PRESIDENT CLEVELAND.
The inauguration of Grover Cleveland as the twenty-second President
of the United States, on the 4th of March, 1885, restored the
executive power of the Federal Government to the Democrats, after
it had been enjoyed by the Republicans for twenty years. The throng
of visitors was great, the railroads leading into Washington having
brought nearly half a million of passengers during the week, while
several thousand more came by the Potomac River steamboats. The
hotels and boarding-houses were full, yet there was always room
for late arrivals, and the military were quartered in the spacious
halls of the Departments.
The day was spring-like, with breeze enough to display the flags
which floated from nearly every building. Pennsylvania Avenue and
other thoroughfares were elaborately decorated. The procession
was the largest of its kind that ever passed along Pennsylvania
Avenue, and the military escort was exceeded only by the great
reviews of 1865. General H. W. Slocum was Chief Marshal, efficiently
aided by General Albert Ordway, his chief of staff. The United
States troops, commanded by Major-General Ayres, headed the escort.
President Arthur and President-elect Cleveland rode with two Senators
in an open carriage drawn by four bay horses, and next came Vice-
President-elect Hendricks, with a Senator, in a carriage drawn by
four white horses. As the carriages passed along the occupants
were loudly cheered, especially Vice-President Hendricks, who was
well known in Washington and personally popular.
The militia organizations which came next presented a fine appearance,
particularly a division of the National Guard of Pennsylvania,
commanded by Major-General John F. Hartranft. The Southern troops
were commanded by Major-General Fitzhugh Lee, of Virginia, a nephew
of the great Confederate war-leader, who received a rousing ovation
the whole length of the route. Prominent among the military
organizations were the New York Sixty-ninth, "wearing the green;"
the Grenadiers Rochambeau, of New York; the Jackson Corps, of
Albany; the Continentals, of Schenectady; the Fifth Maryland
Infantry, the Meagher Guards, of Providence; the Busch Zouaves, of
St. Louis, and several companies of colored men from the South.
The feature of the procession, however, was the civic portion,
which included organizations representing many States in the Union.
Each one had its band, its banner, and its badges, while nearly
all of them were uniformly dressed and carried canes. The Society
of Tammany, of New York, one thousand strong, marched in an inaugural
procession for the first time in its long history, its officers
carrying Indian tomahawks. Nearly a hundred other political
organizations followed; and in the ranks of one of them from the
city of New York there was a body of men wearing the old Knickerbocker
costume and carrying long canes, with which they beat time on the
pavements as they marched along in a grotesque manner, creating
much merriment.
A distinguished audience had gathered in the Senate Chamber,
including the Supreme Court, the Diplomatic Corps, many prominent
officials, and those officers of the army and navy who had received
the thanks of Congress. Shortly after twelve o'clock President
Arthur entered the Chamber, and was escorted to his seat. The
deputy Sergeant-at-Arms then announced the "President-elect of the
United States," and the entire assemblage rose as Mr. Cleveland
passed down the aisle and took a seat at the side of President
Arthur. Vice-President-elect Hendricks then entered and advanced
to the desk of the presiding officer, where Senator Edmunds,
President _pro tempore_, administered to him the oath of office as
Vice-President of the United States. Senator Edmunds then delivered
a brief valedictory address, at the conclusion of which he declared
the Senate adjourned _sine die_.
Vice-President Hendricks took the chair, called the Senate to order,
delivered a short address, and administered the oath to the new
Senators. When the Senate had been thus organized, a procession
was formed by those in the Senate Chamber, which moved through the
rotunda to the platform erected before the eastern portico. On
the large plaza in front of the Capitol were gathered at least two
hundred thousand people, while behind them as a framework were the
military and civic organizations, with waving banners, gay uniforms,
and gleaming bayonets.
When Mr. Cleveland came to the front of the platform, he was received
with tumultuous applause; after it had subsided, he delivered his
inaugural address in such a clear voice that it was heard by nearly
all of those before him. When he had finished, he turned to Chief
Justice Waite, bowed, and said "I am now prepared to take the oath
prescribed by law."
The Chief Justice, holding in his left hand a small open Bible,
which had been given to Mr. Cleveland by his mother when he had
started to seek his fortune in the world, raised his right hand
and recited the oath: "I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully
execute the office of President of the United States, and will, to
the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution
of the United States." Mr. Cleveland, whose right hand had rested
on the Bible, responded: "I swear," and raising the book to his
lips, kissed it. His lips touched verses 5-10 inclusive, of the
112th Psalm.
Those on the platform congratulated the President; the assembled
multitude cheered; over a hundred bands played "Hail to the Chief,"
and the cannon at the Navy Yard and the Arsenal thundered forth a
Presidential salute. The procession was then re-formed, and moved
up Pennsylvania Avenue. When the head of the column reached the
Treasury Building, a brief halt was made, that President Cleveland
might go to the reviewing stand in front of the White House. There
he witnessed the procession pass in review, which occupied three
hours, and it was after five o'clock when he entered the White
House.
Early in the evening there was a display of fireworks, which
attracted much attention; then came the inauguration ball, held in
the interior court-yard of the unfinished Pension Building, which
was covered by a temporary roof. The waxed dance-floor was three
hundred and sixteen feet long and one hundred and sixteen feet
wide, surrounded by reception-rooms, supper-rooms, and telegraph
offices. The decorations were very effective, and electric lamps
supplied a bright, clear light. Nearly ten thousand people were
present and the receipts from the sale of tickets amounted to forty
thousand dollars. President Cleveland and Vice-President Hendricks
were present for an hour, and the ball was regarded as a fitting
close to the ceremonies of the day.
Mr. Cleveland's Cabinet gave general satisfaction to the Democrats
at Washington. The selection of Senator Bayard for Secretary of
State was in deference to the national sentiment of the party that
had twice asserted itself in presenting him for the Presidency,
and that had made him Mr. Cleveland's chief competitor at Chicago.
Senator Bayard, when first summoned to Albany and invited to become
the Premier of the incoming Administration, had frankly told Mr.
Cleveland that he might consider himself absolved from all obligation
to bestow his chief Cabinet honor upon him, and that he would prefer
to remain in the Senate. He finally consented, however, to accept
the portfolio of State, to the delight of the Diplomatic Corps,
who were acquainted with his accomplished wife and daughters, and
who looked forward to the enjoyment of their hospitality. He took
an early opportunity to publicly declare that he was heartily in
favor of civil service reform, and he followed the traditions of
the Department of State by retaining the experienced clerks. Mr.
Bayard has no appreciation of humor or fondness for political
intrigue, and department drudgery would be intolerable to him were
it not for his passionate fondness for out-door exercise. A bold
horseman, an untiring pedestrian, and enthusiastic angler, and a
good swimmer, he preserves his health, and gives close attention
to the affairs of his Department.
Mr. Daniel Manning, who was appointed Secretary of the Treasury,
had been graduated in boyhood from a printing office, that best of
colleges, and had gradually become a reporter, a sub-editor, and
finally the sole manager and principal owner of the Albany _Argus_.
Devoting all his energies to his business, he was richly rewarded
pecuniarily, and under his direction the time-honored "organ" of
the Democracy of the Empire State challenged admiration by the
boldness and the success of its editorial management. His sagacity
as a politician attracted the notice of Mr. Tilden, whose champion
he became, and subsequently his untiring efforts in the columns of
his paper and at the Chicago Convention did much to secure for Mr.
Cleveland the Presidential nomination. His financial experience
as President of a national bank was favorably regarded in Wall
Street, and his views coincided with those entertained by Mr.
Cleveland. Old stagers have detected in him a striking personal
resemblance to that sturdy New York Democrat of a former generation,
William L. Marcy, except that he wears a moustache, fiercely
upturned.
Mr. William C. Endicott, a representative of the worth and intelligence
of New England, was appointed Secretary of War. A lawyer by
profession, he had been forced by ill health to resign his seat on
the State Supreme Bench, and his defeat as the Democratic nominee
for Governor of the Bay State gave him a claim on the party for
its honors. Prominent in cordially welcoming those who had renounced
their party allegiance to vote for Mr. Cleveland, he was the pledged
advocate of civil service reform. He is a very handsome man, with
long brown hair and moustache, slightly silvered by time.
The Secretary of the Navy, Mr. William C. Whitney, is the son of
a famous old Massachusetts "War Horse," who entered upon the practice
of law at New York city. He made his professional mark while he
was City Corporation Attorney in the prosecution of "Boss Tweed,"
but his large fortune is the result of successful railroad operations.
He is rather youthful in appearance for a man forty-five years of
age, rather slenderly built, quick of movement, and with the air
of courageous self-reliance that marks a successful and experienced
business operator.
Mr. Lucius Quintius Curtius Lamar, the Secretary of the Interior,
had taken broader views since the war on national questions than
any other Southern leader. The possessor of a well-balanced and
highly cultivated intellect, a thorough acquaintance with the
theories of Federalism and State Rights, and a varied civil and
military experience, Mr. Lamar may well be called a successful
molder of public opinion. Some used to regard him as ideal rather
than practical, but the business-like manner in which he directed
his subordinates dispelled that mistaken idea. His studious habits
are shown by his rounded shoulders, and his grizzled long hair,
beard, and moustache impart a leonine character to his features.
Postmaster-General William F. Vilas is a native of Vermont, who
went to Wisconsin when a lad, became a successful lawyer there,
and served gallantly in the Union army during the war. He is
probably better versed in the machinery of American politics than
any other member of the Cabinet, and he is slowly but surely
replacing the Republican incumbents of fifty thousand offices with
Democrats. He is a man of showy, brilliant manners, vigorous
eloquence, fascinating conversational powers, and an attractive
personal appearance.
Mr. Augustus H. Garland, the Attorney-General of the new Administration,
took with him from the Senate a high legal and social reputation.
His Roman features are clean shaven, his jet black eyes sparkle
with intelligence, and his manners are polished, although he rarely
mingles in society.
Not of the Cabinet, but the President's confidential adviser, is
Colonel Daniel S. Lamont, who, like the Secretary of the Treasury,
received his political education in the office of the Albany _Argus_.
Colonel Lamont left his editorial chair to become the private
secretary of Mr. Cleveland when he became Governor of the State of
New York, and has since been his devoted adherent. Slender, with
intellectual features and a dark red moustache, which lights up
his pale face, Colonel Lamont has the mouth of a man who is silent
and the ears of a man who listens, while the quick glances of his
eyes take in what there is to be seen. The possessor of great
personal urbanity, always clear-headed, and very reticent, especially
concerning the President, he is emphatically "the right man in the
right place." He keeps up his Albany habit of calling Mr. Cleveland
"Governor," while the President familiarly calls him "Dan." There
is no "Kitchen Cabinet" to act as office-brokers and to secure the
Executive approval of measures "for a consideration."
At the Cabinet meeting held at the Executive Mansion, the President
sits at the head of the Council table, and the members occupy
positions as indicated in the accompanying diagram. The Cabinet
has no legal existence. Any other official or any individual not
holding official position can be called upon by the President to
meet with him as a member of his Cabinet, and to consult him on
the days in the week designated by him for that purpose. In some
Administrations--notably those of Presidents Taylor and Pierce--
the members of the Cabinet assumed a power equal to that of the
Venetian oligarchy. But Mr. Cleveland has not chosen to act the
part of King Log, and right autocratically has he exercised his
prerogative.
This habit of personally assuming responsibility has ever characterized
Mr. Cleveland. When Mayor of Buffalo and when Governor of New
York, he was open to suggestions from those whose judgment he
valued, but he was always ready to carry his own full share of
responsibility, as he now does in his relations with his chosen
advisers of the Cabinet.
[Fascimile]
Grover Cleveland
GROVER CLEVELAND was born at Caldwell, Essex County, New Jersey,
March 18th, 1837; studied law at Buffalo and commenced practice
there; was Mayor of Buffalo, 1882, 1883; was Governor of the State
of New York, 1883-1885; was elected President of the United States
on the Democratic ticket, November 4th, 1884, and was inaugurated
on the 4th of March, 1885.