Evening star., 1924-12-10
IN TODAY'S SPOTLIGHT
BY PAUL y. COLLINS.

While President Coolidge Is mod
estly holding down the enthusiasm m
OF various boosters of an impressive
inaugur alton program, 1t may be
noted that he is not the first Pfesi-
dent who has deprecated extrayagant
or elaborate ostentation upon assum-
ing the greatest office In the world
1t is usually a strife between personal
modesty and public recognition that
the event fs one expressing non-parti-
san patriotism, and that II must be
observed with the dignity and impres-
siveness commensurate with the maj
esty Of the great Nation.
x X & *
The date of the Inauguration
March 4, was established by resolu-
tion Of the Continental Congress. in
1888, as soon as It was found that g
sufficient number of States had
adopted the Constitution to make II
effective. The delay of George
Wasbington's first Inauguration, tc
April so, was due to the mode OF
travei-he had to go from Mount
Vernon to New York, which was then
the National Capital
At Philadelphia and Trenton-ir
fact in all villages also through which
the distinguished traveller passed-he
| was given great ovations. When he
boarded a barge at Elizabethport
which was to convey him to New
York, hundreds Of boats followed in
grand maritime escort. Washington
had requested avoidance of display
but he was persuaded to waive his
protests.
He took the oath of ONCE April 80
1889, in the presence OF Congress and
a vast throng OF spectators, and i'm
mediately after the new President
had kissed the Bible. Robert r. Liv-
ingston, chancellor of New York, who
had administered the oath, cried
aloud: Long live George Washing
ton, President Of the United States"
a cry so nearly resembling that pro-
claiming q new king, that IL brought
popular protest and has never beer
repeated.
The second Inauguration of Wash
| ington took place in Philadelphia
| March 4, 1893. The removal of the
Capital from New York to Philadel-
phia and, later. to the banks of the
Potomac, was due to a. bargain BY
| Alexander Hamilton, made at din
ner arranged by Thomas Jefferson
The Capital was fixed at Philadelphia
for 10 years, and after that it was to
be permanently upon the present site
| In consideration of this concession
| by the North, 1t was agreed that al
State debts then outstanding-mainl
| the result of the Revolutionary strug-
, gle-shouid be assumed by the Gen
eral Government. Congress charged
President Washington to fix the
| boundaries Of the Federal District
and Maryland and Virginia ceded tc
the Government the necessary ter
| ritory.
/ - n N
When John Adams succeeded Wash
inRton, March 4, 1897, the ceremony
was held in the old State House-In-
dependence Hall-Philadelphia- So
many spectators wept because II
marked the retirement OF Washing
| ton from public life, that President
Adams in jealousy, complained that
| there was more weeping than there
had ever been at q presentation OF
a tragedy" and he further was in
doubt whether this was from grief
at the loss Of their beloved Preside nj
or because OF the accession or an
unloved one"
| Thomas Jefferson was the first
President inaugurated in the new
city off, Washington. the National
Capital. The Federalists were sc
chagrtned at the loss Of the election
that President Adams refused to at
tend the Inauguration ceremony. and
left the Capital before daylight
Some accounts say that Jefferson
rode horseback to the Capitol. and.
hitching his horse to a tree, walked
un nescorted into the Capitol and took
the oath. Other accounts state that
instead Of riding horseback. he walked,
but was escorted By cavalry. There
was no special incident In connection
with Jefferson's second inauguration
James Madison rode sumptuously
to the Capitol. March 4, 1908, but he
made much of the fact that he was