Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-03-01
A GIFT FROM MICHIGAN.
A Statue Of Gen. Cass Formally Pre-
sented to the Nation.
Eloquent Remarks by senator Palmer and
Others

mally unveiled in statuary hall in Washing
ton on the 18th inst.
The statue is nearly SIX feet in hight, the
fullness Of the generals person giving the
impression that IL is not so tall. The pres
ence Of the figure is commanding. The
face denotes great strength of mind and
will power. IL is full ana classical in out
line The forehead is high and the eyes
deep seated. bat clear. The statue is clear
~ the most striking one in statuary hall.
1t has character, force and life. The artist
received warm congratulations at all hands
upon his fine work.
The relatives OF Gen. Cass present at the
unveiling were his grandson, Henry y.
Ledyard of Detroit, his great grandchil-
dren, j. l.. b. and A. G.. Ledyard of Detroit,
his great grand niece, Mrs. VI. 5. Nanhorne
of Chicago, and his Grand nephew Geo w.
Cass of the same city. The latter are chill
dren Of the late Gen. Geo. w. Cass, the
great railroad magnate. There were also
present when the statue was unveiled. its
sculptor, -. c. French, the Michigan com
mission, consisting OF Philo Parsons, II. u.
Ledyard and DR.. Hamilton r.. Smith: Col.
j. NJ. Farland OF Dearborn; Mrs. Philo
Parsons and number OF other Michigan
people. All of those present were highly
pleased with the figure and those who had
known CasS We're W rm IN their commend
alton as an exact likeness. MIR Ledyard
viewed the statue CRIT Callly. He had not
seen II before ana was slow in expressing
an opinion, but it grew on him constantly,
and his congratulations were among the
heartiest that MIR. French received.
Senator II Inner secured the floor of the
senate 70 offer the Cass resolutions. All
| the leading senators were present. On the
floor were Postmaster General Dickinson,
eX Senator Ferry and Representatives
Fisher, Chapman. Allen, Brewer. . Don
nell, CGtcheon ana Seymour Of Michigan.
Near Senator Palmer 5 Il slight fine-l look
| ing old man with lowing snow white hair
anu beard. This was "a man whose life is
| a retrospect of the history of the great
| northwest. II was Hon. George w. Jones
| Of Iowa, who was the last delegate in con
| gress from Michigan territory, and for
| many years the colleague of Gen. Cass in
| the United States senate. He had come on
| 10 hear the cuiOgies Of his old friend and
associate. Gen. Jones Is believed to be the
| Oldest member OF any congress now living.
| re entered congress IN $3.50, when Palmer
and Chapman Were tOdd.ing babies. Among
other public men who had known Gen.
! Cass that were present were Payne Of
| Ohio, who was a Cass presidential electOr;
| Harris OF Tennessee, VINO was on the Cass
electoral ticket, but was defeated; Pugh
who was Taylor elector and cast his VOC
| against Cass; sherman, Morrill, Reagan,
| and Colluitt, who served in Congress with
| CasS; German, who W a senate page in
| tie generals time, and old Isaac Bassett,
who has been doorkceper OF the senate
y
| were the Michigan people who had been
present at the unyeiing and Hiram A
| Burt, w. G. Ninton and daughter and Miss
Jennie Smith of Detroit, congressman
| elect Bliss, eX Congressman MCGOWAN. II.
Jerome, Maj. Blackman and Timothy Mes
| ter
Senator Palmer offered concurrent reso-
| lutions returning the thanks of congress to
| the governor and people of the state of
Michigan for the statue Of Lewis Cass,
whose name is 50 conspicuously connect
ed with the developement OF the northwest
territory and with eminent services 10 his
state oaud country both at home and
abroad accepting the same In the name
Of the nation aud assigning il a place in
| the hall OF representatives. He then pro-
ceeded 10 deliver an address in which he
| spoke of Gen. Cass as one who, more than
any other. had been identified with the in
fancy OF NJ chigan, and who had defended
| her in war, guided her youthful foot steps,
! laid down rules of conduct for her, had
| brought order out of chaos. had when
separated from her by occ ms still chung
! TO her as his home and fOudly loo Jed TO her
| soil as the aust with which his own was to
comming.e. After review of the life and
| public services of Gen. Cass, Mr.. Palmer
| said he knew OF no public man who had
| filed so many places i'm the economy of
| life-teacher, explorer, negotator of trea-
! Ties, governor, pioneer, lawyer, iegis ator.
marshal, soldier, diplomat, secretary of
war, senator and secretary OF state-in all
of which positions Gen. Cass had acquitted
| himself surprisingly well.
In conclusion he said
The mists engendered by the heat pas
sion and rancor of the crucial time of the
nations history have risen, and men are
! judged not only by their acts but by the
results of their acts. IT has been said that
the highest place in history must be assign
cd u the founders of states If this be so.
certainly the next graduation must be as
signed TO him who builds the the super
structure on foundations already laid. To
such place impartial biography must as
| sign Lewis Cass. The state whose ns titu-
| tons he did so much to mold, and in whose
soil his ashes repose after a lapse of twenty
| two years, Il time sufficient for scrutiny of
h 5 acts and their consequences, has de-
creed, through its representatives assem-
! bled, that he is worthy of place beside
| the great men who stand serene and change
! less beneath the dome of the capitol. 1t re-
mains for us, Mr.. President TO formerly
accept MS statue presented TO the nation by
| the state of Michigan. She invokes for the
| life and character watch IL represents and
recalls the calm judgment OF the present
and the future. She leaves il in that
august tribunal-where the nation has
gathered an part) the counterfeit present
| ments of her heroic sOns--wiih Williams,
the tolerant; Allen, the vehement; Win.
throp, the devout, and the goOdly array of
WbIbiiitS VA Nuulu ilSlbIN has sou htT SOIL.
In that court Of last resort where cvery
American must of necessity be his own nc
cuser. defender and Judge, il were well that
we should pause. and, after calm delibera-
alton, let our consCiences enter UP the YER
dict whether or not our aspirations, our
aims aud our acts have been and are con
| sistent with the glory OF the republic
Other speeches were made by Senators
Morrill,, Chandler, Hoar and Morgan, all
| being eloquent and scholarly addresses.
The commission appointed by the govern
! or accepted the statue and formally drew "A
warrant on the state treasurer for s., 900,
the amount still due Mr.. French upon the
statue. They all appreciate his work very
much and feel well pleased with the result
of their labOrs
The exercises iu the house will be held
later.