CHAPTER XLIII. 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.