It's a Cold Day When We Get Left.
VOL. Till.
HOOD RIVER, OREGON, FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 1897.
NO. 42.
1
President McKinley Takes
' Up the Reins of Our
Government.
THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY
Countless Thousands Viewed The Great
' Civic and Military Parade Beautiful
' Decorations and Magnificent IUuml-
nations Inaugural Ball a Success
Thursday, March 4,' for the fourth
time, a native-born citizen of Ohio, in
the presence of untold thousands of his
countrymen, took the oath which bound
him for four years to guard the welfare
of the American people. . It was an im
pressive yet beautifully simple cere
mony that marked the ascension of
William MoKinley, soldier, lawyer,
representative, governor, to the high
office of president.
The popular demonstration of the day
was unique and a shining success in
every particular, in Deauty, m taste,
in novelty the decorations were incom
parably superior to anything ever seen
in Washington. The magnificent body
of regular United States troops was
more numerous than any gathered
sinoe Grant's great display at the close
of the war. Seventeen sovereign states
had citizens in the parade, and over
sixty oivic organizations helped to swell
its magnificent proportions.
Along the broad avenue on every open
space were erected grandstands that
were not only comfortably covered and
of pretty architectural design, but ap
propriately decorated. The citizens
had spent money liberally to beautify
their houses, and, with the aid of
thousands of flags of every kind, loaned
by the national government, Pennsyl
vania, the great artery avenue of the
city, was turned into a rainbow of
bright color, in which "Old Glory"
predominated. '
. i .
Scenes on the Streets.
- The line of march of the parade was
longer than usual, fully four miles,
made so to ease the pressure of specta
tors in the central part of the city.
To witness all this display there was
a mighty gathering of American people.
Even up to noon railroads poured thou
sands into the oity.
All the grandstand seats were taken
early. Prices of windows were phe
nomenal, f zo oeing trie lowest ior a
single window, and prioes ranging to
$300 for a three-window room. Cal
vin Brice, of Ohio, paid $1,000 for an
avenue room for - a day at Willard's,
with luncheon added for a small party.
' Decorations in the City. ,
A stiff breeze flaunted flags, banners
and bunting in the air, adding piotur
esqueness to the broad avenue, from
the treasury to the capitol, packed with
people. '
The center of the interest of the deo
orations of the oity was Pennsylvania
avenue, stretching, an unbroken sheet
of asphalt, 150 feet broad and a mile
long, from the capital to the foot of- the
treasury, and thence, after a short
break at Fifteenth Btreet, for another
mile and a half past the north front of
the treasury, past the White House and
the state, war and navy departments
to Washington Heights. '
The great trough of buildings from
the oapitol to the treasury was a wealth
of bunting. There were flags of all na
tions waving from the windows.
Beginning of the Ceremonies.
The presidential family party arrived
at tne capitol at 11:40, and entered the
east reserved gallery. Mrs. McKinley
and her sister, Mrs. Barber, took front
seats." , Mrs. MoKinley, sr. , was two
Beats from Mrs. McKinley, jr. , and the
two bent forward frequently for an ex
change of happiness.
The diplomatio corps entered the
chamber at 11:45, followed a moment
later by the chief justice arid associate
justices of the United States supreme
court. ... Members of the house of repre
sentatives then entered. There was a
stir when the senate officials announced
Vice-President-elect Mr. Hobart, who
stepped to a seat near the presiding
officer's desk.
4 Presidential Party Arrives.
At 12:20 President Cleveland and
President-elect McKinley entered the
main doors. .. Attention was riveted at
once on these two central figures. Mc
Kinley and Cleveland were seated im
mediately in 1 front of the presiding
officer, facing the senate and crowd.
' - Members of the house of representa
tives filled the entire body of the hall
on the right side, and on the opposite
area sat senators and senators-elect
The Vice-President Sworn In.
As the presidential party took seats,
Vice-President Stevenson arose and in
vited his successor to step forward and
take the oath of office. Hobart ad
vanced to the desk, raised his right
hand, and took the oath in accordance
with the constitution.
Stevenson then delivered his valedic
tory address. He thanked the members
MUSI
with whom he had been associated for
their many kindnesses, and wished
them God speed in their future delib
erations. 1
, Vioe-President Hobart, speaking in
a strong, well-modulated tone, then de
livered his introductory address. He
began by saying: ,
"Senators: To have been elected to
preside over the senate of the United
States is a distinction which any citizen
would prize, and the manifestation of
confidence which it implies is an honor
which . I sincerely appreciate. My
gratitude and loyalty to the people of
the country to whom I owe this honor,
and my duty to you as well, demands
such a conservative, equitable and con
scientious construction and enforcement
of your rules as shall promote the well
being and prosperity of the people, and
at the same time conserve the time
honored precedents and established tra
ditions which have contributed to make
this tribunal the most distinguished of
the legislative bodies of the world."
His address was brief, and at its con
clusion he was loudly applauded.
Senators Sworn in.
' The proclamation of the outgoing
president, calling an extra session of
the senate having been read, Vioe
President Hobart requested the new
senators to advanoe and take the oath
of office. At the presiding offioer's sug
gestion, Mr. Morrill, the patriarch of
the senate, was complimented with be
ing the first sworn in. No exact order
was observed, the oath being given to
four senators at one time, With the
fifteen new men were twelve of the old
senators who were sworn in for new
terms. .
The President.
While oaths were being administered,
Cleveland and McKinley sat talking in
a low tone. It was clearly a most
agreeable change, for the old and new
presidents smiled now and then, as they
nddded acquiescence to each other.
It was 1:05 P. M.,when the last oath
had been administered, and the formal
exit began, the supreme justices going
first, Mr. Cleveland, President McKin
ley and other officials following. Just
before the official party withdrew, Mrs.
McKinley and the mother of the presi
dent were escorted from the gallery to
the east front of the capitol, where the
oath of office was to be taken by the
new president The occupants of the
public gallery were held in their places
for some time in order not to block the
procession of officials. Gradually the
chamber was deserted.
The Procession Appears.
The crowd had waited patiently in
front of the stand erected at the east
wing for the procession from the senate
chamber to appear.
When the retiring and incoming
presidents stepped on the platform arm
in arm their appearance was greeted
with a thunderous roar. Cleveland now
faced an inauguration audience for the
fourth time, onoe more than any other
president As McKinley walked down
the platform the yells and shouts be
came deafening, and as he stepped upon
the raised platform he felt compelled to
acknowledge them by bowing right and
left. He then took a seat . The press
against the stand was so terrifip that
women screamed with pain and several
fainted.
' Meantime the procession from the
senate continued. All the time 40,000
people were straining to. keep up the
termendous applause.
. MoKinley Takes the Oath. . , "
McKinley arose and uncovered while
Chief Justice Fuller, in flowing robes,
administered the oath. The new presi
dent kissed the large, gilt-edged Bible
presented by the bishops of the African
Methodist church to seal his oath. The
people continued to roar. Holding a
manuscript in his hand he turned to
the multitude, and, lifting up his
hand as in admonition for order, began
his inaugural address.
A short delay occurred after McKin
ley delivered bis inaugural, as it was
deemtd advisable for the preside to
partake of lunch at the oapitol instead
of following the former custom and
halting the parade while he took lunch
at the White House.
The Great Parade.
The capital city never looked upon
such a perfect parade as that which es
corted President McKinley from the
capitol to the White House and then
passed in review under his eye. The
feature of the splendid pageant was the
perfect balance between its contrasting
parts and the high order of skill that
was shown in the handling of the 20,
000 or more men in line.
. Amid the merry spectators a hearty
round of applause and a reverential un
covering of heads was called forth by
the passing of the limping and battle
scarred veterans of the ' war, now but
few in number, but of sturdy heart.
With the president and Major McKin
ley in the carriage were Senators Sher
man and Mitchell. Behind the presi
dential carriage, riding in solitary state,
was Mr. John Addison Porter, secretary
of the president-elect. The cabinet
officials and other dignitaries followed
in carriages. . '
The blaok horse troop forming the
president's escort fell in at the rear of
the carriages. Following the Cleveland
troop came .Colonel Ceoil Clay, com
mander of the District of Columbia Na
tional Guard, with a glittering staff of
aides. There were 1,200 men in this
division, all in the uniform of the na
tional guard. The line moved down
the avenue through a black mass of
cheering thousands. ' - '
The Inaugural Ball.
, With the night came the crowning
glory of the inauguration. - The resi
dences and public buildings were aflame
with lights, the streets were crowded
with people, and the clamoring multi
tudes still battled at the doors of hotels
and restaurants demanding food and
drink, thousands surged to and fro in
front of the monument grounds, whence
arose the chromatic fireworks which
illuminated, the city in fitful gleams,
but it was at the pension building that
the politicians paid their respects to so
ciety. - There distinguished guests of
the occasion paid homage to President
McKinley and the new mistress of the
White House, and later ; threaded the
mazes of the dance.
The ball was the climax of the day.
The pension building is admirably
The Vice-President.
suited for this spectacular display. It
lends itself to the most artistic decora
tion, and it was never so beautifully
decorated and festooned and lighted as
on this night. The graceful arohes
trembled with flowers and greenery,
the colossal columns seemed to grow
out of banks of flowers, and supported
the iron roof, which was a royal canopy
of white and gold.. Hundreds of cana
ries in gold cages tucked away in the
greenery sang merrily. The thousands
of electric lights flashed amid the
flowers and drapery. The artistic effect
of the lights was probably never
equalled, certainly not surpassed, in
this country.
It was like the portals of fairyland,
with its vision of beautiful women, its
myriads of gleaming ligths, its gorge
ous massing of colors, its wealth of
blossoms, its pulsations .of music and
the heavy odor of thousands of per
fumes. '
THE PRESIDENT'S SPEECH.
Fellow-Citizens: In obedience to the
will of the people, and in their pres
ence, by the authority vested in me by
this oath, I assume the arduous and re
sponsible duties of the president of the
United States, relying on the support
of my countrymen and invoking the
guidance of. Almighty God. Our faith
teaches that there is no safer reliance
than upon the God of our fathers, who
has so singularly favored the American
people in every national trial, and who
will not forsake us, so long as we obey
His commandments and walk humbly
in His footsteps. .
The responsibilities of the trust to
whioh I have been called, always of
grave , importance, are augmented by
the prevailing business conditions, en
tailing idleness upbn willing labor and
loss to useful enterprise. The country
is suffering from industrial disturbances
from which speedy relief must be had.
Need of Currency Revision. '
Our financial system needs some revi
sion; our money is all good now, but its
value must not further be threatened.
It should all be put upon an enduring
basis, not subject to easy attack, nor
its stability to doubt or dispute. Our
currency should continue under the su
pervision of the government The sev
eral forms of our paper money offer, in
my judgment, a constant embarrass
ment to the government and to a safe
balance in the treasury. Therefore, I
deem it necessary to devise a system,
without diminishing the circulating
medium or offering a premium for its
contraction, which will present a rem
edy for those arrangements which, tem
porary in their nature, might well, in
times of our prosperity, have been dis
placed by wiser provisions. With ade
quate revenue' insured, but not until
then, can we enter upon such changes
in our fiscal laws as will, while insur
ing safety and volume to our money, no
longer impose upon the government the
necessity of maintaining so large a gold
reserve, with its attendant and inevit
able temptations to speculation. , Most
of our financial laws are the outgrowth
of experience and trial, and should not
be amended without investigation and
demonstration of the wisdom of the
proposed changes. We must be both
sure, we are right, and "make haste
slowly." If, therefore, oongress in its
wisdom shall deem it expedient to
create a commission to take under early
consideration the revision of our coin
age, banking and currency laws and
give them exhaustive, careful and dis
passionate examination which the cir
cumstance demands, I shall cordially
concur in such action. If such power
is vested in the president, it is my pur
pose to appoint a commission of promi
nent, well-informed citizens of different
parties, who will oommand public con
fidence, both on account of their ability
and special fitness for the work. ' Busi
ness experience and public training
may thus be combined, and the patri
otic zeal of the citizens of the country
be so directed that such a report will
be made as to receive the support of all
parties, and our finances cease to be
the subject of mere partisan contention.
The experiment is, at all events, worth
a trial, and in my opinion ; it will
prove beneficial to the entire country.
International Bimetallism. '
' The question of international bi
metallism will have early and earnest
attention. It will be my constant en
deavor to secure it by co-operation with
the other great commercial , powers of
the world. Until - that condition is
realized the relative value of silver al
ready coined and that which may here
after be coined must be constantly
kept at par with gold by every resource
at our command. , . V , , ;';
Government Must Economise. ; ,
The credit of the government, the in
tegrity of the currency and the inviol
ability of its obligations must be pre
served. This was the commanding ver-
diot of the people, and it will not be
unheeded. Economy is demanded in
every branch of the government at all
times, but especially in periods like
the present depression of business and
distress among the people. The sever
est economy must be observed in all
public expenditures and extravagance
stopped wherever found, and prevented
wherever in the future it may be de
veloped. .If the revenues are to remain
as now, the only relief that can come
must be from decreased expenditures.
But the present must not become the
permanent condition of the government
It has been our uniform practice to re
tire, not increase, our outstanding obli
gations, and this policy must be again
resumed and vigorously enforced.
Our revenues should always be large
enough to meet with ease and prompt
ness not only our current needs and the
principal and interest of the public
debt, but to make proper and liberal
provisions for that most deserving body
of public creditors, the soldiers and
sailors and widows and orphans who
are the pensioners of the United States.
Revenues Must Be Increased.
The government should not be per
mitted to run behind or increase its
debts in times like the present. ' Suit
ably to provide is the mandate of duty,
a oertain and easy remedy for the most
of our financial difficulties. '" A defici
ency is inevitable so long as the expen
ditures of the government exceeds its
receipts. It can. only be met by loans
or an increased revenue. While a large
annual surplus of revenue may invite
waste and extravagance, inadequate
revenue creates distrust and "under
mines public and private credit. Neither
should be encouraged. Between more
loans and more revenue there ought to
be but one opinion.
We should have more revenue, and
that without delay, hindrance or lm
pediment. A surplus in the treasury
created by loans is not a permanent or
safe reliance. It will suffice while it
lasts, but it cannot last long while the
outlays of the government are greater
than its receipts, as has been the case
during the past two years. Nor must
it be forgotten that however much such
loans may temporarily relieve the situ
ation, the government is still indebted
for the amount of surplus thus accrued,
which it must ultimately pay, while its
ability to pay is not strengthened,
but weakened by a continued deficit.
Loans are imperative in great emergen
cies to preserve the government or its
credit, but a failure to supply needed
revenue in time of peace for the main
tenance of either has no justification.
The best way for the government to
maintain its credit is to pay as it goes
not by resorting to loans, but by keep
ing out of debt through an adequate
income, secured by a system i of taxa
tion, external or internal, Or both.
, Tariff Revision Necessary.
It is the settled policy of the govern
ment, pursued from the beginning and
practiced by all parties and administra
tions, to raise the bulk of revenue from
taxes upon foreign productions entering
the United States for sale and consump
tion; and 'avoiding for the most part
every form of direct taxation, except in
time of war. The country is clearly op
posed to any needless additions to the
subjects of internal taxation, and is
committed by its latest popular utter
ances to the system of tariff taxation.
There can be no misunderstanding,
either, about the principle upon which
this tariff taxation shall be levied.
Nothing has ever been made plainer
at a general election than that the con
trolling principle in the raising of rev
enue on imports is zealous care for
Amerioan interests and American la
bor . is wished. ' The people have de
clared that such legislation should be
had as will give ample protection and
encouragement to the industries and de
velopment of our country. ;.. It is there
fore earnestly hoped and expected that
congress will at the earliest practicable
moment enact revenue legislation that
shall be fair, reasonable, conservative
and just, " and whioh while supplying
sufficient revenue for public' purposes,
will still be signally beneficial and help
ful for every section and every enter
prise of the people. 'To this policy we
are all, of whatever party, firmly, bound
by the voice of the people a power
vastly more potential than the' expres
sion of any political plarform. The
paramount duty of congress is to stop
deficiencies by the restoration of that
protective legislation which- has al
ways been the firmest prop of the treas
ury. The passage of such a law' or
laws would strengthen the credit of the
government, both at home and abroad,
and go far toward stopping the drain
upon the-gold reserve, held for the re
demption of our currency, which has
been heavy and well-nigh constant for
several years.
Revival Will Be Slow.
'. Business conditions are not the most
promising. It will take time to restore
the prosperity of former years. If we
cannot promptly attain It, we can reso
lutely turn our faces in that direotion,
and aid its return by friendly legisla
tion. However troublesome the situa
tion, may appear, congress will not, I
am sure, be found lacking in disposi
tion or ability to relieve as far as legis
lation oan do so. The restoration of
confidence and the the revival of busi
ness which men of all parties so much
desire, depends more largely upon the
prompt, energetic and intelligent action
of congress than upon any other single
agency that affects the situation.
. It is inspiring, too, to remember that
no great emergency in the 180 years of
our eventful national life has ever
arisen that has not been met with wis
dom and courage by the American peo
ple, with fidelity to their best interests
and highest destiny, and to the honor
of the American name. ' These years of
glorious history have exalted mankind
and advanced the cause of freedom
throughout the world, and immeasura
bly strengthened the precious free in
stitutions which we enjoy. The people
love and will sustain these institutions. ,
The greatest aid to our happiness and
prosperity is that we adhere to prin
ciples upon which the government was
established, and insist upon their faith
ful observance. The equality of rights
must prevail and our laws be always
and i everywhere respected and obeyed.
Trusts and Monopolies. ' "
The declaration of the party now re
stored to power has been in the past op
posed to all combinations of capital,
organized in trusts or otherwise, to con
trol arbitrarily the conditions of trade
among our citizens, and it has support
ed such legislation, as well, as to pre
vent the execution of all schemes to
oppress the people by undue charges on
their supplies or by unjust rates fo
the transportation of their products to
market. This purpose will steadily be
pursued, both ' by the enforcement of
the law now in existence, and the rec
ommendation and and support of suoh
new statutes as may be necessary to
oarry it into effect.
Immigration taws.
' Our naturalization and immigration
laws should be further improved to the
constant promotion of a safer, a better
and higher citizenship, f; A grave peril
to the republio would be a citizenship
too ignorant to understand or too
vicious to appreciate the great value
and benefit of our legislation and laws,
and against all who come here to make
war upon them, our gates must be
promptly and tightly olosed. Nor must
we be unmindful of the need of im
provement among our own oitizens,
but with the zeal of our forefathers en
courage the spread of knowledge and
free education. Illiteracy - must be
banished from the land if we shall at
tain that high destiny as the foremost
of the enlightened nations of the world,
which, under providence, we ought to
achieve. ; . .- ,
Foreign Relations. '
It has been the policy of the United
States since the foundation of the gov
ernment to cultivate relations of peace
and amity with all the nations of the
world, and this accords with my con
ception of our duty" now. We have
cherished the policy of noninterferenoe
with the affairs of foreign governments,
wisely inaugurated by Washington,
keeping' ourselves from entanglement
either as allies or foes, content to leave
undisturbed with them the settlement
of their own domestic, concerns. ' It
will be our aim to pursue a firm and
dignified foreign polioy, which shall be
just, impartial, ever watchful of our
national honor, and always insisting
upon the enforcement of the lawful
rights of American oitizens everywhere.
Our diplomacy should seek nothing
more and accept nothing less than is
due us. We want no wars of conquest;
we must avoid the temptation of terri
torial aggression. War should never
be entered upon until every agency of
peace has failed. Peace is preferable
to war in most every contingency.
Extra Session of Congress. -
It has been the uniform practice of
each president to avoid as far as possi
ble the convening of congress in extra
session. It is an example which under
ordinary circumstances and in the ab
sence of publie necessity, is not to be
commended, but a failure to convene
the representatives of the people in ex
tra session when it involves a neglect
of public duty places the responsibility
of such neglect upon the executive.
The condition of the public treasury,
as has been indicated, demands the
immediate consideration , of congress.
It alone has the power to provide reve
nue for the government.
It is evident therefore, that to post
pone aotion in the presence of so great
a necessity would be -unwise on the
part of the present exeoutive, because
unjust to the interests of the people.
Our . action now . will be freer from
mere partisan consideration than if the
question of tariff, revision was post
poned until the regular session of con
gress. We are nearly two years from a
congressional - election, and politics
A il J. i i . i
a contest was immediately pending.
Again, whatever action congress may
take will be given a fair opportunity
for trial before the people are called to
pass judgment upon it, and this I con
sider a great essential to rightful and
lasting settlement of the question. In
view of these considerations I shall
deem it my duty as president to convene
cuugresa in ebrauruinary session mon
day, the 15th day of March, 1897.
, , Concluding Words.
In conclusion, ' I congratulate the
country upon the fraternal spirit of the
people, and the manifestation of good
will everywhere so apparent. The re-;
cent election not only most fortunately'
demonstrated the obliteration of sec
tional or geographio lines, but to some
extent also the prejudices which for
years have distracted our counoils and
marred our true greatness as a nation.
The triumph of the people, whose
verdict is carried into effect today is
not the triumph of one section, nor
wholly of one party, but of all sections
and all the people. The North and
South no longer divide on old lines,
but upon principles and politios, aud
in this fact surely every lover of the
country can find cause for true felicita
tion. , Let us rejoice in and cultivate
the spirit. It is ennobling and will be
both a gain and blessing to our beloved
country.
It will be my ' constant aim to do
nothing and permit nothing to be done
that will arrest or disturb this growing
sentiment of unity and co-operation,
this revival of esteem and affiliation
which will affect so many thousands
in the old antagonistic sections, but I
shall do everything . possible - to pro
mote and increase it Let me again
repeat the words of the oath adminis
tered, by the chief justice, which, in
their respective spheres, so far as ap-
l : 1 . 1 T u t 1 1 . '
men observe:
"I will faithfully execute the office
of president of the United States, and
will, to the best of , my ability, pre- .
serve, protect and defend the : constitu
tion of the United States." 1 :' ,.
This is the obligation I have, rever
ently taken before the Lord, Most
High. ' To keep it will be my single
purpose, my constant prayer; and I
shall ; confidently ' rely upon the for
bearance and assistance of all the peo
ple in the discharge of my solemn re
sponsibilities. '