FORMAL RECEPTION-ROOM, SHOWING PORTRAIT OF GENERAL HARRISON, THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE CLUB

THE LOUNGING-ROOM

TWENTY YEARS OF THE
THE REPUBLIC

(1885-1905)

BY HARRY THURSTON PECK

PART XIII.-PRESIDENT MCKINLEY AND THE

NEO-REPUBLICANISM

HERE was something even in the ceremonial which marked the symbolically significant day of its beginning. in the pageant which accompanied the inauguration of President McKinley. Such displays in other years had always exhibited the haphazard easy-going lack of management with which Americans are wont to improvise their public ceremonials. But on the fourth of March in 1897, the scene in Washington was one that might have fitly graced a European capital. Every detail had been studied carefully beforehand, and was carried out with absolute precision. The great avenues were well policed. The crowds were efficiently controlled. There were no delays, no moments of embarrassment, no awkward pauses. The military review was especially effective. Instead of masses of raw militiamen, marching often awkwardly and producing a bizarre effect by the diversity of their motley uniforms, there now defiled before the President column after column of regular troops whose perfect discipline and training made the sight of them a splendid spectacle. The finest cavalry regiments in the service had been drawn upon to render this inaugural review exceptionally brilliant; while the artillery and infantry were not inferior in the precision of their evolutions. The civic part of the parade was subordinated to the military but even the "marching clubs" swung by the presidential stand with something of the élan of veteran troops. The Republican party was coming back to power as the party of organisation, of discipline, of unquestioning obedience to leadership; and the spirit of this new régime was easily perceptible,

Mr. Cleveland remained at the side of his successor until the formalities were all concluded. He had spent the last few hours of his presidency in a most characteristic fashion, examining and signing bills; and the marks of ink upon his ungloved hands bore witness to his diligence. His face was ruddy, and he chatted and laughed with Mr. McKinley as the two were driven slowly to the Capitol. At last, the burden was lifted from his shoulders, and he could again enjoy the tranquil life of a private citizen. Though the reins of power were passing from his hands to those of a political opponent, he probably felt no regret. It was his financial policy which the Republicans, after bitterly assailing, had been forced to make their own. The great battle of the preceding year had been fought over this one question. And so the victory which Mr. McKinley had won was, in a very real sense, a victory for Mr. Cleveland.

President McKinley's inaugural address contained, as might have been expected, an earnest commendation of high protective duties. In it he also expressed an earnest desire for peace with foreign nations. He recalled his own consistent attitude as a defender of the reformed civil service; and he intimated that the currency system of the United States should be placed upon a definite and satisfactory basis. isfactory basis. There was nothing very noteworthy in his remarks. They were received by the press with a general, if somewhat perfunctory, approval. Perhaps the comment of an English writer best expressed what most persons really thought. "It is a mild and not unpleasing effusion.