Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-10-21
President Grants Tribute 10 IiDeo!n-

SPRINGFIELD Ill, October 15.-At
the Lincoln monument dedication cere-
monies to-day, President Grant, being
loudly called for, spoke as follows:
"MR. CHAIRMAN, LADIES, AND
9 ENTLEMEN-On an occasion like the
pteaent, | feel it duty on my part to
Gear testimony to The great and ge3d
qualities of the patriotic man whose
earthly remains now rest beneath this
dedicated mon ument. It was not nv
fortune to make the acquaintance Of
Mr.. Lincoln until the beginning of the
last year OF the great struggle for na-
tlonal existence. During those years Of
doubling and despondency among the
many patriotic men Of the country, A.
b@aham Lincoln meyer for moment
doubted but that the final result would
be IN favor of peace, union and free
dom to every race in this broad land.
His faith in an all. wise Providence d.
rectlng our arms to this fnal result
was the faith Of the Christian that his
Redeemer liveth. Amidst obloqn n
sonal abuse and hate undisguised, and
which was given vent to without re-
straint through the press; upon the
stump and IN private circles, he remain
ed the same staunch, unyielding servant
OF the people, never exhibiting a re-
vengeful feeling toward his traducels.
but he rather pitied them, and boped,
for their own sake and the good name
of their posterity, that they might de-
slst. For single moment it did not
occur to him that the man Lincoln r--s
being assailed, hut that a treason =
spirit, one willing to destroy the freest
Government the sun ever shone upon,
was giving vent to itself upon him as
the Chief Executive of the nation, only
because he was such Executive. AS a
lawyer in your midst he. would have a
voided all this SANDER, for his life was
a pure and simple one, and no doubt
be would have been much happier
man; but what might have been the
fate of the nation but for the pure, un-
selfish and wise administration Of a
Lincoln? From March, 1864, to the day
when the hand Of an assassin opened a
grave for MIR. Lincoln, then President
q the United States, my personal re-
latlons with him were as close and ia-
tsnate as the nature Of our respect.ge
dU les would permit. To know IA
personally was to love and respect him
tor his great qualities of heart and head
and for his patience and patriotism.
With all bis disappointments from fail
ures on the part of those to whom he
h~d intrusted command, and treac hery
On the part of those who had gained his
confidence but to betray it, I never
herd him utter complaint, nor caste
censure tor bad COT duct or bad faith.
1t was his nature to find excuses for
his adversaries. In his death, the na-
ton lost its greatest hero. In his death.
the South lost it's most just friend"
OTHER SPEECHES.
Vice Present Wilson added few words
o. graceful eulogium. He was followed
by the Hon. Schuyler ColGax, who de-
llvered a brilliant extemporaneous
speech, IN which the career, mind and
heoism of the dead President were
briefly. but ably, alluded to.
Speeches were also made by General
Sherman, The Hon. z. &. Linder and
Mr.. Mead, the artist.
The benediction was then pronoun-
ced. and the vast multitude separated.
leaving the statue OF Abraham Lincoln
IN lonely granduer to tell future
generations the story of his humble Or
lsin, his noble life, his mighty achieve
ments and Lis tragic death.