, 1889-10-10

tiuv lcepoiSlp pilltlcsi IeTtlle IN resources,
quick to adapt the means ut hand to the
accomplishment of an end possessing
an intulti"o knowledge of topography,
combining the restlessncss of IL Hotspur
WIN thc patience of u Fabius unswery-
ing IN patriotism, of unimpeachablc
personal character, of physical consti.
tuition which enabled him to undergo
every hardship incident to mn active
campaign, 1t Is no wonder that he has
iilied so large measure Of military
greatness, that he stands in the front
rank OF the worlds great captains.
20 name connected with the army in
spires more genuine enthusiasm, appeals
! more To our sentiments or more cNcites
our fancy than that of the wizard of the
battlefield, Philip IL. Sheridan. The
personiiication OF chivalry, the incarna-
ton OF battle; cheering, threatening, in
clting, beseeching inspiring all men by
nus acts, he reused his troops to deeds of
individual heroism unparalleled IN the
| history ol modern warfare, anu ms un-
conquerable columns rushed to victory
| with ali the confidence OF Cursars Tenth
Legion. Generous of his life, gifted
with the ingenuity of Hannibal, the
dash of Murat, the courage of II Ney,
the magnetism of his presence trans
| formed routed squadrons into charging
columns amt snatchod victory from de-
feat lie preferred shot and shell to
| flags of truce. lie would rather lead
iorlorn hopes than follow in the wake of
charges.
| His standard rose above all others on
| the Held; Whenever blows fell thickcst
ms crest was in their midst, DIES pite the
daring yalor of the defense; opposing
/ ranks went down before the icrccncss OF
| his onsets never to rise again; lac paused
not till the folds of his banners waved
above the strougholds nc had wrostcd
from the foe. Willie his achievements in
lNNst In al
the strltegy and grand tactics employee
in his campaigns, yet the skill ana bold
ness exhibited in moving lurge bodies OF
men into position. cntitle him, perhaps,
to Us much credit as the marvellous
qualities Inc displayed in the iuce of the.
enemy.
Brave Sheridan! Mothinks see your
silent clay again quickencd into life, once
more riding ltieuM through ~ fire OF hell,
lcaping opposing carthwOrks at II single
bound, and leaving nothing of those WHO
barred your way except the fragments
scattored in your path.
Matchless leader Harbinger of vic
tory, we salute you.
AS long as courage is talked Of or
heroic deeds arc honorcd there will re-
main green in the hearts of men 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 commanders, In their
portraits future graduates will gnze up
on the features of three soldiers who
were heroes, comrades, friends. As iron
Is welded in the heat of the forge so
was their friendship welded in the heat
of battles. With hearts untouched by
jealousy, with souls too great for
rivalry, they saved us from the spccta-
Gle presented by Marius and Sulla,
C@ser and Pompcy, n Charles the
First and n Cromwell. They placed
above all personal ends the safety OF the
state, and like the men in the Roman
phalanx of old, stood shoulder to shout
der and linked their shields against a
common foe.
In this life little is learned from pre-
ccpt, something from experience, much
from example. 1t Is said that for 300
years after Thcrmopylm every school
child in Greece was required each day to
repeat from memory the names of the
800 immortal heroes who fell i'm the de-
iense of that pass. 1t would be in itself
liberal education to the future defend.
crs of the republic who bear diplomas
from this historic spot, where patriotism
early found II stronghold and trcason's
plots were baifled, if they could daily
utter the names and contcmp plate the
exalted characters of tie trio whose
faces will hcnceforth look down upon
them from the artists canvas. AS We
gaze upon the features of each of them
we may fttinSly apply the words OF
Milton.
''Thither shall all the valiant youth re
sort,
And from his memory inflame their
breasts
To matchless valor."
The imperishablc scroll on which the
record of their deeds is written has been
securely lodged in the highest niche of
iame's temple. No one can pluck a
single laurel from their brow; no man
can lessen the measure of their rcnown.
1t is an auspiCiOus circumstance which
permits these ceremonies 20 take place
before SO distinguished and influential a
body as that of the International Amer
lean congress. The presence of its dele.
gates upon this post dedicated to war is
an augury that states may be saved
without the sword that henceforth our
differences i'll the new world may be
settled without reSorting to the "last
argument of kings and that congresses,
bearing in their hands tue olive branch
Will lahOr to AVOID war, which wastes "a
nations substance; to foster commerce
which is u nation life, and to preserve
that peace and goodwill which should
everywhere prevail amongst men.
Three years ago there was selected as
president of your board of visitors citi-
zen of Philadelphia, whose heart is us
large as his purse and whose generosity
dwells in u land which knows no frontiers
-George w. Childs. His thoughttulness
prompted his liberality to procure for
the academy these gifts which are to
grace its walls.
The likeness of General Grant was exc
cuted by Mrs Darragh of Philadelphia.
II was made from u photograph taken
by Gutckunst of that city in 1885, which
Mrs Grant and number of the generals
friends considered the best of the many
pictures taken of him just after the war.
Representing him as he appeared nearly
thirty years ago, his features do not seem
so familiar to those who saw him only
in later years. Soon after this portrait
had been placed upon the walls of what
is now known as Grant hall Mr.. Childs
requested General sherman and General
sheridan to permit him to have their
likencsses prepared, in order that he
might present them TO the military
academy and have them hung beside
the portrait of the illustrious chieftuin
who had passed from earth. Mrs
Darragh was commissioned to execute
both of these portraits In the prepara-
ton Of General Shcrmun's picture
her chief guide was the famous
portrait of him painted by Huntington
fifteen years ago, and her aim was to
represent the general as of that period.
General Sheridan sat for his portrait and
the same artist painted IL from life rep
resenting the general as he appeared but
u short time before his lamented death.
1t now becomes my agreeable duty, in
IA IaHNN ll aN L. ntN IL IN -.