Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-05-31
The Nations Heroes Claim the
Nations Reverence.
A LOVING TRIBUTE TO GARFIELD.
Dedication of a Fitting Memorial to
the Martyr Soldier and
Statesman.

Tens of Thousands of Citizens Take Part
in Splendid Demonstration of Peo-
pies Veneration-His Old Regiment
Present to Join in the Exercises-Presi-
dent Harrison's Brief but Eloquent Ad-
dress-Bright Flowers strewn Upon
the Graves of the Country's Defenders
Everywhere.
CLEVELAND, O., May 31.-The memorial
in honor of the second president of the
United States to fall by the hand of an as
sassin was dedicated yesterday with pa
geantry as appropriate as it was imposing;
and the ceremonies were witnessed by
throng so vast that estimation is at fault
when attempting to tell its numbers.
From every part of the country for the
preceding forty eight hours the trains
had come laden with loyal Americans,
eager to pay tribute to the memory of
James Abram Garfield. Among them
We're statesmen, soldiers and civilians of
national, aye worldwide reputation; the
veteran who had followed the subject of
this great expression of nations love and
reverence when he led them to meet the
foes of national unity, and the citizen of
humble fame, who asked but to be per
mitted to join in the universal tribute.
An Imposing Parade.
The streets of the city were early vocal
with the sounds of marching columns of
veterans, militia and civic and other Or
CARNATIONS going to their rendezvous, to
take part in the parade to the cemetery.
At p. m. the signal to start was given
ard the long line promptly moved. Gar
fields old regiment, the Forty second
Ohio-or rather the remnant of it-headed
the line, and the esteem in which the mem
DRY of their dead commander was held was
evinced by the almost continual roar of
cheers with which it was greeted as it
tramped along Ladies took their corsage
bouquets from their bosoms and show
cred them upon the Garfield vets,
and men shouted themselves hoarse. The
Knights Templar made magnificent dis
play and the militia elected the applause
of the throng 10y their soldierly appear
ance. The Grand Army was out in thou
sands, many of whom had been with the
| man whom they had come to honor, when
| his ability as a commander had lifted him
| high in the councils of war, and their
bosoms must have swelled with pride as
| they saw how the nations turned out to do
| him and themselves honor.
Arrival at the Cemetery.
| 1t was two hours from the time of start
| ing before the great column had reached
| the cemetery. There were twelve divis-
ions in the line, and it marched in pla-
toon-'. At the cemetery 80, 900 people were
gathered. and were massed around the
monument, where a grand stand had been
erected, upon which places had been re-
served for the president Of the United
| States and his party. Gems. Sherman and
Schofield, Maj. Mckinley, and other dis
| tinguished visitors, and last, but not
least in general interest, the woman
whom the assassin's pistol had widowed,
| with her children, now grown to manhood
| and womanhood.
| Garfeld's Boys Greet His Widow.
The green sward Immediately in front
of the grand stand had been reserved for
the veterans of Garfeld's regiment, and
as soon as they came into view Mrs. Gar
| field, who was attired in deep mourning,
with long widows veil, arose with her
children to her feet, while the veterans
|
Her eyes filed with tears, and it was with
| difficulty that she restrained her emotion
| The presidential party was announced
with the blare of trumpets. President
| Harrison took seat to the front of the
] chair on the extreme front edge of the
| platform. with Vice President Morton
| Gems. sherman and Schofield ex-Postmas-
| ter General James, Bishop Gilmore, the
Garfield family, Bishop Leonard, and Con-
gresham Mckinley completing the cir
| Gle. The members of the cabinet were di-
rectly behind the president.
Ex-President Hayes Address.
After the hymn America" had been
sung by the memorial choir, exPresident
| Hayes stepped to the front of the plat
| form and spoke as follows:
| FELLOW CITIZENS: James Abram Garfield,
| born and bred in Ohio, br ave and patriotic
| soldier of the Union army, an orator, a states
man, scholar, president of the United States
having died in the path of duty, his country
| men of all parties and all sections, of every
state, of every territory and of the District of
| Columbia-and especially his friends and
| neighbors of the city of Cleveland and of the
Western Reserye-aided by many good people
of foreign lands, have built this impressive and
| enduring monument to perpetuate to future
/ generations his name and fame and memory.
This noble purpose has by tue eminent archi-
tect, Mr.George Keller, of the city of Hartford,
1 been fifty embodied in the memorial structure
which we are about to dedicate in the pres
ence of this countless multitude of people, this
| cloud of approving aad sympathizing wit
| nesses.
Upon this ceremony, upon all who Ia Ike part
| in it, and upon all who observe it, the divine
favor and the divine blessing is invoked.
The Orator of the Day
Prayers were offered by Bishop W. A.
Leonard, and then Hon. Jacob u. Cox, ex-
governor of Ohio, was introduced as the
orator of the day. He spoke as follows:
my FELLOW CITIZENS: We have come
here to dedicate this memorial to one of
our country's worthless Our task is not
| the mournful one which filled the
streets of our cities with funeral pageants
| nine years ago. If our thoughts take a
| tinge of solemnity from the memory of
| the tragedy which brought the life of Gar
/ field to an untimely end and shocked the
| whole nation by the causeless enormity of
the crime, it will only make our retro
| spect that sober and thoughtful thing 1t
ought to be. Time heals all wounds and
| it is our privilege to think of the departed
statesman who was once our friend and
neighbor, as of a character already his
toric; Analysing his career with quiet
pulse, not tortured by a grief too poig-
nant, and recalling his great qualities and
his big hearted human sympathies in
"reminiscences full of real, If sober, pleas
ure.
The Significance of the Memorial.
"This structure and the statue it covers
means that Garfield's countrymen see in
him. and what he did, SO much that il
worthy of imitation and worthily exhib-
its and interprets the critical period of our
national life through which we have just
passed, that they have wished to embody
in imperishable stone the memory of it.
They desire that it shall teach many gen.