Evening star., 1921-02-21

The approaching simple Inaugural
tion of President-elect Warren G..
Harding as the twenty-eigh chief
MAGISTRATE of the United States. just
100 years from the date of James
AIonroe's second Inauguration. in 1921.
recalls some interesting historical
data embracing several of the car
dinal principles of our federal system
of government.
Mr.. Monroe's second inauguration.
which fell on the 5th of March, 1891
tSunday being the 4th). was, per-
haps, the first Inauguration in the
open on the east front of the Capitol.
The day, it is said, was propitious
for the event, and thousands were on
hand to hear the last inaugural ad-
dress of what was termed in that day
the good era President"
In the fall election, November. 1920.
President Monroe received the vote
of every state in the Union and every
electoral vote of all the electoral col
leges, except one. One vote in the
college of New Hampshire was cast
for John Quincy Adams for President.
When the growth of the country is
considered. in the lapse of 100 years.
Mr.. Hardng's vote last November
was as sweeping in its unanimity
Issues Up In 1921.
In the organization OF the house Oh
Representatives. the Seventeenth
tyongress Sd of December, 1921
which continued in session to the Sth
of May, 1S22-there was a marked
division among the republicans and
democrats upon questions of the lin
itations and powers of the federal
government.
The diversity of opinion then on
the policy of levying upon foreign
imports. with a view specially to pro-
tect domestic manufactures in the
United States. and also of entering
into a system of internal improve
ments throughout the states by the
federal government was the nucl1 1ls
from which has developed the basis
of the political organizations of the
present time. excepting questions that
came up in the meantime and settled
by the civil war.
On the 4th of May Mr.. Monroe sent
to Congress a message on the subject
of internal improvements, which has
long since been conceded by states
men of the country as one OF the
ablest state papers ever issued from
the executive department on the
general nature. character and powers
of the federal government under the
Constitution.
Noted "MOnroe DOctrine."
One of the leading quotations in
volved in the issues of the campaign
of 192o-"the Monroe doctrine"-was
embodied in a message to Congress
by President Monroe about this time.
1t was declared "as a principle" the
American continents. by the free and
Independent position which they have
assumed and maintained, are hence
forth not to be considered as sub
tects for future colonization by any
European power. This principle,
since known as the Monroe doc
trine." was the subject of a more
general discussion in the campaign Of
1920 than at any time since it was
ingrafted into our political system
about q hundred years ago.
During the session of the Seven
teenth Congress. 1921. the subject Of
a protective tariff and internal i'm
provements constituted the chief top
les Of discussion. and at this time
there are Indications that the incom-
ing administration of the government
may continue to discuss the pros and
cons Of federal policies precipitated
to Its disposition during the Monroe
administration, one hundred years
ago.
The passage Of the act Of imposing
. duty or tariff upon several articles