The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-08
THE GRANT STATUE.
Unveiled in Presence of a Great
Throng at Chicago.
GRAFTON BY JUDGE GRESHAM.
Mrs. Grant and the Generals Old Com.
rades Present-Splendid Military
and Civic Display.


phaianx today on the beach of Lake
Michigan, at Lincoln park. 1t was to
honor the memory of the nations greatest
soldier. Suddenly through the smoke
and roar of artillery, the huge bronze
statute of General Grant looked to tens of
thousands on the shore and the ships that
had braved the apparently threatening
weather. The glorious sunshine burst
just in the nick of time, and made per-
feet the apotheosis that before was as COM
plete and gigantic as human hands
could do.
rain has been falling at intervals
during the day, with sharp winds
blowing across the lake and city, in the
presence of a great throng who brayed the
elements; amid the booming of cannon
from the government vessels off shore, the
screaming of whistles from shipping, the
resounding strains of the "Star Spangled
Banner" played by many bands; with
regiments of federal and state troops at
present arms" while Grand Army veter-
ans and civic societies clustered about, the
bronze statue of u s. Grant, upon mag
niiicent granite pedestal spanning the
roadway at the top of the hill, looking to-
ward the lake, was unveiled to the multi
tude present. The great, silent figure,
firm in the saddle, looking steadily across
the broad expanse of waves, seemed as if
again in life, and needless of the excited
throng about him, scanning the horizon
Tor the enemies of the land which, in
Grd's providence, he had been called to
majestically defend.
The enormous crowd gathered there
formed an extraordinary figure, including
not only high civil and military dignitaries
of the nation and city, but those gathered
from far and near who were closest to the
dead general personally-the wife who
stood by him for years and the veterans of
his original regiment, the famous old
Twenty-tirst Illinois infantry, with the
identical colors unfurled at his first head
quarters tent.
The orator of the day, worthy of the oc-
casion, distinguished like his subject in
camp and council, was the stalwart soldier
and jurist. General Walter @. Gresham,
judge of the United States circuit court of
appeals. An impressive hush fell on the
thousands as General Gresham, facing the
lake, stepped forward to the edge of the
platform at the back of the monument.
On either side, in tiers on the green slope,
and behind the speaker, the distinguished
guests had been given place. Among
them was Mrs. General Grant, her white
hair showing beneath a widows bonnet
Massed In front were nearly 10000 uni
formed men, infantry, cavalry and artil-
lery, both regular and state militia, veter-
ans of the Grand Army of the Republic;
bright-plumed Knights of Pythias, and
many similar semi-military and civic or
CARNATIONS. Back of them the general
public, and beyond an imposing flotilla
of vessels, profusely decked with
bunting, including the United
States steamers Michigan. Johnson
and Fessenden; lake steamers,
tugs, yachts and city freboats, and
miscellaneous craft. Leading up to this
was the formation on the lake front, three
miles distant, of the great land parade.
and its march to the statue under the COM
mand of Major-General Nelson A. Miles,
U. s. A. The procession was headed by a
platoon of police, followed in order by the
United States regulars from Fort Sheri-
dan, infantry, cavalry and artillery:
the Illinois National Guard, infantry
and cavalry; the Grand Army vet
Grams, including the Society of the
Army of Tennessee, Cumberland and
Potomac; distinguished guests in car
riages. including Secretary Noble, Sem
ator J. A. Sherman, Governor Buckley.
of Connecticut, Governor Fifer, of Illinois,
and Mrs. John A. Logan. Next came G..
A. r. veteran posts of the Northwest.
forming an entire division Then came
the veterans and the Society of ex-Confed-
crates, closing with the civic societies.
At the monument Bishop John p. New
man offered prayer, then Colonel f. 8.
Taylor presented the monument on behalf
of the Monument Association to the COM
missioners of Lincoln park. The unveil-
ing then followed, and General Gresham
delivered his address.
Judge Gresham said, in part:
1t is a mistake to suppose that popu-
lar government is an art n mystery. Some of
the details OF administration require special
training and experience. But in its broad
policies in the adjustment of it to the ends for
which il was organized, in the promotion of its
purposes, men like Grant, who feel rightly and
see clearly, who have a sound Judgment and
saving common sense, and who will reso-
lutely assert themselves under all cir
cumstances, may be safely trusted
with its affairs and destinies. It would
not be popular government if it were otherwise.
The men who have LETT the profoundest impress
on our history were not so much distinguished
for their wealth or their erudtiou as the ouali-
ties, or some of them, which distinguished
Grant These qualities are essential Ingredients
OF political manhood, and they are no less use-
Jul and necessary in peace than in war. We
need men possessing them to resist the agrees
sions of those who seek TO make of our politics
both an art and a mystery, intelligent only to
the adept and initiated, who assume the man
agement of them by virtue of their ca
pacity tor the deft and artful manipulation OF
their fellows. Their influence upon the country
is corrupt sDd debasing, and the area of noliti-
cal venality constantly enlarges under il. Ac-
cording TO their views the whole interest that
any citizen has in municipal, state or national
government is measured by what he can make
out of it, 1t is worse than idle to shut our ewes
to the existence of corrupt methods and nrac-
tees in our politics, which threaten TO subvert
our free institutions. The people are often
cheated at the polls and in legislation. and
prizes which should be the reward of honest
merit are too frequently bestowed upon the
cunning and the INSCRIPTIONS rich Real
freedom is not enjoyed by the people unless the
laws are enacted by their honestly chosen renre-
sentatives, and their freedom of action is as
much impaired, when ii is corruptly influenced
as il controlled By force. The man who &C.
cepts bTibe of any sort, places his conscience
and Judgment in the yilest bondage He is no
longer free Argument is wasted on him. Com
sideratious of the public veal or woe do not
affect him Bayonets at the polls wouId NOT
control his conduct more effectively. And men
who contribute money TO buy votes and to bribe
the peoples representatives, as well as those
who disburse it, are deadly enemies of
the republic. Their greed and love of
power are greater than their love OF country.
They impair popular respect for law which is
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