Rock Island daily Argus., 1889-08-23

nent But there also was President Harrison
the center of thousands of eyes and the
recipient Of enthusiastic expressions of re-
| gard. The president slept so soundly
wednesday night that the morning salute
fired at the arsenal, although it aroused
nearly everybody in the city, failed to
awaken him
Morning Reception.
II was o'clock before he and Secretary
Rusk and others of the party sat down to
breakfast After breakfast he received many
frinds, and at 10 o'clock the public came in
to greet him. This reception was in charge
of the Citizens and G. A r committee, and
before it began the crowd around the New
| Denison was dense. For an hour the recep-
| ton continued, and in the line were hun
dreds personally known TO the president
With these hs exchanged a word or two
There were also present many OF his com
rades and others of the army of the Union.
To these he seemed TO give an especial greet
ing. Nor were the women and children
wanting
In the Great Parade.
At 1890 o'clock the president drove to the
rendezvous Of the procession, where he was
greeted by an immense throng. On the
attraction, and continued so throughout
When the procession reached Circle park a
mass of humanity gave him welcome. His
place in the programme Of the monument exsr-
cises was near the end, but the great crowd
waited patiently to hear him.
The Presidents speech.
When he arose the enthusiasm was more
marked than at any time during his sojourn
AS he proce-,' Z IN his speech the applause
was frequenN lie spoke as follows:
MIR PRESIDENT AND FELLOW CITIZENS:
did not expect to make any address on this oc-
casion. IL would have been pie tsant If cou.d
have found leisure To make suitable prepara-
| tions to have accepted the invitation OF the
committee having these exercis' in charge TO
deliver Grafton. | would have felt it an
honor to associate my name with an occasion
| so great this lCheersl. Public du les, how
| ever, prevented the acceptance OF the invita-
tion. and could ON promis, to be present
with you to-day. IL seemed to me most appro-
pirate that ] should take part with my fellow
citizens of Indiana ia this great ceremony
There have been few occasions in the history
OF our state so full Of interest. so magnificent
so inspiring, as that which we now witness.
lCheersl The suggestion that monument
should be builded to commemorate the valor
and heroism of those soldiers of Indiana who
gave their lives for the flag attracted my in
terest from the beginning.
Patriotic Hope Realized.
Five years ago last January, when the peo-
Pile assembled in the Opera house yonder to
unveil the statue which has been worthily set
up to our great war governor ventured TO ex-
press the hope that near by IL, as a twin ex-
preston 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, the mothers of our dead the
| widows that are yet with us, might gather,
| and, pointing 10 the stately shaft, say; There
| is his monument" The hope expressed that
| day il roaiiz.d now. ICries of Thank God-
| and checrs.l
The Money Well spent
/ congratulate the people Of Indiana that
our Legislature has generously met the ex-
pectatons Of our patriotic people. | congrat-
ulate the commission having this great work
in charge that they have secured design
| which viii not suffer under the criticism of
the best artists of the world. ! congratulate
you that monument so costly as to,show that
| we value that which il commentaries, so
| artistic to express the sentiment which
evoked 1t, is 10 stand in the capital Of Indi-
| ana. Does any one say there is wastefulness
here1 lCries of NO, no.l My oountrymen,
SaO,OsO has never passed AMI will never pass,
from the treasury of Indiana that will give IA
better return than the expenditure for the
| erection Of this monument. lCheersl
They We're SOLDIER of the Union.
| As i have witnessed these ceremonies and
| IsItnsu TO THESE patriotic hymns. READ IN
the faces of the men who stood about me that
lifting up Of the SOUL that kindling of patriotic
fire that has made me realize that on such occa-
| sions the nation is laying deep and strong its
| future security. ICheers.l This is monument
| OF Indiana to Indiana soldiers But beg you
TO remember that they were only soldiers OF
| Indiana until the enlistment oath was taken;
that from that hour until they came backSp
/ the generous state that had sent them form
they were soldiers Of the Union. [Great ap-
| plausel 30 that IL seemed to me not inappro-
| pirate that should bring to you to-day the
| sympathy and cheer Of the loyal people of all
the states. Applause.
| Our Victory Bensflcent.
| No American citizen need avoid IL or pass il
| with unsympathetic eyes; for, my country
men. IL does not commemorate war Of sub
| jugntion. There is not in the United States
| to-day a man who, IL he realizes what has oc-
currei since the war. and has opened his soul
/ to the sight of that which is to come, will not
feel that II is good for all our people that vic
| tory crowned the cause which this monument
/ commemorates. tCries of amen" and ap-
| plausel. do seriously believe that IL we can
| measure among the states the benefits result
ing from the preservation of the Union, the
rebellious states have the larger share. Zap
| plausc. IL destroyed an institution that was
their destruction. IL opened the way for q
| commercial life that. II they will only embrace
| II. and face the light. means to them a devel-
| opment that shall rival the best attainmentso OF
the greatest of our states. lAppause.l
| The Lesson OF the Occasion.
And now let me thank you for your pleas
ant greeting. have felt lifted up by this oc-
| casion. lApplausel II seems to me that our
spirits have been borne up to meet those OF
the dead and glorified. and that from this
place we shall 20 to our hom more reso-
lutely set In our purpose as citizens TO con-
| serve the peace and welfare of our neighbor-
hoods. 10 hol mp the dignity and honor of