Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-09-26

the recent unNalllnG the oldlOE
at Fort Leavenworth:
GENERAL MERRITT's REMARKS.
General Merritt opened the exercises by
saying:
1t is my pleasing privilege, as president OF the
Grant Monument Association, to welcome you
here to-day and do so most cordially An &C
casion Of the kind we have met 10 celebrate IS
especially interesting. A good work has been
completed, worthy object fulfilled
Ido not propose TO enter into history OF the
statue nor 70 discuss who is entitled 10 special
credit for its erection This has been done in
the Journals OF the day. Those who furnished
the means 10 erect the statue have been duly
recorded on the granite OF the pedestal; those
who have attended TO its erection desire
special mention shall not, however. neglect
70 call attention 70 the careful management OF
the funds by the treasurer Of the association
Colonel William A. Rucker, Assistant Postmas-
ter-General, who paid more to the contractors
by several hundred dollars for the completed
work than had been originally subscribed, and
that after the current expenses were iquidated'
so well had he placed it at interest
And now il only remains for me 10 congrstu-
late all interested on the finished work You
have life-like ststu e in bronze. upon base OF
granite, which will commemorate, as long as IL
is given 10 human works TO endure. the military
deeds OF the great soldier who never lost
battle.
The artist has done his part in a manner be-
fitting the illustrious soldier. Descending the
conyentionalities OF art and refusing TO avail
himself OF the draperles Of the anc ents, he has
represented our hero not as a Roman not as
Grecian, but a citizen Of the United States
clad in the uniform OF the American soldier,
always a badge Of honor when worthily worn.
whether ty soldier OF the Republic private IN
ranks OF officer, and in the character OF an
American soldier this country will forever honor
tie memory OF Graut-the soldier OF Nlcksburg,
the soldier OF the Wilderness and the soldier OF
Appomattox. The monument viii now be I'M
vailed.
SENATOR INGALLS, GRAFTON.
After the monument was unvailed Gen
eral Merritt introduced Senator IugallS.
who said:
General Merritt and ladies' and gentlemen:
The onward and upward march Of humanity has
never been DELAYED for the want of prophet 10
predict a triumph, poet 20 voice its aspira-
tons, or a-leader to marshal and direct potential
and resistless energies. When the crisis comes
the man appears-oftcu uuannounccd Ike John
the Baptist, Behold a voice crying in the
wilderness" Great men are the products Of
great events. The occasion always precedes
the hero II is the opportunity which makes
the General the Admiral. the orator. II Rome
had been a nation OF slaves CEsar would have
been impossible Wellington GId not cause
falcar and If neither had lived Napoleon would
not have died az Helena and England remained
the mistress OF the seas. The Declaration OF
Independence was the passionate cry Of the
people and a result Of the compact made in the
cabin OF the Mayhower
We have assembled in this historic place be
meath this autumnal sky. amid the beuehcent
fruition Of nature ana with impressive cere-
monies to unvail the effiry OF the great military
chieftain who directed the struggle for indie
pendence aud nationality. When the contest
was begun there was no one in the Republic who
anticipated the achievements or who prOphe-
sled the ma nifcent destiny OF L. :. Grant.
He had not participated in the preliminary in
tellectual combat. He had abandoned the mil
itary profession in early life with lut having
made any profound impression on his comrades
IN arms. He had no sympathy with the pas
SONS which precipitated the war. He had
passed the middle period Of his years and was
waiting in obscurity and poverty. He had no
powerful or influential friends. He possessed
no aIlurlng personal qualifications and had
none OF that thrift which follows fawning.
He was shy, silent, retiring, respondent, yet in
the brief interval between Belmont and Apo
matloX he entered upon that fame which knows
no dying. Critics may question his relative
rank with great captains OF the
world. but his career IS stately
procession OF unbroken triumphs. He
stood that test Of geaIus-he was equal to every
emergency by which ne was ever confronted.
He was called t. the highest position in the
Nation. Nations rose up TO do him honor as he
stood with monarchS IN their capitals. And
when at last on the frontier OF that dark king
dom which are all approaching and con-
fronted with infinite danger he bore with in
finite foriitude and encountered the only an
tagonist he could not conquer.
Mr.. Ingalls, told in eloquent words OF TIL
removal of the remains of General Grant
from Mount McGregor TO NV York
where through all the somber drapery of
woe flashed and famed the glory of the
flag.
The flag! The flag! The symbol Of the honor.
glory and power Of the country he had saved.
The flag which but for him would have been a
sullied and dishCuored rag. But for him the
geography of this country would have been
changed The United States would have dis
appeared and in their places would be petty
provinces with outpo>tS on every frontier
they would have replaced a Nation whose ban
ner now floats from rhe Saskatchewan to
the Rio Grande. Here every faith finds
q shelter. every creed a sanctuary, every
wrong redress. But for him We would
be but a relic OF antiquity. All the tradi-
tions OF HISTORY would be like tale that
is told. All shat is inspiring in history. re
splendent in example, would be like sentences
in the school bOoks-like stories OF nations all
dead. Other wars have been fought for con-
quest, revenge dynasty and throne. but no such
passions animated this great soldier. He fought
for ideas. that oil men might be free. the States
iudesrructible freedom universal. the Union
irdissoluble and the Matt. forever! He fought
that popular government might not be a mere
definition He led &c victory the greatest army
OF ancient or modern tim :, that the past
should not be catastrophe, the present an
armistice, and the future an abyss for which no
.g-f, 4, far
He fought that patriotism might not be the
fatal mai dy of the body polite. His armies
having conquered their enemies and the enc
mics Of their cc"utry they conquered them
selves.
Mr.. ingalls, dwelt upon this fact a few
moments and in closing said:
II is befttiug and appropriate that Kansas,
IN the first wear OF the second century OF Ameri-
can independence, should rear and dedicate a
monument TO the leader who made the second
century OF American liberty possible When this
century is passed the ideas for which Grant
contended Will survive. Orators will rehearse
stories OF her intrepid progress-her area will
be extended norihward TO the frozen globe and
southwark TO Che canal which will join the two
oceans; fifty stars VIII be upon her flag and
sO0OOOO 90 people will be under its folds. Let
US bear away from this consecrated spot re-
newed conservation 10 the great principles OF
civil constitutional and rel gous liberty for
which Grant fought that this forever might re-
main a government of laws and not a govern
ment OF men
GRAFTON BY GENERAL BLAIR
General Merritt then introduced General
c. W. Blair, who spoke as follows:
Ii was reserved for Fort Leaverworth, the
nursery OF heroes. the elected home OF vRlor,
with which has been connected al one time or
another nearly every distinguished name known
in our National struggle, 20 first unvail TO pub