Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-06-06
Five Thousand People Witness the Un-
yelling of the Monument which Marks
the RestiDg-Plaee or Tennessee's
Great Statesman, near
Greeneyille.
/ Eloquent and Appropriate Address by
Hon. George w. Jones. who was the
Intimate Friend Of the Distin-
guIshed Dead Man.
Incidents OF the Observation-Disclosures of
the Monument, with its Simple but
Impressive InscriptiOn-An ElO-
quent Tribute 10 Great
Mans Memory.

Special to the Appeal
GREENEvIIi.E, Tenn, June 5.-The mon
ument erected to the memory OF the late
Ex-Presdent Andrew Johnson was unveiled
to-day with impressive ceremonies
in the presence of a. large
assemblage OF peop,e. At eleven
in front of the courthouse, and marched to
Monumental hill Arriving at the grave, the
family and invited guests, including the
Knoxville commandery of Knights Templar,
were seated on the stand, when the
builder of the monument said: ''On the
thirty-6rst of March, 1877, Mrs. Martha
Pate rsoD, Mrs. Mary J. Slower, and Andrew
Johnson, jr.. children of the late President
Johnson, contracted with HIM for the cree
ton of the monument" Then, after short
address by him, as If by magic the great dag
enfolding the monument fell gracefully down,
disclosing the tribute of the children's affec-
ton to their loving parent. 1t had been
BEAUTIFULLY DECORATED
yesterday by The ladies of Greeneville with
garlands of laurel, wrapped in spiral form
around it, and a wreath of laurel was in the
eagles beak, while numerous bouquets of
-urpassin9 beauty adorned the inches in the
die and base under the arch. The graves
were strewn with the choicest flowers and
foliage. Perez Dickinson, of Knoxville, con-
'ributed a splendid floral Offering.
HON. JOHN C. BURCH,
editor of the Nashville American. introduced the
orator OF the day, Hon. George W. Jones. in the fol
lowing remarks:
This immense assemblage, the eager anxiety of
all to witness the ceremonies of this day and to heEr
every word that uttered bespeak the deep interest
which is felt In this occasion. Near three years ago
the most eminent citizen of your county of the state
nd of the Mon was suddenly summoned from ex-
allied station and the busy scenes OF public life TO
the quiet slumbers OF the grave, Many of us who
are here to-day were here when his mortal remains,
wrapped Ia the flag OF his country, were committed
his home before he had arrived at Years of mat
rty Here, in later years after his countrymen had
spot for the burial of himself and the dear. devoted
one whom in early life he had chosen as helpmeet
for him, aud who, through all the unusually trying
years of most eventful lIfe fully and faithfully
discharged the duties to which she had been allotted
Many OF you knew him in his everyday walk as a
private citizen; all of knew him. or knew of him,
one OF the foremost figures on the great historic
canvass of American life No man Of his earnest
eminently In public life and during such stormy
Ing the political views and asplrat of many of
his fellow citizens. Ii is not asked that any of us
shall admit that his were always the correct posi-
lions; but none ever knew him who did not ac-
knoN ledge and admire his simplicity CT character,
his integrity OF purpose, his personal courage,
Yotion to what be believed the right
The career OF Andrew johnson was the most remark
able of the present century If not of all the past
II will prove source of Inspiration and encourage
ment to the humble youth of this age and of all fu
ture civilization We are here to pay respect to this
wonderful career and to assist In emphasizing for
the consideration of the present generation well
as prosperity. The highest civic LOnOrS have been
already paid to the decreased statesman. Since his
entombment iial affection has erected over his re-
mains monument to mark their resting place by
the side OF his beloved wife. Friends have thought
that the unwilling OF this monument should be
memOTative of his private life and public service
The surviving children of Mr.. johnson have select
one who was for forty years his warm personal
friend and who, for the most If that time, was nti
mately associated with him In public life. The duty
which have been asked to perform is to Introduce
to you this bosom friend this intimate associate of
the deceased one OF TenneSSee's most eminent liV-
ing citizens. Ladies and gentlemen. have the
honor OF presenting to you the orator of the da5,
HON. GEORGE W. JONES. OF LINCOLN
who said:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN The ceremony uer-
formed In our presence Oday discovers to tine eyes
of this assemblage the monument, erected by his
children, to mark the resting place of the remains
of Andrew johnson. The occasion has been deemed
appropriate for an grafton commemorative of the
life and character or that remarkable man. and at
the solicitation OF those children and numerous
friends, while sincerely dist rustfu of my ability. L
have accepted the duty The reason for my selec-
ton lies chiefly in the fact that for period of forty
years 1t was my fortune to have been intimately as
ISOLATED with him, and that our services in public
station, during the period In which acted fun
uamentally aecor1ant In political views. The ante
cedentS OF both were somewhat similar also, and
conduced to render us congenial, and to establish
relatiOns-both public and private-of a sympa-
Jhetlc friendship which were not severed at any pc
ROD OF his eyentful career. The opportunities of
this relationship have been held to qualify me to
ties. TO interpret his motives and to portray the
events of his aborious and tumultuous life in the
which posterlty may hold him. This task do not
regard myself equal to, and were 1t otherwise,
would permit discourse requiring review of one
OF the most important periods in the political his
tory of our government. This, indeed. will be the
duty Of the elaborate historian. who sha write of
the man and his times after the of the combat
shall be forgotten. and the passion 1t aroused shall
have given place to In the shaping of great
events he wrought with rare vigr and power and
canvass OF history. To that repository his fame
may be safely committed The time, to-day, maybe
proftab.y employed in recOunting the narrative of
his wonderful course from orphanage and obscurity
TO exalted station and worldwide renown, and in
enat led him to overcome these obsta les and
achieve results grand. In this aspect his life is
though il is not possible to speak of 1t without refer
ence to of fierce political conflict, shalt
deavor to do so justly and eandidly, remembering
for him that he Is dead and for the living that the
truth in regard TO great characters who may become
exemplars Is all that Is valuable Nearly three years
have elapsed since Mr.. Johnson but recently elected
to seat in the highest council chamber of the gov
ernment and apparently IN ROBUST nsaltn 1or one
ten years, suddenly ST. lcken, and his spirit sum
moned from the scenes OF earth. The UNEXPECTED
announcement thrilled the people or the United
States with sense of sadness. Those who had adj
mired and supported him, as we'll rs those who had
not, felt that great man had fallen in the figure
OF scripture ''that a standaTd-bearer the walls
had rainted-and that public bereavement
suffered. The bells in cities tOlled. The pub
lie buildings exhibited the insignia of mourning The
flag of the nation hung at half-mast The day of
bis burial was respected in suspension OF the Off
cial business of the public Numerous meetings of
the people assembled TO express the universal
OF loss. At later date. funeral pageants were
formed in honor of his memory, notably one the
capital OF this State, whose public servant he had
been ling Stll later, on the meeting of congress-
day vas designated which the representatives OF
Ihe people should in resolutions and spoken eu!O-
ele voice the sentiment or the nation regarding his
death; and in these, political friends and foes
united In the language OF homage. Here, at his
home his removal was as IL one of yonder noun
tains had bowed its tall head to the plain" First
receiving mark of the public confidence from this
people nearly half century before, his luminous
ascent to supreme station had refiecte honor upon
them. and his fame was cherished here as no Sc
hold god by every one No tribute of tongue or PEN
or oStentatious parade paid to his memory, so
| and the children OF the people who had been his
early and steadfast friends the day his body was
INT rred at this spot. The ObsequIes not eiab
crate in eQuip3ge and vain display OF ceremony.
There were such only as he would have desired a
eoncourse OF the people Irrespective of social rank,
service We can offer our felow-nien. They were as
becoming AS they w-re spontaneous and unaffected
-the slmpiS aiia sincere onering OF IhOse
And thus after q life of extraordinary engergy In
great field OF action illustrating both extremes of
fortane. amid the mingled admiration and regret OF
continent. his mortal part laid In the earth,
and men turned away thenceforward TO contem-
plate him I'm the steadllyrecedng view OF history.
To trace his life since he first appeared in the then
village yOndeT, more than fifty years ago Is sto OF
the marves possible to ndomitSble will and intiex
ible honesty. allied TO Unborn talents. But who that
| saw him then-and there may BE- those living who
| hear me would have ventured TO predict that the
i unfriended save by the widowed mother. who was
| his companion and his dutiful burden. was to be
come the recipient of all these honors in life and II
| dea.h, have so feebly depicted? How 1t came e
| pass, let the sequel show Andrew johnson was
born In Raleigh, North Carolina. December y, 1903
| He was the son of Jacob johnson. an humble man
who filled at several times petty Offices in that town
He was quite poor and unable to give his children
even the rudiments OF an education he died WheE