The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-04-28
AT RIVERSIDE.
Ground Broken for the Foundation of the
Grant Monument.

Ground Broken for the Foundation Of the
Grant Monument.
New YoRR, April 27.-Amldst the plaudits OF
thousands of citizens. the bare OF trnmpetS,
beating DRUMS booming cannon, tine melody Of
ehdren's voices and eloquent orators, ground
was broken to-day for the monument which is 10
be raised at the tomb at Riverside Park, where
rests all that is mortal OF General Grant The
members OF Alexander Hamilton Post, e. A. R.,
and other societies Anticipated. and the United
States steamship Yantic, anchored near by in
the HadsOn, fred a salute OF twentyOne guns.
Before the regular ceremonies commenced 300
children from the Shetering Arms Institutions
and drum and fife corps, playing America"
marched past the tomb with flags dropped. Each
child carried a bouuueI Of forget me-nOts, which
was east upon the tomb. The Marine Band played
an overture. alter which Rev. DT. Clark Wright,
Cnaildiu OF Department Commander Freeman's
staff, ole ed prayer, aud tile chorus sang The
Star-Spangled Banner" Commander Freeman
presided. He introduced General Horace Porter
as orator Of the day.
General Porter said: " Sxty-nine years ago
to-day there issued into this world a being VINO
was destined 10 stand ore. eminent IN the history
al his country and whose fame was TO reach into
The uttermOst parts OF tie earth. The most con
spicuous characters in history h We risen TO
prominence by gradual advances, but Ulysses 5.
Grant came before tie Ople with sudden
bound. Almost The first sight caught OF him
was IN the blaze Of his camp-tres and the flashes
OF his guns those wintry days aud nights III front
OF DonelsOn. From that time until the cFOWnlng
triumph at AppomatJoX he was leader whose
name was the harbinger OF victory, From The
FINAL shealhing Of his sword III his ashes were
laid 10 rest IN yOnder tomb he was the chief
citizen OF The Republic and the great central iig-
uTe OF the world"
General Porter then. in an epigrammate way,
cOnJasted The obscurity OF Grants early life
vi his fame III later years; touched upon tho
salient features of his character as soldier aud
Chief Magistrate, and Sketched the pTomi-
neuts acts OF his Presidential career. The
speaker then said that :" his unb0unded gener-
nNadl limit m
foes Will be remembered long as his manly
qualities. He never tired OF giving unstinted
praise 10 worthy subOrdinates for the work that
they did. Like those chlef artists VINO weave
GObe.in tapestries, he was content with his
work behind tie clUsh, leaving those In front to
appear to be the principal contributors to the
beauty OF the fabric"
The orator said that "o one word which more
chaI actrriZed General Grant than another was
IOyaity-lOyalIy 10 his country. to his friends, to
God For this reason chiefly they were loyal to
him. He was created for great emergencies. In
ordinary matters lie was an ordinary maui IN
mUmeutOus affairs he lowered as giant"
Tie speaker closed by saying: -" NO effort OF
human hands can add single laurel 10 his brow.
All the bonors that earth can give have been
bestowed upon him; but the people whom lie
served have resolved TO fashion a tomb worthy
OF his ashes ana rear 4 monument as filling
tribute TO his fame"
Alter General Porter's address the chorus
sang America" when Commander freeman
arose 10 Initiate the particular ceremony OF the
day breaking ground for the monument. The
spade which lie used is fine specimen OF Amer
lean hdndieraft, bearing Inscriptions giving the
chief events Of General Grants career. Before
turning up The sod Commander Freeman said:
." We gather to-day, not simply representatives
OF hundreds OF thousands OF the living and dead
whom lie led TO victory, but OF the entire ma
uon-inen who wore the gray as well as men who
wore the blue. NOW, I'm the presence OF Al
mighty G cd and these witnesses. We, representa-
tiVes-Of lie Grand Army OF the Republic, break
the sod preparatory to laying the foundation OF
d monument which shall stand as a slight eX-
preston Of tue love OF this nation for It's great
chieitalu. and shall tell all the world that the
United States Of America does not forget her
heroic dead"
At tile close OF his remarks Commander Free
man took The spade 10 his hands and with IL
tossed az tie earth. This ended the ceremonies
aud the crowd dispersed.