The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-02

Address by Ex-President Hayes-Beautiful
Tribute to the Memory Of Gen. Grant

W viz 4hNAioAJ VI NNAt' VIZ AVa
CLEVELAND, O., Aug AT Fremont, O., to-
day, soldiers monument, erected by the people
of Sandusky county, was unveiled with impos
ing ceremonies. The shaft stands in Stephenson
Park, on the site of Fl Stephenson, where, on
Aug. 2, 1913, Major George Croghan, with one
hundred men. defeated Il, 600 British and Indi
ans, under Proctor and Tecumseh. There
great crowd of people in town, and exPresdent
Hayes was president of the day. At 10 o'clock a
procession composed Of military and civic socie
ties from various sections Of the State paraded
the streets.
Among the distinguished guests present were
Ex-Governor Charles Foster Senators Sherman
and z. B. Payne, Judge Foraker, Gen. John
Beatty and Gen. N. D. Leggett The exercises
began at 130 o'clock, exPresident Hayes deliver
ing the following speech:
Fellow Citizens-The occasion which has
brought together this large assembage has a
twofod interest. On the spot where Maj
George Croghan and his gallant little band,
seventy two years ago, successfully defended
Fort Stephenson against largely superior force
of British regulars under Proctor, and of Indians
under Tecumseh the people of Sandusky county
have built monument in honor of their fellow
citizens, living and dead, who faithfully served
in the army of the Union. The date and place OF
our meeting, and the unwilling Of this soldiers
monument, remind us of two inspiring events
one of limited and perhaps local significance
merely, and the other of character which
rivets the attention of all mankind.
The simple ceremonies we have witnessed Ia
this place, this anniversary recall the men,
the events and the of the old pioneer days
of the Northwest Territory. They also wildly
recall those never to be forgotten heroic days of
1885, when the great questions of liberty and
OF national life were submitted to the God Of
battles.
Intimately associated with Croghan's victory
are the favorite names of the pioneer history of
the West. General Harrison, Commodore Perry.
General Cass, General Macarthur. Col Richard
M. Johnson, Governor Meies, Governor Tiffin,
and long list of other able whose names
were household words in the homes of the first
settlers of this rcgion-were all closely identified
with the military events which hinged upon the
brilliant victory which gained here, and
which decided the struggle for the vast and noble
territory which is tributary to the great lakes of
the Northwest That do not overstate the i'm
portance of the brilliant event which gives
place in history to our little city of Fremont, [
read you few paragraphs from letters to one of
our committee by Col Charles Whittesey, of
Cleveland, and by General Sherman"
The ex President here read interesting extracts
from letters written by Colonel Whittlesey and
General Sherman, the former reviewing the
history of the gallant defense of Fort Stephen
son, and the latter pointing out its Importance In
securing to the American people the mastery of
the West, which, he says, from that day to
this has been the bulwark of the Nation. The
speaker then read letter, dated July ii, written
at the dictatlon of General Grant, acknowledge
ing the invitation TO be present on the accession,
and also the kind expressions which the note
of invitation contained personal to himself. He
then continued:
'Since this letter was written the great sol
dier has been relieved from the suffering which
ne bore with such patient and noble forLitude.
The Nation he Gid so much TO save Is tearfully
ont gratefully and proudly preparing to perform
the last sad Offices in honor of. her matchess
warrior and bestowed citizen. The monument
we dedicate here, every monument to the citizen
soldier of the Union, is a monument that re-
minds US Of the deeds and virtues of General
Grant Although trained a soldier, the war
found him a citizen-it made him again a sol
der, and in his last years he once more
citizen. He was simple, sincere, just magnani-
nous and pure, and to these high qualities
added by nature, with lavish prodieality, an iron
determination, an unyieding renacity of purpose,
and serene and heroic mastery of all his facul-
ties in the midst of responsibility danger and
death. which fitted him above any other living
man for the command Of the Grand
Army of the Republic, in whose keep
ing were the vast and vital interests of
our country and of mankind. Our monument
in Fort Stephenson Park, in Fremont to the
Union soldiers Of this county-indeed, every
monument to the Union soldiers also a monu-
ment to General Grant. In like manner, every
monument to General Grant will be monument
to the of the armies he led. His name and
fame and their name and fame are forever linked
together. Our country with a government free
and popular, but strong enough to maintain its
authority and to defend its life; with people all
of whom under the law have an equal start
and a fair chance in the race of life" bound
together-''an indestructibe union of indestruct
IDLE States with present population, wealth.
power and prestige beyond any other civilized
nation and with future far transcendng in it's
possibilities all that the world has known in the
past-this country is at once the reward and the
monument of the Union soldiers and of their
great and beloved commander, General Grant"
Capt. John w. Lennon, of Clyde next gave
an historical sketch of Sandusky countys
soldier dead. After General Hayes had read
letters of regret from President Cleveland and
Gen. John C. Fremont Capt. A. G. Kemper, of
Cincinnati read an original poem:
General Cox, the orator of the day. spoke
next General Cox confined his remarks princi
pally to Ohio's record in connection with the war
Of 1872. He paid touching tribute to General
Grant He closed by calling attention to the
illustrious services of Generals Mcpherson and
Hayes. both Of whom were residents Of San
dusky county.
Specie Exports.