The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-08-28

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Gov. Hovey and Mayor Denny, and was
| greeted with slight cheer
when he alighted from his car
/ riage. In the next carriage came
| Atty.-Gen. Miller, Secy Rusk and
/ Private Secy. Halford. The president and
the three latter were given seats together
/ in the speakers stand, and they remained
| there but for few moments, when they
were called to witness the laying OF the
4 cornerstone. This ceremony was ex-
cluded from the gaze of the multitude
| proper, as the cornerstone OF a monument
| is z paradox-being generally the center
stone Here the ceremonies were opened
with song by Miss Kate Hammond, ac-
/ companied by a special chorus.
Mr.. George j. Langsdale, president of
/ the monument commission, then gave a
/ brief review of the history of the enter
/ prise, the substance of which was as fol-
! lows:
| On the 9th day of January, 1888, the COM
/ mission adopted a design for a monument 269
/ feet in hight the building OF which has
| progressed to the point witnessed by you, and
! we are now assembled to put Its cornerstone
/ in place. In that stone receptacle has been
/ provided in which a copper box will be
! deposited containing the records of the COM
I mission, Of the great army which subdued the
Z rebellion, and OF the peaceful organizations
/ that have sp-ung from II since. Contrary to
/ custom, the monument is not erected TO an
/ individual, and no mans name will appear
upon il; but il is erected in honor of the citizen
| soldiers and sailors of the state who gave their
! lives for the preservation of our liberties the
/ maintenance OF the government and the vim
/ dication of the national honor. And men of
/ every creed and color, and OF every political
/ faith and practice were true TO their country
in the hour of her peril, and shed their blood for
| its protection, so, too, every man in the state
who has worn the national uniform can Join
| hands around this monument and feel that in
/ its building not one thing has been done which
/ will in the slightest degree wound his tenderest
i feelings, whether they relate to religion or
politics criticiSe his condition, whether rich
/ or poor. Here every soldier will meet with
| comrades on a spot which he knows is sacred
/ to him and the cause for which he fought.
If completed according to design this mOnu-
/ ment will be the noblest structure on the con-
| tinent, and there will be no purely soldiers
/ monument in the world its equal. Ii will teach
| the lesson that it is an honor TO suffer and die
for ones country. and that self-sacri6ce is not
without its reward. II will testify to all be-
holders that the brightest page in the history Of
/ the state is the record of its valor and that il
/ vii never be forgotten, and it will inculcate a
| spirit Of loyalty and devotion and inspire a
courage which will be the best guaranty for
the preservation OF the peace and happiness
OF the people.
Commander of the department of Indiana
| grand army of the republic, on behalf of the
commissioners, now ask you 10 deposit your
records with those of the wOman's relief corps
and the sons of veterans in the casket, which
You will then put in its place after which we
assign you the duty OF setting the cornerstone.
Mr.. Charles NJ. Travis, department COM
mander OF the state e.. A. r. then enacted
81 chief in the solemn ceremony in con-
signing the cornerstone to its long resting
place, silence reigning supreme. Mr..
| Travis was assisted by the officers of the
department and the presidents respect
lively, OF the sons of veterans and the
woman 5 relief corps During the prog
ress OF the rites the national banner was
slowly raised aloft to q towering flagstaff,
and the services We're concluded by Mrs.
Zelda Seguin- Wallace, who sang the ''Star
Spangled Banner" The booming of ar
tillery announced that the main ceremony
was over. while the immense audience
gave a lusty cheer to announce the con-
summation OF the event.
The presidential party was again ush-
cred to the front platform, and the vast
concourse was spoken TO by Mr.. Langs-
dale, who introduced Gov Hovey with
the announcement that he would be the
presiding officer OF the day. Gov. Hovey,
in acknowledging the honor, spoke as fol-
lows:
COMRADES, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN-We
have assembled to-day to celebrate the laying
of the cornerstone Of the monument dedicated
10 the soldiers and sailors of the state of Indi-
ana.
Monuments are the evidences of the earliest
labor and art of man. Throughout Europe,
Asia, Africa and America they are found scat
tered without even a legend to tell of the cause
OF their erection. The simple mound of earth,
the cairn, the pyramids. still stand the ravages
of untold centuries whilst the shaft the ODE
lisk, the Pantheon and many other remains OF
cultivated art meet the eye in almost every part
OF the civilized world.
They have. doubt, been built TO commem-
crate great events, or to glOrify and satisfy the
pride, pOmp and vanity of cOnQuerOrs, kings
and emperOrs, Few, If any, will be found in
any age or country which have been erected as
tributes of honor to the common race of men.
The laying OF the cornerstone, for which
are assembled, in the soldiers and sailors
monument is intended 10 confer q lasting
honor on all who have served our country from
the first Indian war within the state to those
who had the great honor to participa in the
suppression of the late grand and terrible re-
bellion- 1t will be the monument of Indiana's
heroic men living dead.
1t is not my parpose TO enter into an histori-
cal description OF the glorious deeds and bat
ties of which the people OF this state may well
be proud. Able and eloquent speakers have
been assigned 10 perform that grateful and
pleasing duty, but ! cannot refrain from max
ing few general remarks in regard to the ef-
ltct OF the great Victory OF our Union soldiers
over The colossal treason of the South In 1861,
when the civil commenced the United
States had population of little over thirty
one millions. Before the close Of the war the
northern states. by the adiutaut generals
report had mustered into service 2336O42
men, and the COniederates could have had but
few less in their army and those who fought
with them on the many fields of battle. There
has been a general misunderstanding in regard
10 the relative forces engaged in the respect
i've armies OF the North and South This has
arisen, in part. from the singular fact that
nearly all the male inhabitants of the South
capable of bearing arms who resided near the
/ respective battle-.ields either volunteered
or were pressed into the service for the day of
/ the battle. The dead and wounded citizens
found on many fields fully corroborate this
statement Thousands fought who had no
/ name or place on the rosters of the COnfeder-
ate army. and the actual number engaged has
never been properly estimated. Besides this
\ almost the entire population acting as
! spies, guards or sentinels, as against our in
/ vading army, and were as effective as many of
/ our soldiers in arms. as a large part of the
/ federal forces were compelled to guard ap-
/ prOaches, bridges, depOts and stores to enable
| our forces to advance
! The losses on both sides during the war
would not fall short of 100000 by battle and
disease, aud to-day of all that vast host of CON-
batants who marched to the field, there are
i probably not exceeding two millions, North
\ and South, who are now living.
! With all these great losses the population Of
| he NIT Gfata has f,ar -