The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-05

seated the members of the diplomatic
corps, governors of states and territories,
members of the cabinet, army and navy
j officials were at the left.
| While the party was assembling the
units of the inaugural procession were
| forming on all sides of the capitol, and
the music of marching bands as the
organizations took places waiting TO
swing into line behind the president
when he started back to the White
House, gave the only appearance of a
military air in the whole proceeding.
The assembling of the presidential
party, its departure and the demonstra-
tions of the crowd were the only spec
tacular features of the outdoor cere-
mony. The actual ceremony itself is
simplicity and solemnity.
When the president took the inaugural
oath, the chief justice, Bible in hand
stepped forward; the man about to take
Office stood beside him with raised hand.
Slowly and solemnly the chief Justice re-
peated the oath prescribed by the con-
stitution:
II do solemnly swear that will faith
fully execute the Office of president of
the United States. and will to the best
of my ability preserve, protect and de-
fend the constitution of the United
States"
Solemnly the oath was repeated after
the chief justice, and the ceremony was
over, except for the delivery of the inau-
gural address.
The Inaugural Address.
President Wilson said: "My fellow
citizens, the four years which have
elapsed since last | stood in this place
have been crowded with counsel and ac-
tion of the most vital interest and con
sequence. Perhaps no equal period in
our history has been so fruitful of i'm
portant reforms in our economic and in
dustrial life or so full of significant
changes in the spirit and the purpose of
our political action. We have sought
very thoughtfully to place our house in
order, to correct the errors and abuses of
our industrial life, to liberate and quick
en- the processes of our national genius |
and lift our politics to the broader view /!
of the peoples essential interests.
Although we have centered counsel |
and action with such unusual concentra- |
tion and success upon the great problems |
OF domestic legislation. other matters
living outside of our own life as a ma /
tion and over which we had no control, l
but which despite our wish to keep free /
from them, have drawn us more and |
more irresistably into their own current |
and influence. 1t has been impossible to /
avoid them. They haye affected the life
~ no h,1a
y wronged upon the seas, but have not
wished to wrong or injure in return.
We have retained throughout conscious
ness of standing in some sort apart, in
tent upon an interest that transcribed
Lhe immediate issue of the war itself.
Continuing, President Wilson said:
We have been obliged to arm ourselves
TO make good our claim to a certain
minimum of right and of freedom of ae-
ion. We stand firm in armed neutral
ty since IL seems that in no other way
an we demonstrate which it is we in
list upon and cannot forego. We NAV
wen be drawn upon by circumstances,
Tot OF our own purpose or desire. TO a
more active assertion of our rights as we
zee them and to a more immediate asso-
.iation with the struggle itself. But I
nothing viii alter our thought or our
purpose. We desire neither conquest
Tor advantage. We wish nothing that
an be had only at the cost of another
'eOple. We always profess unselfsh
purpose and we eovet the opportunity
o prove that our professions are sincere.
The tragic events OF 50 months of {
.ital turmoil, through which we have ,
uAf nnzaaH hns-a urraHa =
he world There can be no turning !
'ack- Our own fortunes as a nation are !
involved whether We would have it so or