Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-11-27
The Thomas Statue and its Lesson.

A vast ihrong of visitors, from North
and South, East and West, hocked to
the City of Washington to witness and
assist in the ceremony of the unveiling
of the equestrian statue erected by the
members of the Society of the Army
of the Cumberland to the memory of
their most distinguished commander,
Gen. George III. Thomas. Under i'm
pressive and imposing cercmonials, in
which civic and military organizations
participated, and which called into re-
QUESTION the appliances of Art, the
charms of Music, the inspirations of
the Poet, and the glowing periods of
the Orator, the Thomas statue was un-
veiled to the public on Wednesday of
the past week, and probably since the
reviews of the armies, just after the
close of the war, no grandcr pageant
has been witnessed in that city.
General Thomas was in all respects
one Of the grandcst characters that
grew into public notice and esteem
during the war. He possessed charm
ing traits of character that endearcd
him to all with whom he came in con-
tact, and his superior as a soldier and
commander was not to be found on
either side of the conflict. He also
had ability that inspired the fullest
confidence; personal intrepidity that
never failed to command admiration
a calm, digniiied presence that always
cxacted respect; and, withal, he was
singularly gentle, modest, unaffected
and un,clf,h. \ contemporary ap-
propriatcly remarks that "he was as
modest rs he was brave, and popular
fame never accorded him the exalted
rank that he earned, and that all
soldiers, whether they served under
him or not, readily ascribc to him -
and that "the figure of Thomas -tandS
out with increasing prominence, and
among all the soldiers of the Union
there j. none whose fame will shine
with n clearer light than his Though
he was a Nirginian by birth and cher
ished strong affection for his native
State, he could not follow his army
comrades of the South who took up
arms against the Union. He saw
duty in another direction. Conscience
led the way, and so long as an armed
foe remained in the field, with n pa
triotic and unfaltering devotion rarely
excelled by any of the worlds heroes,
he gave his best efforts in support Of
the government and the cause he be-
lievcd to be right. The consciousness
Of duty well done, and enduring fame
and honor were his rewards.
And now that the fame of Thomas
goes down to posterity in bronze, there
Is one blessed and cheering lesson to
be drawn this memorial service. 1t to
be found in the alacrity and eagerncss
with which people came forward from
all sections of the country to take part
in it. While great masses we're pres
ent who had followed his victorious
banner in battle, there we're other
masses there who had fought against
him, and were now ready TO prove
that they could honor a high example
of patriotism and sincere devotion TO
the convictions of duty. The happy
spectacle of the representatives of the
two sides to opr late civil war thus
meeting in harmony and friendship
around the statue that commentaries
the deeds of the beloved Union soldier.
augurs the dying out of the hot pas
sions of the past, and plainly indicates
that the unholy spirit of sectionalism
cannot much longer keep the people
of our restored IJnion anari in CaeIing
and sentiment. OF course other issues
will in time divide the political senti-
ment of the country, but il is hope
ful thought for the lover of our liberal
institutions and form of free govern
ment that the division will not be
marked by sectional lines.
The Hon. John Kena, Dsmocra-
tic member of Congress from West