The Indianapolis journal., 1892-06-03

Monument Dedicated at Gettysburg with Ap-
propriate Exercises Gen. Beavers Speech.

GETTYSBURG. Pa, June 2. - Under O
cloudless sky and in the presence of thou
sands of spectators. the high water-Dark
tablet at the copse of trees was dedicated
to-day. All the morning trains poured
forth loads of visitors. until by noon tbs
town was filled to overflowing Governor
Pattison and wife and party of women
came at o'clock. and then the notab bles be-
came SO numerous that they were lost In
crowd of their own. A battalion of the
Eighth National Guard Regiment arrived
at lO:31. under Colonel Magee. The Marine
Band arrived at noon.
The exercises at the monument began at
/ o'clock. Rev. w. Ii. Mcknight. of the
Pennsylvania College, opened with prayer.
Hon. Edward Mcpherson extended well
cume tn the battlefield. Col. John Il.
BacheldOr told why the copse Of trees was
called high water mark" Samuel Nj.
sented the monument to tho Memorial As
sociahon.. and John NJ. Vanderslice. of
Philadelphia, received it, Ex-UOv. James
A. Beaver delivered the grafton, and James
jeffrey Roche. of Boston, read the poem:
Short addresses were also made by General
Sthotield. General Slocum. General Webb
and General Veazey and other prominent
military men.
After expressing z regrets at the absence of
Gen. Bingham, who was originally selected
to deliver the chief address. General Beaver
SAID: The formal unveiling of the monu-
ment marks an era In the progress of the
effort to tell the history of the war to CON-
ing generations" Pointing to the moDu-
ment of military organizations on every
hand, he declared that ii was the most re-
markablc collection of works OF art for the
purpose tn be found in the world.
The speaker declared he was not in sym
xrtth AhA NH htnh
discourage snch a monument AS the
years 20 by.' he said, Il become more
and more convinced OF the duties which
devolve upon the survivors of our late war
10 smooth the way for the complete union
in sentiment. in feeling of the people of ail
sections of our common country. and for
the inter destruction of sectiOnalism In all
its forms and phases"
After recalling the positions of many of
the defending battalions, General Beaver
continued: Every regiment mposing
the Armv of the Potomac has. will,
sooner or later. have monument which
shall tell the story of its devotion. But
what of the forces which made it credit
able for the Army of the Potomac to make
| n defensel From their right TO their Left
with perhaps but IL single exception, you
will find no monument 10 mark the POSI-
tOn of q single regiment of the Army OF
selves into the belief that they were right
We can admire their courage. fOrtitude
| and endurance. We acknowled ge
| that they were mt least our equals In all
that constitutes the soldier and makes
| him fOeman worthy of our
| steel. Why should not this find an
acknowledgment on this field,
/ Why Sbouid not the strategy and
| the tactics of the battle of gettysburg be
| studied from both sidesi Why should not
| the government of the United States TAX o
| possession of this enure battlefield, make
| il a national park which can he the resort
| of all orr peoples Why should not Con-
| gress make appropriations tor laying ont
| and constructing avenues along the vari-
| ous llner occupied by tho Army of North
| ern Virginia. and marking the position of
! every one of Its regiments! An irrepressible
| conflict no longer separates us into con-
| tending factions. Oar aims. hopes and am
| bitions for our country are one. Upon this
| field. where the division WAS so bitterly
| emph asized. let us make the effort for
union. The dedication of this m onument
Is the guarantee that such u result can be
| successfully achieved"