa
triotic Americanism and the words
America First" emblazoned from
countless streamers aroused the
throngs along Washington's broad
thoroughfares to continual outbursts
of patriotic fervor.
From the time the President left
the White House until his return
his plaudits with him was Mrs Will
son, who accompanied him to the
Capitol, stood by his side on the in
augural stand as Chief Justice White
administered the oath of office and
Joined in acknowledging the tributes
and acclaim in the professional jour
ney to the White House. 1t was the
first time in history that the wife of
a President had participated so
prominently in inaugural ceremonies;
and gracing them also was Mrs
Marshall. wife of the Vice President,