The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-12

The Contrast Between the Visit Of Lincoln
and that Of Cleveland.

There were persons among the multitude who
clustered around the arbor in the Natlonai
Cemetery on Monday, when Governor Pattison
welcomed President Cleveland, who were pres
ent on that memorable day in November, 1868,
when President Lincoln in words of FURNISHED
gold. dedicated the hallowed ground where now
sleep 800 national heroes. That occasion. like
the recent one. was meant to be historical
President Lincoln arrived on a special train,
which also brought his Secretary of State, Mr..
Seward; his Secretary of the Interior, John P.
Usher; Postmaster general Montgomery Blair,
Edward Everett, who was to deliver the grafton,
and the war Governors O. P. Morton, of Indiana,
Brough and Todd, of Ohio, Joel Parker, of New
Jersey, and Seymour, of New York Nearly
twenty two years have passed since that memor-
able time, and the few survivors here could not
fail to draw contrast between the coming of the
only two Presidents who ever favored Gettys-
burg with their presence. Lincoln devoted his
spare moments on the cars during the hiatuses
in conversation to the coinage of few sentences,
which, when welded together, constituted a
work that will endure until our language is
buried in oblivion. Mr.. Cleveland, on the con-
trary, looked after the physical man, and
utilized the time in transit by laying in supply
OF provender more than sufficient to see him
through the day.
Ex-Governor Curtins presence on the grand
stand made the connecting link perfect between
Lincoln and Cleveland. Lincoln, Seward. Usher
Blair, Everett Morton, Brough and Tod are
gone the way of all fiesh but Curtin, their COM
rade politically, retains the zest and vitality or
youth, and seems 20 have heightened his days
since ne began feeding on Democratic pastur-
age; but he has seen and realized the prophecy
contained in Lincoln's words, that this Nation,
under God, shall have new birth of freedom
1t may not disturb Mr. Clevelands equaninity
to know that the people of Gettysburg were not
impressed favorably toward him. They consider
his gorging himself on the train as an unkind
reflection on their hospitality and on their abil-
ity to entertain him, and his obstinate refusal
to answer or even acknowledge Governor Patti
sons graceful address as a display of downright
churlishness. The Governor Of Pennsylvania
had journeyed fifty miles for other pur-
pose than to tender TO the President an address
of welcome, and he was certainly entitled to some
acknowledgement.
The veterans have been very reluctant to
leave here. They have marched back and forth,
stimulated by their recollectionS of dangerous
picket duty, the hazardous skirmish line the
quiet bivouac, and the deadly charges, counter
charges and repulses. Owing to the slight, al
most imperceptable, changes in the landscape,
they have encountered no difficulty in placing
the position of their brigade, their regiment
company, or battery. The country is open and
the view unsurpassed. There arc no nextrica-
BILE thlckets as at The Wilderness, no bewildering
forests as at Charlottesville and at Spottsylvania,
where Gen. John g. Robinson recently hunted
in vain for the spot where he was wounded and
at length gave up the jobas he had twenty years.
before given up his leg. Here at Gettya1
every foot of the twenty-five square.
which the two armies operated is ACC
The positions of the twenty three,
regiments are commemorated
enduring tablets, and the thiru
and eighty-one Pennsylvap
wooden signs. The inn
Average New Yorker RI
over the field is that the I
no troops for this
New York was actually 81 W
resentation, with a gu
excess of Pennsylvania
eighty regiment
been at Jericho, when
ton OF the places whe
fought, and fell. Man
their memories perpet
of stone on the spot W
lives but for the BIRD
Barksdale, Garnett
Armstead, the place W
unhonorcd and unmarl
who led Pickett's advanl
penetrated furthest Within
his hat high above his hea
sword, he laid his hand tn
federal gun. This is our GU
eXciaimed-the sentence puncU
ball, which struck him full in {
muzzle being held close to his p6
came a federal charge and Pickett1
and when it was all over, Armistead was
by our men, and he asked who commanded thll
part Of the field.
General Hancock, but he is badly wounded"
was the reply
TELL General Hancock that have wronged
him and my country" said Armistead with his
last breath.
From the very nature Of things Gettysburg
will be maintained as far as American or Penn
sylvanian enterprise will permit in all its original