Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 March 1901 — PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

The second inauguration of William McKinley was even more grandly Impressive than the first. For more than three months the inauguration committee, of which the Hon. J. J. Kdson was chairman. had been industriously at work on plans and details. While preserving all the time-honored features of _ inaugural ceremonies, they introduced many new ideas which they felt would greatly improve the inaugural spectacles, in the arches that spanned the streets and in the decorations of the buildings were allowu evidences of the progress of the nation, and the inaugural procession embracing the army, the Guardsmen, the fl. A. It., the navy, civic bodies, religious ami educational interests, an I exhibits of material resources, the decorations of the streets and buildings, the receptions and the iuaurural bull all kept this central Idea before the mind just so far as h wa» possilde for them to do so. The generals participating in the Spanish war, tiioae conspicuous in the suppression of tlie Philippine rebellion, admirals who fought at Manila bay and at Santiago, tlie regulars in khaki, the Guardsmen in their gay uniforms, the middies in their jaunty uniforms, the campaign marching dubs with brilliant equipage, the civic I bodies each conspicuous for sonic allegorical representation, the trophies of war on land and sea. etc., combined to make u panorama of the nation's power It falls to comparatively few people to behold such a spectacle ns that which those on the plaza saw before them ns the President took the oath of other., In front, neres and acres of humanity, upturned faces. In trees and upon Tile ornamental lampposts decorations of liumaii form nud shape. Clambering over the statuary which graces tlie portico of the grandest of all national atatelionaes, hundreds of adventurous youths and men. High upon the noble dome, peering over har.arilotis ledges, peeping out from every porthole in the glass roof, still other reprcHcntatives of Americans who will see or die. In the background of this vast picture the beautiful library of Congress, fit monument to the artistic and educational instincts of a people who escorted to the executive chair their twenty-sixth President in a little more than n hundred years .of national life--a library which takes first rank iu all the world of hearty of architecture and adornment. Htirrounding this building, the prid? of the national capital, aud iu every direction aa fay aa vision goes, roafH Is* seen the glint of steel, the flying inane of cavalry horses, the shimmer of the uniforms es the troop*, federal aud Htate.

scenes of magnificence are beheld rather less than once a lifetime, and then are generally conjured up by the magic of a fairy tale. Its splendors shunted the superlatives of admiration us weak, beggarly and worthless. Its trappings were worthy the munificent efforts of those omnipotent genii who transform bubbles into diamonds with a breath. Its bewildering beatifies would have satisfied the most exacting exquisite of the fairy world, whose dreams always come true. Its display of lustrous stuffs and glittering gents would have excited th(> envy of that ancient Mr. Froesus who set the fashion of being so rich that uo our could disprove it. This hall —which is uot a hall, by the way; only a grand spectacle on the most extravagant of scales—dimmed the glories of all its predecessors. It was fha dream of thousands crystallised into life iu»d light, color aud rhythm. It tilled many a fair woman's cup of ambition brimming full and running over. It dowered many it blnuielyss man with n happy, ever-present bdast for all his remaining days. The scene of these splendors was the great pension building, which is generous enough to encompass a city: square and tall enough to swallow a sky scraper. This hull, with gigantic proportions befitting the great republic, was draped with a wilderness of flowers and greens and Hags and gay stuffs, and the whole Hooded with the dazzling radiance of a myriad of electric lights. The walls of the court were hidden tinder endless stretches of white drnpcriciji spnlshcd with golden cloths in sweeping loops anil graceful circles. On this background of white nml gold, labor had spread the wealth of the world of Hora. Southern Ivy ran riot iu deli<aie traceries. Evergreen ropes circled the halt in curving pendant*. Palms of many kinds reared their fronded heads In lofty pride above f<-ruw, bays and lesser plants, while geticstns lent their fellow: blossoms to the maze of color. The music was continuous. The Marine hand supplied ptotuenade music, while Haley's orchestra of 11!." pieces played for the dancers. The musical program embraced selections of the highest order. The ball program was repeated at live concerts, to which the public was admitted for a nominal ndinission; together wilh selections by a picked orchestra of (100 voices supported by I with baud and orchestra. These concerts were expected, to help iu a large measure to defray the cost of the Imll. Patronise those who advertise.

participated in the parade* lu additioa to tlie officers in service, hundreds of exregular army officers and volunteers particnated in full regimentals. The grand marshal of the stupendous inaugural ceremonies was Lieut. (Jen. Nelson A. .Miles, commander-in-chief of tite American army. (Jen. Francis V. Green was grand marshal of the parade, and his aids were selected from every Stale in the Union. Tens anti hundreds of thousands of American citizens thronged the sidewalks ' and the reviewing stands. While they j shouted iu applause the column swung on to the time of national airs rolling up to heaven from a hundred bands. The I strains of “John Brown’s Body" and “Marching Through Georgia" mingled with the music of “Dixie'*! nud “Maryland. My Maryland,” while the man from the North nud the man from the South applauded, each without discrimination. Then “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “America” were heard. The crowds caught up the airs, and 10,000 voices were joined in a national chorus, w’hieh proclaimed that sectionalism is n bugaboo and that one Hag waves over one people. SOW 1-1 ()T T H KBAN DP. OrKonizations That Attructel Attention Everywhere. The inauguration did not lack for music. There wore nearly a hundred organizations In attendance. The famous Marine band had to divide honors with Fatiehulli’s uoted organization of New York and with tunes' celebrated body of musicians. The Grand Army band of Canton. Ohio, 100 pieces, was,ope of the most conspicuous, and Bcldstcdt’s ('on-' cert hnnd of Cincinnati, oue of the most popular organizationa cast of the Mississippi. had a prominent place in the ceremonies. Among others were several Indian bunds that have n reputation for excellence, of which that from the Indian training school at Chamtierlniii, S. D., la perhaps the best knowu. RKVIKWISo bT.VNDS Were Under the Supervision of the In* augural Committee. This year, for the first time, the stands along the route of the inaugural parade wen; not let to the highest bidders, but were erected tinder the direction of the inaugural committee and seats in the stauda sold under its direction. Reasonable prices were charged for these seats, one purpose of the committee's retaining control being to prevent extortion. Moral wave has hit Dawson, Alaska.