New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-28
THE GREAT SILENT NAN.

The memory OF the great SllenJ Hd1 VI
American history was honored yesterday with
civic ceremonies of unwOnted Statellness and
with eloquence worthy of his fame. The cor
nerstone of what will be the noblest monument
in democrats and republican America was lald
by the President with words of unaffected SIM
plicity and homely sincerity such as the mod
est soldier would have liked. A year ago at
Mount McGregor the President showed how
easily he could divert mems minds from the
pomp and dignity of his great Office and con-
centrate their thoughts upon the civic virtues,
the heroic qualities and the inestimable public
services of the greatest American soldier since
Washington. 1t was in the same generous
spirit, without trace of self-consclousness,
that the Chief Executive offered his sympa-
thetic tribute to his companion in arms and
predecessor in office.
Mr.. Depew's fine Grafton was instinct with
tenderness and refinement of feeling. Studied
panegyric and rhetorical periods would not
have been suited to the memory OF the silent,
transformations captain of the Union armies
who as the orator Justly said, had shrunk all
his life from display and desired 10 escape it
after death. With delicate sensibility the
orator adapted his manner to the simplicity,
sincerity and homely qualities of one Of
Homers men. Beginning with touching
reference to Grants devotion to family and
home and closing with the fervent sentence
"The tendrils of loyalty and love stretch from
this monument to every soldiers grave in the
land" Mr.. Depew scattered over the dust Of
the heroic dead tributes of tenderness and af-
lection as chaste and simple as the sweet-brer
roses which had once grown wild and luxuriant
on the riverside heights where the monument
| is to stand.
Mr. Depew gave in three terse sentences the
reason and the justification for building mag
nificent monument over the dust OF the most
modest of soldiers, who loved his country with
the same simplicity of affection with which he
loved his wife, his children and his home "To
lie in the churchyard where slept his father
and mother would have been more in accord
with his mind. But he appreciated that his
countrymen had a claim upon his memory and
the lessons of his life and fame. He knew that
where he was buried there they would build
shrine for the study and inspiration of com
Ing generations" The man who had com
muned with his own heart and been silent in
the crises of momentous battles in Virginia
ana tennessee ulu llOl U'tu Il monument ~
commemorate his fame His dust might have
been hidden with that Of his father and mother,
but his heroic character and his genius for war
would have been embalmcd in the history of
reunited country. Americans have needed
the monument rather than this silent soldier
in the hush of the grave. They are dishonored
so long as there is neglect to honor him with
a monument SO grand in proportions, stately
| in conception, that it will stand for all time
as a silent witness to the silent hero.
The completion of this monument ought not
| to be deferred through any lack of public in
terest and financial support in the metropolis
1t should be built rapidly by voluntary sub
scriptions. The cornerstone has been laid, and
the honor of the wcalthiest city in the Union
is pledged for the prompt execution of the
work. No more commanding site for a splen-
did work of art can be found than that which
witnessed yesterdays impressive ceremonies
When the monument is finished it will be a
sign that NewYOrk is rich in civic pride and
patriotic feeling. 1t will be memorial which
will make NewYork great in the sight OF all
|