Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-09-13
The President at Dayton.

The President at Dayton.
UNWILLING or THE SOLDIERS NoNC-
AkNT-sPEsCBEs BY THE PRESIDENT
AND OTHEI IS.
At 9 O'Clock yesterday morning the presi-
Dental party In CARR ages left the residence
of Mr.. Anderson, in Dayton, o for the Sol.
diers' Home, escorted through the city by
the military. They arrived at $50, and were
received by the Brown Guards and with a
salute OF twenty one g:ns. A grand review
followed, n lrly 1900 veterans being in line.
The President was then escorted to the
era Ho STAND, Were b 19, BrSwn, governor OF
Gen b. F. Butler, president OF the board or
managers, then made an address TO the SOL
diers, after which he introduced President
Hayes as "a distinguished citizen of this
state, now at the head OF the greatest and
most powerful government in the world 1"
After proCngC1 cheering by the crowd the
President spoke briefly as follows.
THE PREsl DENTS REMARKS.
"Comrsdes and feilow-cItiZens - THIS
greeting / know is not personal compli-
ment. This large assent lage OF the disabled
veterans OF the volunteer army of the Union,
and OF citizens who sympathiZe with them.
manifest by this welcome their respect FOR
the Office which for the time being has de-
veloped upon me, and their patriot, attach
Ueut TO the gOver lTpelt of the Unifs / : .ataS
These brave meh fought and suffered 20 re-
store the Union of the fathers, AMI TO ma kc
perpetual the edifice OF constitutional liberty
which the fathers built Their services and
sacrifices will always be remembered with
women will pray that the Supreme Ruler Of
the universe will forever have them, one aud
al, in his special care and keeping"
Speeches were also made by Secretary OF
War McCrary, Chief justice Waite, Major
Gen. Martindale, OF New York, and L. =.
Judge Bond, of Baltimore.
In the afternoon the ceremony OF uUveir-ug
the soldiers monument took place. Twenty
thou and persons were present. including
about 600 ladies'. FCU; military companies
escorted the Prs 5ident TO the stand. On the
LOT Fg-rs a
visitors with hundred ladies. fer prayer
a chorus OF 200 voice. sang the Freedom's
anthem, accompanied by the Home band.
President Hayes was then presented 10 the
concoursp and was greeted with great cheer
ing. He was given the cori to pull the can
vas from the monument, but unfortunately
il broke. Laughter and expressions OF regret
followed. Judge Bond, of Baltimore, re-
marked, "Mr. President, that is the first fail
ure OF the administration" causing consider
able merriment.
The President remained standing some
minutes while ladder was brought IN ser
vice, and the unwilling was completed by
volunteers amid cheers. Hon. l.. b. Gunkle.
local manager OF the Home, made a state
ment that the monument was mainly tle re-
suit OF the efforts of the ofYicers and vete an
soldiers OF the Home, and was designed to
perpetuate the memory of the various deeds
of the common soldiers. Gen. j. ID. Cox, OF
Toledo, then deliv an Grafton. Remarks
were also made by Gen. Butler. in which he
apOstrOphiZei the soldiers who fought and
died for the Union.
ANOTHER SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT.
AS the General retired there went up
general and lively call for another view OF
President Hayes, and he was prevailed on TO
step forward. He said:
''lMy Friends. A few unprecedented SEN
fences, little plain soldier talk is all you
will expect. This monument reminds me,
and as I mention il will remind very many
in this great audience OF the first soldiers
monument that We erected In ISL. You all
in those first battles o: the great conflict. You
remember and can never forget the feelings
of sadness with which we saw the remai1s OF
our desd comrades gathered up and placed
in their last resting place. They were
gathered up, you know, by the parties de-
tailed TO bury the dead carefully, respect
fully, tenderly, and when the shallow
ground had been dug. and in their uniforms
they had been laid away and covered, their
comrades looked about 10 see what memento
they could leave, and then LEFT little lrag-
ments, fraii fragments OF cracker boxes,
marking with pencil the name of the regi-
ment and compe ~ CT the dead comrades,
hoping that they would in some way be
useful, little, perhaps. dreaming al the time
that to the private soldier shoLd be erected
with granite aud marble and brass such
structures as we now behold, and behold the
change. Instead of that little fragment,
perishable and fragile, we have these
enduring monuments forever to gaze upon
How glorious the change. Does il not re-
mind US of the growth in the sentiment of all
mankind OF the appreciation OF the work
that these men did. Then we hardly knew
what was 10 De the result OF III all, Dut now
We know that these men were lighting the
battle of freedom for all maakind now we
know that they have saved TO liberty and 10
peace the best part OF the best continent gu
the globe. Cheers As this work compares
with the frail cracker box memorials, so
does the work which they have done com
pare with any conception of il which we
then could have had Forever hereafter we
shall remember the American private sol
der as having established q free nation,
where every man has an equal chance aud
fair start In the race of life. [Appianse.l
This is the work of the American private
soldier, and as that monument teaches many
lessons let us cot forget this one: IL is a mon
ument to remind u that many are still liv-
ing of that great army who are the victims
of that war. Some have lost limbs; some
have lost those habits and characteristics
which enable II en- to succeed in life. Wher-
ever they are let us remember always the
d. bt TO the dead American soldier can be
best paid by Kindness and regard to tue liv
ing American soldier" lContlnueI APP
plause.l
AT the close OF the Presidents address the
audience were dismissed with the benedic-
ton. In the evening the grounds were beau
tifully lighted by the veterans In honor of
their guests.