The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-09
xeep them They would DO precious souvenirs

keep them They would be precious souvenirs
now"
Col James B. Black was introduced as the
orator of the day. His theme was General
! Grant and it was listened to with the closest
attention. The subject was admirably treated,
and was particularly clear and graphic In It's
| handling of his military record and analysis OF
! his character both as citizen and great
| commander. The Coonels address concluded
| with these words:
| Deeply as every sympathetic heart must de-
| plore his long endured suferings, much as we
would have given to avert his pain ana iepgthen
his days into another generation OF his country
men, we cannot but acknowledge that what has
| been is for the best Seeing how he was able to
| endure and that his suffering has borne such
rich results we must even rejoice In 1T as suffer-
| ing through which we have been blessed
| 1t is a blessing to know by his example
to what perfection of character one may
| attain who with infexible will. pursues the
course which an enlightened and pure conscience
| approves. 1t needs not that one should be
warrior a statesman to profit by this lesson.
| Here every youth may come and shape a charac-
| ter which shall make his life worth living And
age may hither COME and learn to retrieve the
past, and make the future safe. Who can meas
ure the love of her whose farewell missive lies
| upon his pulseless heart. Matchless tenderness!
| Sublimest faith! 'Twere better to inspire and
recprocate such affection than to gain the vlcto-
| ries of war. Who can tell how much his greatness
was dependent on that love which demanded that
she shall lie beside him at the last. Walking In
| light as bright as beats upon throne, he
| disclosed no spot ain, but showed a model
| for the hearthstones of the land.
| We have been blessed as nation by hearing
the dying Union General say that he desired
the good will of all, whether Heretofore his
cid antagonist Of Fort Donelson sitting beside
him at Mount McGregcr, speaking words of
| kindness, and receiving the chieftain's penciled
assurance that he mad witnessed since his sick
hat ha Ind had 70 cInn h0
war-harmony and good feeling between the
sections. The North and South came to his
couch; dying. he placed their hands together,
that being brethren they may, also through
blessing to the patriotic heart that
seems like 'the benedcton that follows
after prayer" Who will not hope that he
has subtracted years from the time when the
| South and the North shall be wholly reconced
and all citizens of the Republic shall sincerely
love the Union better than any section of it.
A much needed, a most timely benefaction;
| one which this audience will be glad to acknowl
edge, and one which, from the standpoint of
patriotism, cannot be too highly esteemed, is
the example of this worldfamed hero approach
ing the grave sustained by steadfast
belief in God and an unfater-
ing hope in immortality. How much
the world needs this belief and this hope! How
| necessary they to the safety of society, the
growth of civilization and the preservation of
good government. Whoever regards mankind
gains comfort from this illustrious witness to
these eternal truths that make for righteousness,
| that saves men and exats Nations.
| We contemplate a colossal character. 1t
| towers above the commonplace and overtopS all
its surroundings. Its majestic and well proper
| toned simplicity and benevolent aspect
realize our cherished ideal of man; and if the
chsel could body forth an adequate representa-
| ton of what our mental visions see the sculptor
might unvai statue of the Great Republic.
We honor him who completed his country's
heroic Observation-Disclosures Lincoln and Grant
the father, the liberator the saviour.
The ending of long sustained literary effort
brings weary feeling of disappoint-
ment sense Of the inadequacy
| of the consummation, weakening
of the will, and relaxation Of physical power,
even to one in good health. All this came to
Grant in excessive degree when his selfimposed
task was done, and perhaps his doomed life was
thereby somewhat shortened
| Realizing that he could not rouse his tagging
powers to further usefulness. he desired to free
his loved ones from their wearing anxiety and
wished to be at rest. The honored traveller in
all lands neared the end Of his pilgrimage.
The eye that had contemplated with equal
steadiness the ebb and flow of many a
tide of battle now serenely watched the oncom-
| ing of the cold, dark waters of the all-engulfng
| sea The ear, accustomed to the roar Of cannon
and the rattle of musketry. listened unmoved
through the night hours to the rustlng of the
| wings of Azrael.
the hero departed. To the westward -moving
day, the bells proclaimed the upwelcomed truth.
Der hill and dale, and under the sea the mourn
full message sped. The flag he saved sank low
on mast and staff. A personal sorrow filed the
land
We form to-day part of a great historic
| event. We are participants in obsequieS such
as the world never saw before. The greatest of
! the nations attends the funeral Of the greatest
hero of the worlds best age. Nor do the limits
of the broad continent conf1ne the scene
Wherever civilization reaches and liberty has
worshipers and greatness is honored, men bless
! his memory, mourn his Sufferings and bewail his
death The trappings and the suits of woe and
all the symbols of mourning proclaim a uni
| versal grief. In cities ana villages and
| wayside places, the people lay aside business,
| study toll and pleasure, and throng the thea
ters, the temples and the groves. They gather
in millions around a grave. All thoughts and
| hearts turn to one scene. Out from the busy
! center of the continents commercial capital
| moves on with solemn pomp tle grandest pro-
cession that ever bore hero to the tomb. From
forts and shipping, with dropping flags. the
| thunders of artillery resouud Slowly, to muf
fled drums, the peaceful army. miles in
Length, emerges from the precincts of trade
and the turmoil Of traffic, ard winds UP the quiet
wooded heights. On sylvan mount it pauses.
Hundreds of feet beneath the eye rolls the
majeetic Hudson Away to the eastward sparkle
the waves of the Sound. Here nature waits in
quietud apart to baptize weary spirits with
repose. Here shall be the shrine of freedoms
votaries of all lands. In the broad bay to the
southwark will stand Liberty Enlighten.
ing theWorld" Here shall be patriot
ism blessing the land. Here the funeral
car yields its precious burden, and
| while the reverent concourse stand apart, John
ston coming from the Pacifcs shore and Sher-
idan returning from his mission of peace to the
red men, clasp hands with Sherman and Buckner
| above the dust of him whom they gladly honor
as their rightful chief.
Close beside the lire of march of civilization,
but apart from the unceasing camor of the ad-
vancing column, he rests in sylvan shades.
Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord! In
peace the hero sleeps.
Religious services were held last evening Rev
| Dr. Thomas H. Lynch and Rev. Bidwell Lane,
| of Central NJ. f. Church, New York city lead