The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-05-04
SENATOR VOORHEES,.
Eloquent Remarks of Senator Voorhees, Mt
the dwelling of Farragut's Statue.


The statute of Admiral Farragut was un-
yelled in Washington City on Monday. Mr..
VOORHEES,, amid loud applause, advanced to
the front of the speakers platform and said /:
LADIES AND GEsrLENES-This is an OCCASION on
which the best emotions of the American heart
are inspired. We are here TO pay ceremonial hon
TO the memory of one whose deeds of peril ana
of high renown In defence of his country adorn
more than half a century of his country's history
No good life is ever wholly exunguished even in
this world He who has lived for the welfare of
his fellow men. for the cause of free and enlight
ened government, and TO enlarge the boundaries
OF human happiness lives on forever, even here
upon the shores of time For the benefactors of
the human race there is no death. The centuries
may move on In an endless procession over their
graves; human society may be transformed by rev
outlons: the world may be carried by the Spit of
progress from old conditions to new ones vet the
influences OF the philanthropist, the hero and
the lawgiver. in eternal strength and beauty will
keep pace with them all. and give color and shape
TO the conduct of the remotest generations. Itis
in recognition of this great fact that statues and
monuments have arisen all over the face OF the
civilized globe The influences of the illustrious
dead are always active in the affairs OF the world
and the wish has been strong in every age TO per-
petuate their form and features and 10 transmit
them 10 posterity- This day and hour the Gov
eminent of the United States unveils to the world
the statue OF Farragut-the statue of a naval COM
mander first in American history and second to
no one who has handled ships in battle since the
day on which Themistocles beat Xerxes at ''Sea
4
stands in brass or marble at the behest of CRATE
full country and in time to be gazed upon by those
who knew and loved him in life.
THE AMERICAN NAVY.
He then proceeded to give long and interest
ing history of the American Navy from the year
NO. when the Continental Congress enacted It's
first legislation in regard thereto. down to the
present day. and commented in words of praise
and honor upon Admiral Farraguts distinguished
career. In the beginning OF the century he said,
he (FarraguD had learned the lesson of naval war
fare under the old system of wood and sails and
in the open sea, but he had kept pace with the
spirit of American progress and soon showed that
he was master OF the problems OF steam and iron
and at home in river, bay or harbor He en-
braced within himself all of the splendid associa-
tons, patriotism and courage of the Navy of the
past, together with full appreciation of the adj
vancements of modern science. To complete his
character as hero. his love of country was not
merely conviction of duty; il was tnat and
more. ii was the ruling passion of his soul. He
loved the flag with all of sailors affection and
deep reverence for that power in whose service
he had fought and whose name and fame had
been HIS JOY from childhood than an ordinary
sense of attachment.
THE GLoRIEs OF THE WAR
With lofty and stern enthusiasm, but without
bitterness of heart, he struck the rebellion its
hardest blows and gave his name to immortality
in the restoration of the American Union. But
War for the possession of ,he Father
OF Waters? Why recount the glories and
the dangers of the ferts of New Orleans and of
dread magnifcence of Mobile Bay to those who
are listening to me now? / see many here who
were in the flame and smoke of those terrible con-
filcts and whose names will descend TO posterity
with that of their great commander. They saw
him at his best; they saw him with the light of
battle in his face; they saw him intrepid in
ton and humane in victory; they saw his scOrn
for personal danger and heard his orders given
with GOODNESS and precision when alOft in the
rigging OF his ship, under fire as strong and as
TO aC avnrQ lad I
those who were with him from the beginning to
the end-from January, 1862, to April, 1S65-dur-
ing three years and three months of continuous
triumph and honor. You know his deeds and his
fame. His place is first among the naval heroes
OF history His Is no second name in the rOll-call
of the sea kings of the world Nelson died in the
arms of victory and was buried amid the sobs of
the English Nation in Westminster Abbey. but
there is higher niche III the Temple of Fame
for the American Admiral than for the British
peer. To beat the French III sea three-quarters of
a century ago was easier task than to reduce
batteries and capture ships manned by Americans
and defended by all the Improvements of modern
warfare.
HoNoRs TO THE DEAD.
In other countries Farragut would have been
decorated with honors and worn the title of Duke
or Earl, with the income of Prince. We gave
him the highest rank known to his profession,
and have decreed him statue in the Capital.
And now soon these assembled thousands will
disappear from this consecrated spot and Farra-
gut viii be left alone, he stands revealed by
the magic power OF art But Others win come to
look upon the commanding presence in the days
and in the years and in the far distant centuries
of the future. The American youth will here
sort to beholding one whose boyhoOd was the
bright heroic dawn of life so useful and so in
spring to noble deeds. Old age will pause and
linger here in rapid admiratiOn of one who with
the weight of three score years and more upon
him crowded the evening of his life so full of
glory in the defense of his country. Presidents,
lawmakers, heads of departments and public
officials of every grade will visit this spot long
as American patriotism endures to reverence one
whose life was dedicated to public duty in his
childhood and who left the world with no blemish
upon any part OF his long career. The soldier
and the sailor will come to gaze upon the face of
the braVest of the brave and to drink in lessons
of courage and fidelity for future wars, If they
should unhappily befall US. The American citi-
zen of every calling and of every section, as long
as the Republic exists. will here dwell with
emotions of pride upon character too great for
a divided love among his countrymen. May
every portion of the American Union salute this
statue with equal honor, and may that Union
stand in Justice, peace. fraternity and equal
iIy while brass and marble endure. APP
plalse.
General Joe Lane.