The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-10-16


nationality and condition, who, In search
OF the highest aims and lottiest purposcs
OF life, shall come to this fountain for in
spiration and hope Here the humble may
take new courage the proud learn hu.
mtlity, the ambitious that the true way 10
greatness lies through industry, integrity
and patriotism, and all men that only the
truly good can DO truly great In no
other country under the sun could the
obscure boy have found his way through
the long succession Of mysterious and
grave events to such eminencc and
power, and where and In what land
can be found one who welded
power with such grace, humanity and
wisdom ! The living assign him his
proper place 10 the affections Of all men
tosterity, profoundly moved by the sim
plicitY OF his private life, elevated and en-
iightened by the purity and splcndor OF
his administration and public service,
cannot fall to fix bis place among those
VINO shall rank highest In their venera-
!ion. he has gene 70 the armament Of
Washington, and new light shines down
on his beloved Couutrymen from the
American constellation
Tho choir then sang "Rcst spirit rest"
and at the conclusion two sis
ters OF charity, seated on either side of
the statue rose, aud amid breathless al
lence raised the red white and blue dra-
perry from the marble form. President
Edwards, Of the Normal University, then
read poem written Tor the occasion BY
Joseph ia lscL Lord. The banda again
played an sppropriate DIR, when loud calls
were made for President Grant. lie
stepped forward amid an enthusiastic
applause and spoke as follows:
srEKCn OF PRESIDENT GRANT.
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen
On an occasion like the present il il the
duty on my part to bear testimony OF the
great and good qualities Of the patriotic
man whose earthly remains now rest be-
meath this dedicated monument. 1t was
not my fortune to make the personal ac-
quaintance OF Nj. Lincoln till the beginning
OF the last year Of the great struggle i0r
national existence. During those years
OF doubling and dependency among the
many patriotic men OF the country Abra.
nam Lincoln never for q moment doubt
ed but that the final result would be in
iaVor Of peace, union and freedom to
every race In this broad land. His faith
IN an all.wise Providence directing our
arms TO this t1nal result wSs the faith Of
the christian that bis Redeemer livelh.
Amidst personal abuse and hate unds-
guised, which was given vent to
without restraint through the press, upon
Ine slump and in private circles, he re-
NAMED the same sIaunch unyielding ser
want OF the people, never exhibiting re-
vengelul feelings toward his traducers,
but he rather pllied them and hoped loT
their own sake and the good name OF their
posterlty that they might desist for mo-
ment. It did not occur 10 him that the
man, Lincoln, was being asSailed, but that
treasonRble spirit, one waiting to de-
stroy the lreest government that the sun
ever shona on, was giving vent 10 itself
on him as the Chiet Executive of the
nation, only because he was such Ex-
ecntlVe. AS a lawyer IN your midst, he
would have avoided all this slauder, for
his life was a pure and simple one, and
he no doubt would have been much
happier man. But who can tell what
might have been the fate OF the natlen
but Tor the pure, uDsel6sh and wise ad
ministratlon oil Abraham Lincoln from
MaIch, 1851, to the day when the hand of
an assassin opened grave for Mr.. Lin.
coin, then President Of the United States.
My personal relations with him were as
close and intimate as the nature OF our
respective dlties would permit. To know
him personally was 10 love and respect
nm Tor his great qualities of head and
heart, and tor his patience and patriotism,
With all his disappointments from fail.
ures on the part Of those TO whom he had
entrusted command, and treachery on the
part Of those who had gained his conf,
dence but to betray It, never heard him
utter complaint, nor cast oensure for
bad conduct or bad faith. Itwss his pature
10 Ind excuses for his adversaries. In his
death the nation lost its greatest head in
his death the South lost its most lust
friend. ~ EfJ~-s'TE
Ex Vice President Colfax, who was dis.
covered on the platform by the crowd,
was loudly called for and finally forced to
speak, and in very eloquent and feeling
remarks paid his tribute oil love and re.
spect to tho honored dead. Remarks were
also msdo by General Sherman, Vice
President Wilson and General W. F. Lin.
der. Alter which the doxology was sung,
the benediction pronounced, and tho vast
assembIage quietly dispersed.