Omaha daily bee., 1889-10-04

deeds are honored there will roman green
In the hearts OF mon the talismanic name OF
Sheridan.
Nearly every great war has given birth
TO one great general; no other war than our
own has produced three such eminent COM
manders In their portraits future graduates
will gaze upon the features OF three soldiers
who we're heroes, comrades, friends. As iron
is welded in the heat Of the forge, so was
their friendship welded in the heat OF bat
ties. With hearts untouched by jealousy,
with souls too great Tor rivalry, they saved
us from the spectacle presented by Marius
and SUlla, Caesar and Pompey, a
Charles the First and a Cromwell They
placed above all personal ends and safety OF
the state, and,s like the men in the Roman
phalanx Of old, stood shoulder to shoulder
and linked their shields against a common
foe
The imperishable scroll on which the rec
ord of their deeds is written has been Sc
curely lodged IN the highest niche of Fame's
temple. No one can pluck single laurel
from their brow; no man can lessen tho
measure of their renown.
1t Is an auspicous circumstance which per.
mits these ceremonies TO take place before so
distinguished and influential a body as that
OF the international American congress. The
presence of its delegates upon this post dedi-
Gated to war Is an augury that states may be
saved without the sword; that hencetorth
our differences in tho new world may be
settled without resortinR to the last argu-
ments of kings" and that congresses, bear.
ing in their hands the olive branch, will
labor to avoid war, which waste nations
substance; TO foster commerce, which Is
nations life, and TO preserve that peace and
goodwill which should everywhere prevail
amongst men.
NThree years ago there was selected as pres.
dent of your board of visitors a citizen of
Philadelphia, whose heart is as large as hrs
purse and whose generosity dwells in land
which knows no frontiers-Mr. George w.
Childs. HIS thoughtfulness prompted his
liberality to procure for the academy these
gifts which are to grace its walls
1t now becomes my agreeable duty, in the
name Of Mr.. Chids, to present to you, as
superintendent OF the military academy, the
portraits of three of her sons yho have
borne the highest military titles, as an offer
ing from an untitled citizen, who in his liv-
ing, has verified the adage that the post of
honor is the private station.
His good works have made him honored
in other lands. as well as well as this, where
his name is held IN grateful recollection by
the many who have been the recipients of
his practical philanthropy, and not only
the graduates of West Point, but the peo-
pie at large Will, / am sure make grateful
acknow Judgement of the means he has taken,
in those testimonials, to manifest his appre-
citation of the military academy, and the
three distinguished sons she trained to bat
tie for the integrity of our common country.
Superintendent Wilson in u short address
accepted the portraits, and the secretary of
war made few remarks.
General Sherman, who, during all these
ceremonies, had sat on the platform with
folded hands and tear. .dlmmed and down-cast
eyes, in response to many calls was next in
troduced. AS the general arose the assembly
broke forth into wild cheering.
The cid warrior remarks were few, but
every word uttered was eagerly caught by
his hearers. He said it was by one of those
strangely appointed accidents of life that he
was permitted to be the sole survivor of what
General Porter had termed the great trio of
generals of the late war. ~ was older than
Granto or Sheridan. No three men ever lived
on this earth so different from each other as
the three men whose portraits you are look
ing at They were different in ali respects
save one. and that was in the devotion to
their country of whatever talents they
possessed. They were joined together in the
true hearted service of their country.n
HIS remarks were mainly addressed to the
cadets, advising them to love and serve their
country, obey her laws and and those in
authority over them. BY the country, be
said, he meant the whole country, no political
party. This evening a reception was held at
the quarters of Colonel Wilson, the superin-
tendent of West Point, in honor of the inter-
national delegates.