Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-10-16
The Lincoln Monunent---Speeeh OK
the President.


The Lincoln monument at Springfield, ILL.,,
was unveiled yesterday, 10 the presence OF the
Society of the Army of the Tennessee and u
large concourse of people, Gov. Beverage act
ing as grand marshal President Grant, with
Secretary Belknap, occupied carriage at the
head of the procession. Gen. Sherman march
ed on foot, at the head of the Society Of the
Army of the Tennessee, aud following him was
long line Of army, military and civil societies.
After the usual ceremonies and an Grafton by
Gov. Oglcsbey and the recitation of a poem by
James Judson Lord, President Grant stepped
forward, amid enthusiastic applause and spoil c
as follows:
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and gentlemen: On
an occasion like the present it Is duty on my
part to bear testimony to the great and good
qualities OF the patriotic man whose earthly re-
malus now rest beneath the dedicated mouu-
ment
1t was not my fortune to make the personal
acquaintance of Mr. Lincoln till the beginning
of the last year of the great struggle for Ia
tional existence. During those years of doubt
and dependency among the many patriotic
mCu vi LuC COuully, GUldudu LlUCOII uCNcl
for moment doubted but the final result would
be 10 favor Of peace, uuion and freedom to
every race 10 this broad land.
His faith In az all.wise Providence directing
our arms to this joyful result was the faith OF
the Christian that his Redeemer livcth. Amidsl
obloquy, personal abuse, and hate undlSguised,
which was given vent to without restraint
through the press, upon the stump, and in
private circles he remained the same stauuch,
unyiedng servant of the people; never eXhlb
itlug revengetul feelings towards his traducers.
lie rather pltied them, and hoped Tor their
own sake and the good name OF their posterity
they might desist. 1t did not occur to him for
a single moment that the man Lincoln was be-
ing assasslnatcd, but that a reasonable spirit,
waiting to destroy the freest government the
sun ever shone upon was giving vent to itself
on him as chief executive of the nation ouly
because he was such executive. As lawyer
in your midst he would have avoided all that
SANDER, tor his life was pure aud simple one.
and he no doubt would have been much hap
pier man.
But who can tell what might have been the
fate of the patton but for the pure, unscltlsh
and wise administration Of Lincoln. From
March, 1864, to the day when the hand OF an
assassin opened the grave for Mr.. Lincoln,
then President Of the United States, my per-
sonal relations with him were as close, as init
mate as the Nature of our respective duties
would permit.
To know him personally was to love aod re-
spect him for his great qualities Of head and
heart, and for his patience and patriotism.
With all his disappointments from failures on
the part OF those to whom lie entrusted com
mand, and treachery on the part Of those who
had gained his confidence but to betray il, |
never heard him utter complaint uor cast
cenSure for bad conduct or bad faith
1t was his nature to find excuses for his ad-
versaries. lu his death the nation lost It's great
est head. In his death the South lost its most
just friend.
Ex-Vice President Colfax paid tribute of
respect to the dead, and remarks were also
made by Gen. Sherman, Vice President Viii
son, and Gen. w. I. Lipdon.
Robert T. Lincoln, the only surviving sou OF
the deceased President; Mrs. l.. L. Smith,
sister of Mrs. Lincoln, and other relations, oc-
cupied carriages in the procession. Mrs. Lin
coin was unable to be present, as she is quite
i'll at her residence 10 Chicago.
The steamship Australian cleared from Gal
weston, Texas, yesterday, with 1851 bales Ct
cotton and 81 hogsheads of tallow The whole
cargo is valued at S5SO,000, and is the larges
aud most valuable ever shipped from that port