Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-11-20

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outside of it. He envied no superior his rank.
He was in no haste to rise upon the n,isfor-
tunes Of othe-o. He recognized but ono way
to glory-the path of duty. In each stage in
his military history he saw active service, ap-
propriate to his rank, receiving his first brevet,
good conduct, in ls41, in the war against the
Florida Indians In the war with Mexico in
lS46-48, at Fort Brown, Monterey and Buena
Vista; again in Florida in l649-50 against the
| Seminoles; as an instructor Of artillery and
cavalry in the military academy from lS5l-54;
Texas, until the breaking out of
the civil in 1861, found
him lieutenant colonel of the second cavalry,
of which he then became colonel. These were
| the days and years Of preparation, of the study
and practice of military art the formation of
military habits; the education. and training OF
! the military character the development and
| cultivation of the military instincts and
| the seeds of which during this season bore its
ample fruits in due time.
At the beginning of the rebellion in 1861 he
| had attained the forty-ffth year of his age. He
was no longer in the flush and heyday of i'm
petuous youth. He was neither a
out apparent means, by lightning
strokes of magic and mere will, nor was he
| favorite child of fortune, winning success by
accident and chance, against odds. He did
not weary and wear out his ranks in purpose
less marches and counter marches. to make be-
lieve he was doing something when he was not.
He determined what was most important and
was reasonably practicable. He matured the
plan BEST adapted to secure its accomplishment
and carefully gathered and organized
the means necessary for its execu-
ton. Mill Spring and Nashville; bis
Illustrations of this feature of his military char
acter. In reference to THE last memorable oc
casion, the battle of Nashville, the importuni.
ty and impotence Of his super;ors at dis
tance too great to appreciate the difficulties of
the situation, provoked from linn no COM
general: II can only say that have done all
in my power to prepare, and if you should
deem it necessary to relieve me, shall submit
without a murmur." When the time arrived
for the delivery of the meditated blow and its
complete and thorough success was known, he
received ample compensation for the temporary
dlstrust in hearty and ungrudging oonyratu-
lations from the President, secretary of war,
and lieutenant general, as creditable to them
as they were gratifying and just to him, con-
frmed, as they were, by the thanks of Con-
gress for the skill and dauntless courage by
which the rebel army, under Gen. Hoed, was
signally defeated and driven from the State of
Tennessee.
The quality, which more than all others,
specifically and constitutionally distinguished
Gen. Thomas, was his invincibility, his heroic
faculty for enduring, his unwearied and sue
cessful obstinacy in defense. Its chief
1 ~soS is T propogatsd son fsaessnes y
and hopetulness to the whole body of his sup
port so that every soldier in his company
felt an assurance of security and success in
his presence and authority. signal illustra-
ton of this power of resistance is furnished
by the course of the battle at Stone River,
vrbnro hao hat oE ohoI ,,:AL
his immovable front. But its most conspicu-
Gus example is seen in the last days fighting
at Ohickamauga. Gen. Thomas, in his sim
pie and modest way, has left
on record a statement concerning him
self which will be accepted now
rs, 1869, expressing his regret that he wouldn't
be able to attend the reunion of the society of
the Army of the Cumberland that year at
Indianapolis, he said: 1T was my hearty de-
sire from the beginning to the end of the late
war to Gccept with cheerfalness and reform,
volved upon me- At the same time it was my
constant endeav0r to impress those who were
with me and under my command with sense
Of the Importance of the services they had un-
dertakcn to perform These sen
fences show that George II:
better than merely a soldier. He was patriot:
he had country and cause and in their de-
tense he drew his sword. The principles and
interests for which he periled his life and
staked his fame, more even than the gallant
service he performed in their hehalf, great and
distinguished as it was, justify the celebration
of this day. Tho reason and religion of ali
ages and races have recognized the love Of
country as nobler passion than the love Of
life. George 81. Thomas adhered to the gov
ernment to which be had sworn allegiance and
not to its enemies in arms. He was born, it is
true, in Virginia, but his home. and country
was the United States Of America he had been
educated at the expense of the government, at
national military academy upon the condi-
tion, if not express at least honorably implied,
that he should devote his military knowledge
and skill in support of its authority and in
obedience to its laws, aud If his conduct and
career was in contrast with that of others of
Virginia's sons whom on that account she has
preferred to honor, nevertheless generation
in Virginia will yet arise who will learn aud
confess the truth that George FL. Thomss, when
he lifted his sword to bar the pathway of her
| secession, loved her we'll as
these. and served her better.
And now, MIR. President, it only remains for
me, in the name and on behalf of the society
| of the Army Of the Cumberland, to present and
deliver through you to tho people of the
United States, whose chosen representative
you are, this statue of George d. Thomas.
Protected and preserved by their care, in this
seGb dAo CaplGal VI uaIlOEai power, Iuay IL lOuS
stand as token of the honor which u grateful
people bestow upon conspicuous and unselfsh
devotion to public duty! = And when marble
shall have crumbled to decay, and brass be-
comes corroded by the rust of time, may the
liberties of the people which he defended still
survive, illustrated and supported by success
sive generations. inspired to deeds of virtue and
heroic duty by the memory of his example.
PRESIDENT HAYES.
The President said: In the name of the
people of the United States accept this noble
statue, SO worthy of its subject, erected in
honor of Gen. George II. Thouas by his COM
rades of the illustrious army of Cumberland.
The exercises at the circle occupied two hours.
1t was estimated that So, 900 people were in the
thrcng that surrounded the enclosure. A gen.
eral holiday was observed throughout til. city,
and the entire populsce appeared to be in the
streets. The military features of the process
sion surpassed any thing that has ever been
seen in the city since the grand review at the
| close of the war. 1890
The procession on the way to the circle pass
ed the White House, where the President, Sec
rotary Sherman, Secretary Evarts, Secretary
McCrary, Secretary Thompson Secretary Schurz
| and Postmaster General Key occupied seats
upon platform erected for the occasion. The
band at the head of the procession played Hail
to the Chief" e.. q
The President and those on the stand ac-
knowledged the salute, as they did that of
each successive band and division. The CAPT
toll, treasury department and several other
buildings were illuminated with electric lights
this evening. When Pennsylvania avenue was
ablaze with gas and densely thronged with