Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-09-19
Orations Delivered at the Late On
yauin9 Ceremonies

the means to erect the statue have been duly
recorded on the granite OF the pedestal; those
who have attended to its erection desire no
special mention I shall net, however. neglect
to call attention to 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 liQuidated,
SO well had he placed 1t at interest.
And now 1t only remains for me to congratu-
late all interested on the finished work You
granite. which will commemorate, as long as 1t
Is given to human works to endure. the military
deeds Of the great soldier who never lost
battle.
The artist has done his part in manner be-
fitting the illustrfous soldier. Discarding the
conventionalites of art and refusing to avail
himself OF the draperies of the ancents, he has
represented our hero not as Roman not as a
Grecian, but as citizen of the United States
clad in the uniform of the American soldier,
always badge Of honor when worthily worn.
whether by soldier of the Republic private In
ranks or officer, and In the character OF an
American soldier this country will forever honor
the memory of Grant-the soldier OF vicksburg.
the soldier OF the Wilderness and the soldier of
Appomattox. The monument will now be un-
vailed.
SENATOR INGALLS, GRAFTON.
After the monument was unvailed Gen.
eral Merritt introduced Senator ingalls,.
who said:
The onward and upward march Of humanity has
never been delayed for the want of prophet to
predict triumph, poet to voice its aspira-
tions, or leader to marshal and direct potential
and resistless energies. When the crisis comes
the man appears-often unannounced like John
the Baptist, 'Behold q voice crying In the
Wilderness" Great men are the products of
great events. The occasion always precedes
the hero. IT is the opportunity which makes
the General, the Admiral the orator. If Rome
had been q nation OF slaves Caesar would have
been impossible. Wellington did not cause
Waterloo Nelson was not the cause OF Ira
falgar, and if neither had lived Napoleon would
not have died at Helena and England remained
Independence was the passionate Cry OF the
people and result OF the compact made in the
cabin OF the Mayfower
We have assembled in this historic place be-
meath this autumnal sky. amid the benef1cent
fruition of nature, and with impressive cere-
monies to unvai1 the ef1gy 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 magnificent destiny OF U. S. Grant
He had not participated In the preliminary in
tellectual combat. He had abandoned the mil
itary profession in early life without having
made any profound impression on his comrades
in arms. He had no sympathy with the pas
sions 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 alluring personal qualifications and had
mono of that thrift which follows fawning"
He was shy, silent, retiring, Respondent, yet in
the brief interval between Belmont and Apo
mattox 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 q stately
procession OF unbroken triumphs. He
stood that test Of genius-he was equal to every
emergency by which he was ever confronted.
He was called to the highest position In the
Nation. Nations rose up to do him honor rs he
stood with monarchs in their capitals. And
when at last on the frontier of that dark king
dom which we are all approaching and con-
fronted with infinite danger he bore with in
finite fortitude and encountered the only an
tagonist he could not conquer.
Mr.. ingalls, told in eloquent words of the
removal of the remains of General Grant
from Mount McGregor to New York.
where through II 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 dishonored 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 outposts on every frontier
they would have replaced Nation whose BAN
ner now floats from rhe Saskatchewan to
the Rio Grande. Here every faith finds
| shelter. every creed sanctuary, every
wrong redress. But for him we would
be but relic OF antiquity. All the tradi-
tions OF history would. be like tale that
| is told All that is inspiring in history re-
splendent in example, would be like sentences
| in the school books-ike 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
| tor ideas that all men might be free, the States
indestructible. freedom universal. the Union
indissoluble and the Nation forever! He fought
that popular government might not be a mere
definition. He led to victory the greatest army
| OF ancient or modern tim s. that the past
should not be catastrophe, the present an
| armistice, and the future an abyss for which no
| statesmen could furnish a safeguard or defense
He fought that patriotism might not be the
fatal malady of the body polite. His armies
| having conquered their enemies and the ene-
| mics OF their country they conquered them
| selves.
/ Mr.. ingalls, dwelt upon this fact a few
moments and in closing said:
It is befitting and appropriate that Kansas,
In the first year 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
COueCAioCA Will Survive. OTaIOfS Will rcn6arSe
stories of her intrepid progress-her area will
| be extended northward to the frozen globe and
southwark to the canal which will join the two
oceans; fifty stars will be upon her flag and
S0o0O0OO, people will be under its folds. Let
us bear away from this consecrated spot re-
| newed conservation to the great principles OF
civil constitutional and RELY ious liberty for
which Grant fought that this forever might re.
| main government OF laws and not govern.
ment of men.
| GRAFTON BY GENERAL BLAIR
/ General Merritt then introduced General
G. w. Blair. who spoke as follows:
1t was reserved for Fort Leavenworth, the
| nursery OF heroes the elected home of valor
with which has been connected at one time Oh
another nearly every distinguished name known
! In our National struggle, to first unvan to pub
| Lie gaze permanent memorial to the dead hero
OF the war. And here, on the forest crowned
oanks OF that mighty river whose broad bosom
once sweIied beneath all the commerce of the
/ West. we stand uncoxered before that majestic