Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-04-28

wonder and admiration OF every believer in
sound currency. He was made for great
things. not for little. He could collect
$4,000, 600, from Great Britain in settle
ment of the Alabama claims; he could not
protect his own personal savings from the
miscreants who
ROBBED HIM N WALL STREET.
Even the valor of his marshal deeds was
surpassed by the superb heroism when at
tackled by fell disease. when the hand that
had seized the surrendered swords of count
less thousands was no longer able to return
the pressure of a. comrades grasp, when
the voice which had cheered on to triumph
ant victory the legions of Americas man
hood could scarcely call for the cooling
draft which slaked the thirst Of a fevered
tongue, when PROSTATE on a bed of anguish
lay the form which in the new world had
ridden at the head of conquering columns,
and in the old world had been deemed
worthy to stand with head covered and with
feet sandaled in the presence OF princes,
kings and emperors.
On McGregor's mountain top, as if al
ready part way on his Journey to the eter-
nal throne, he met in death the only enemy
TO whom he ever surrendered. At last he
was permitted to enjoy what he had
pleaded for in behalf of others, for the Lord
had let him have peace
His remains were borne to their resting
place by the tender hands of his own veter-
ans. As the funeral train wended its SOL
emn way to Riverside, the flag which had
never been lowered in his presence dropped
to half-mast, as if conscious that his strong
arm was no longer there TO hold IL to the
peak. The nation stood within the shadow
of an overpowering grief, and Borrowing
people wove their garlands of eternal fare
well Distant lands. uniting in our grief,
hung out their emblems OF mourning, and
even historic Westminster flung wide its
portals, rs if 10 let the spirit OF England's
llustrious dead listen TO the funeral march
Of 3 brother in greatness.
No effort of human hands can add sim
gle laurel to his brow; all the honors earth
can give him have been bestowed upon him.
but the people whom he served have re-
solved to fashion 4 tomb worthy of his
ashes and rear in monumental rock a fitting
tribute to his fame. We have assembled
to-day on this selected site TO take the steps
preliminary TO the work.
The monumental sepulchre erected here
will be the shrine at which American pa
triotS will worship. Generations yet to
come will pause to read the inscription on
its portals, and the voices of grateful peo-
pie will ascend from this consecrated spot
as incense rises from holy places, invoking
blessings on the memory of him who had
filed to the very full the largest measure of
human greatness and covered the earth
with his renown.
TIE EVENT OF THE DAY.
After Gen. Porter's speech was con-
Guided the chorus sang America when
Commander Freeman arose TO initiate the
particular ceremony of the day, the break
ing of ground for the monument. The spade
which he used was superb specimen Of
American handicraft, and bore an inScrip-
ton giving the chief events of Gen. Grants
career. Before turning up the sod, Com
mander Freeman said that Greece had its
heroes, men who won fame by single act
or gave their lives to carry out a noble pur-
pose. The world is full of monuments to
great and good OF generations past. Every
nation has its sacred shrine. Rome thus
kept alive the memory of her magnificent
conquestS and victories and the men who
achieved them. England is full of memorials
to her distinguished rulers, generals. poets
and philanthropiSts, but the sacred shrines
of America are dearer to US than any others.
We tread with reverence the consecrated
soil of Mount Vernon lest We may disturb
the ashes of our beloved Washington. We
bow our heads in silence and lift our hearts
in gratitude at the resting place of Lincoln,
whose homely features and loving loyat
heart will never fall from memory. Our
eyes fill with tears as we stand beside the
monument of our beloved Garfield. AL
most every city and town has its monu-
ment to brave men who fell on the battle
field, died in the hospital or wasted
away in the sitting air of the death dealing
prison But we come to-day to perform
the preparatory work for a monument to
the grandest soldier of them all, Ulysses S.
Grant. Born in comparative poverty, he
made his way step by step to the highest
honor which this nation could bestow.
Without brilliant genius or the gift of
oratory, he furnished an inspiration for
others. and pushed right on in his purpose
until the goal was reached. His ashes rest
here, but our broad land is his burial place
We call him ours, but the nations of the
civilized world We'd with each other in
showing him honor. We gather to-day,
said the speaker, not simply as the repre-
sentatives of the hundreds of thousands
living and dead whom he led to victory, but
of the entire nation, the men who wore the
gray as well as the men who wore the blue.
Now in the presence of the Almighty God
and these witnesses, representatives Of the
Grand Army Of the Republic 1 break sod
preparatory to laying the foundation of
monument which shall stand as 4 slight ex-
preston Of the love this nation has for q
great chieftain, and shall tell to all the
world that the United States of America
does not forget her heroic dead.
At the close of his remarks Commander
Freeman took the spade in his hands and
with it tossed up the earth. This ended the
ceremonies and the crowd dispersed.