Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-27
Ground Broken for the Monument at
Riverside.
THOUSANDS AT THE CEREMONIES.
Gen. Horace Porter the Orator OF
the Occasion.
MORE CELEBRATION TONIGHT.
IN MEMORY OF GRANT.
Breaking Ground st Riverside Park for the
(srenf Monument.

breaking Ground at 1tNerrtde fnrk tne
Great Monument
NEw YORK. April 27.-ThousAnds Of people
assembled in Riverside Park today 10 witness
the ceremonies attending the breaking OF
ground for the erection of q monument TO the
late Gen. Grant The weather Was cool and
clear with bright sunlight Today is the sixty
ninth anniversary Of the birth Of Gen. Grant
and was therefore selected by the Grant Monu-
ment Association the most appropriate occa-
sion for the ceremonies. Elaborate prepars-
tons had been completed for fitting observ-
ance Of the occasion.
Charles =. Freeman, department commander
Of the Grand Army of the Republic for the
state of New York, presided and oficiated ~
master of the ceremonies He with his own
hands grasped a spade at the appropriate mo-
ment and dug the first earth from the mound
upon which the memorial to the hero Of Apo
mattox is TO be reared Hundreds OF the vet
Grams of the war who loved and obeyed and
even now worship the memory of the hero par
ucipated In the ceremonies.
ASSEMBLING AT RIVERSIDE.
Shortly after O'Clock the veterans began 10
assemble. They were soon Joined by Gen. o.
o. Howard and a company of infantry and .
battery Of artillery. The navy was represented
by Admiral Braine and his staff. The veterans
and the regulars under Gen. Howard at once
took up position forming circle about the
mound. The preliminaries were quietly and
simply effected. There march,
ing or COMMUNICATING and the strains Of
martial airs were entirely missing. The MEM
bers of the Grant Monument Association and
guests of the day we're received at the Clare
mont Hotel, just directly north Of the mound,
by the Alexander Hamilton Post, q. A. r.
After the preliminarles of the reception were
finished the members of the association and
their guests were escorted to a larger platform.
which had been erected near the mound, and
seats were provided for them. This platform
accommodated about 900 people. On il were
also seated the members of the Grant family,
including Mrs. Nellie sartoris. nee Grant, who
recently arrived from England The steamer
iantic, which lay in the Hudson directly oppo-
site the tomb, fired a salute in honor of the
dead general
THE ExERc1sEs
The exercises began with an overture by the
Marine Band. The Rev. Clark Wright, chap
lain on the staff of Commander Freeman, then
singing Of the ''Star Spangled Banner" by alsrge
chorus under Silas q. Pratt. the well-known
American composer. General Horace Porter,
who was then introduced, delivered the Grafton.
GEN. PoRTERs GRAFTON.
Gen. Porters Grafton was a crisp deftly-
outlined analysis of the dead general, whose
predominating characteristics, he asserted, Was
loyalty. Following are portions of the address:
Most of the conspicuous characters in
nave firSu w pAohhAAcuNC bEaauaA
advances but Ulysses 5. Grant came before the
people with a sudden bound. Almost the first
| sight caught of him was in the blaze Of his
camp fires and the flashes of his guns those
wintry days and nights in front Of Donaldson.
From that time until the browning triumph at
| Appomattox he was leader whose name was
the harbinger Of victory.
"Gen. Grant possessed in a striking degree all
| the characteristics OF successful soldier. His
methods in warfare bore the stamp of origi-
L nalify and inpQnnlty His dQnQpdQi
| more upon his powers Of invention than adap-
| tation. The fact that he has been compared at
| times to nearly all the great commanders Of
history is the best proof hat he was like mono
| of them His self-reliance was one OF bis mogt
pronounced traits.
| so BRILLIANT was his career as q soldier that
| we are too apt to overlook the successes he
| achieved as a statesman, but when we sum up
nitude il such that they challenge comparison
with those of any other chief magistrate since
| the formation of the government
His lnbounded generosity to friends, his
| magnanimity TO foes, will be remembered ~
long manly qualities are honored.
IF there be one word which describes better
than any other the predominating character
istics Of his nature that word is loyalty.
He was created for great emergencies Il
was the very magnitude OF the task that called
forth the powers which mastered it, In ordi-
nary matters he was an ordinary man; In mo-
mentous affairs he lowered as a giant
'Even the valor of his martial deeds was sur
passed by the superb heroism when attacked
by fell disease. when the hand that had seized
the surrendered swords Of countless thousands
longer able TO return the pressure of q
comrades grasp, when the voice which had
cheered on to triumphant victory the legions Of
Americas manhood could scarcely call for the
cooling draught which slaked the thirst of q
fevered tongue. when PROSTATE on a bed Of an
guish Law 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 McGregors mountain top, ms IL already
part way on his journey TO the eternal throne
he met In death the only enemy to whom he
ever surrendered. At last he was permitted 70
enjoy what he had pleaded for in behalf Of
others, for the Lord had let him have peace
mo effort of human hands add single
laurel to his brow; all the honors earth can
give him have been bestowed upon him; but
the people whom he served have resolved 10
fashion a tomb worthy of his ashes and rear in
monumental rock fitting tribute to his fame
We have assembled today on this selected site
to take steps preliminary to the work. The
monumental sepulchre erected here will be the
| shrine at which American patriots will worship
Generations yet TO come will pause 10 read
the inscription on its portals and the voices Of
| q grateful people will ascend from this conse-
Grated spot as incense rises from the hcly
places, invoking blessings on the memory Of
measure Of human greatness and covered the
| earth with his renown."
The Grafton was followed by the SINGING of
"America" by the chorus and audience. The
ceremonies ended with the laying of the corner
stone Of the monument and the benediction BY
| the chaplain.
The monument win be about 100 feet square
and it is intended 10 build the portion OF the
monument designated in the plans for the re-
| ception Of the sarcophagus. and this will bs
completed rs II IL were TO be an independent
structure and without regard TO the other por-
| ton before anything else is undertaken. The
| fund already in hand, about ELS, 900, in more
than ample TO meet the cost Of this part Of the
monument
This evening there viii be two dinners In
honor Of Gen Grant. One Of these viii BE-
given at Delmonico's by the Grant Birthday
Dinner Association. Joseph H Choste win
preside. Ex-senator VIM NJ. Evarts viii re-
spond to the toast General Grant" Speeches
will be made also by senator Hiscock and BY
| several Uex-nion and ex-confederate ofhcers
The second dinner will be given by the Harlem
Republican Club at the Metropolitan. For
this dinner great preparations have been made.
Secretary Blaine and Senator 6pooner ana
Gov. Foraker and Gen. @. r. Bussey Of Iowa
viii be. IL h expected, among the numsrous
gussta
ADvICE6 FROM CHILL