Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-08-23


President Harrison Makes a Speech at
the Laying of the Cornerstone.
INpIANAPoLIs. August 22d.SThe corner
stone of the Indiana Soldiers and Sailors
Monument was laid this afternoon, with
imposing ceremonies, in the presence of
the President of the United States and
many thousand veteran soldiers and sailors.
ALI day yesterday and this morning the
trains brought thousands of strangers to
the city. The city was beautifully deco
rated in honor of the occasion. The exer-
cises Of the day began at 2 o'clock with a
parade, which marched through the princi-
pal streets. 1t was made up of various
Posts of the Grand Army of the Republic,
assembled from throughout the State, and
the State militia and local civic organiza-
tons. It was estimated that there were
5000 in line.
In the second division, Immediately in
the rear of the military, was the escort to
President Harrison of 100 strong, all
mounted. The President rode in flag
draped carriage, in which were Mayor
Denny and Governor Hoyey. Other guests
of prominence followed.
All the streets surrounding the monu-
ment were packed with people, and as the
President assembled the stand he was
greeted with cheers which he gracefully
acknowledged. The crowd watched in
silence the laying of the cornerstone. The
documents were consigned to their resting
place and the stone was placed in position
in accordance with the ritual of the Grand
Army of the Republic.
When the stone had been placed in posi-
ton the national flag was raised and the
=" Star-Spangled Banner" sung by Mrs.
Zlda Ssguin Wallace. The ceremony
ended with the firing of salute. Follow
ing this Governor Hovey, as the presiding
officer of the occasion, made brief ad-
dress, and was followed by General Man.
son aud General Coburn. At the conclu-
sion of the latter's address President Harri-
son was introduced, and. after the applause
which greeted him had ended, he said,
in part:
Mr. President aud felto1 citizens: The sugges-
ton that d monument should be built to COM
memorate the valor and heroism of those SOL
diers of Indiana who gave their lives for the flag
attracted Eay interest from the beginning Five
years ago last January, when the people assem-
bied In the opera house yonder, to unyeil the
statue which had been worthily set up TO the
memory OF our great war Governor yentured
TO express the hope that near By it, as 8 twin
expression OF one great sentiment, there might
be builded a noble shaft, not to any man. not to
bear on any of its majestic faces the name of a
man, but monument about which the sons of
veterans mothers of our dead, widows that are
yet with US, might gather, and, pointing to the
stately shaft, say, There is his monument"
The hope expressed on that day is realized
now. lCries of THANK God ~ and cheers1 /
congratulate the people of Indiana that our
Legislature has generously met the expectations
of cur patriotic people. Congratulate the Com
mission having this great work in charge. They
have secured a design which will lot suffer
under the criticism of the best artists of the
world.
Mycountrymen. two hundred thousand dollars
has never passed and will never pass from the
Treasury of Indiana that will give better re-
turn than the expenditure for the erection of
this monument. AS | have witnessed these
ceremonies and listened to these patriotic Hymns
read in the faces of the men who stood about
me that lifting up of soul, that kndling of
patriotic IRE, that has made me realize that on
such occasions the nation is laying deep and
strong It's future security. lApplause.l
This is monument of Indiana to Indiana
soldiers, but beg you to remember that they
were only soldiers OF Indiana until the enlist
until they came back to the generous State that
had sent Them FORTH they were soldiers of the
Union. Great applausel So that it seemed to
me not inappropriate that l should bring to
you to-day the sympathy and cheer of the loyal
people of al the States. No American citizen
need avoid. or pass it with unsympathetic eye;
Tor, my eountrymen, 1t does not commemorate
the wal of snbiugation. There is not in the
United States today man who, if he realizes
what has occurred since the war, and has
opened his soul to the sight which is to come
Will not feel that it is good for all our people
that victory crowned the cause which this
monument commentaries. tCries of amen"
do seriously believe that If we can measure
among the states the benefits resulting from
the preservation of the Union, the rebellious
States have larger share. 1t opened the way
for commercial life that If they will Only en-
brace it and face the light, it means to them a
development that shall rival the best attain
ments of the greatest of our States And now.
let NE thank you for your pleasant greeting
lGreat and prolonged applause
There were loud calls for General Rusk
at the conclusion of the Presidents re-
marks, and he responded as follows:
Mr.. President and Comrades will not de
tain you with any remarks. / am here with
the President TO witness these great ceremonies
met Indiana soldiers in the war and they
never failed 70 support u.s. and / am here to-
day TO say to you that will never fail to stand
by you.
Acknowledgement Miller spoke briefly,
saying ne was not prepared to say anything
of interest, and did not think any man bad
right TO mar such exercises as to-day's by
an unconsidered extemporaneous address.
This ended the exercises, and amid the
booming of cannon and the cheers of
thousands the throng dispersed.