Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-04-28
NOW IT is BEGUN
New York Begins the Erection
of the Monument
TO OUR NATloN's GREATEST
The Corner Stone Laid by President Hsr-
rison-Chauncey "A. Depew's
Eloquent Grafton.


pleasant was the day selected for the
exercises attending the laying of the
cornerstone of the nations monument
To Gen. Grant in Riverside park. Some
thing like 10000 people gathered about
the e and stand where the exercises
were held and in the number were 5000
CA. r. veterans. The presidential party
left Fifth avenue hotel about noon aud
was escorted to the park by Troop A of
the national guard. In the carriages
were President Harrison, Mrs Grant,
members of her family. Secretaries
Foster, Rusk and Eikins, Postmaster
General Wanamaker, and many other
distinguished guests.
The Ccremoaies.
"Hail TO the Chief was the music
rendered by the United States band as
the carriages reached the tomb. Rev.
DIR. Hall offered prayer and
Gen. Horace Porter. president OF
the Grant Monumental association,
delivered an address on the work
of that organization. Wine mortar
was placed around the cornerstone
with gold trowel and the stone was
lowered into position. In the box
placed in the stone was copy of the
constitution of the United States, ,declar-
federation, the Bible, Memoirs of Gen.
Grant, Memorial day pamphlet May so
and 81, 1885. copy of Mayor Grants
proclamation regarding the Grant
monument, new American flag, med
ais and coins from the United States
mint, and various illustrated and daily
papers.
The Addresses.
President Harrison then briefly ad-
dressed the assemblage, after which
the band played selection of national
airs
Chauncey NJ. Dcpew was introduced
as the orator of the occasion. A synop-
sis of his remarks follows:
The memory Of our heroes, Our patriots and
our men OF genius Is one OF the strongest of the
bonds which hold together our union and per
petuate our power. But the affairs, upon which
the fires OF patriotism arc ever burning,are north,
south. east and west. Washington is at Mount
Vernon. Lincoln At Springfield. Grant at New
York. Sherman at St Louis and Jackson At the
Hermitage Jefferson Is at Monticello and
Adams at Quincy. Irving rests among the
scenes immortalized by his pen at Sleepy Hol-
low, and Lougfellow amidst the Inspirations of
his muse at Cambridge. Every state cherishes
the remains OF its citizens. whose ilustrious
achievements arc the glory OF the country and
the pride OF thosr commonwealth, whose works
and lives are ever living lessons Of love and de-
votion 10 the flag and nstitution OF tic United
States.
A Sacred Trust.
New York, in accepting this beqrcst OF Gen.
Grant, has assumed a sacred trust. Upon no
municipality and Its citizens was ever devolved
@ more solemn duty From the tendercst mo-
tiyes he tool, from the ma Iional government the
task which IL would most Loyalty and lovingly
have performed and intrusted IL TO this great
| city. The whole country are enlisted in the
army OF revere nee and sorrow, but he appointed
New York the guard OF honor. Let the monu-
ment which will rise upon this corner stone be
worthy OF the magnitude Of the metropolis AMI
| the grandeur OF the subject Gen Gran; needs
| no stately shaft or massive pile to perpetuate
| his memory. The republic is his monument.
and its history during what must always be rs
most critical and interesting period will be the
story of his deeds. But this memorial will con.
| tinre for coming generations an object lesson,
| teaching the inestimable value Of the federal
| union and the limitless range OF American op
| portunity.
The speaker dwelt upon the fact that
Grant rs we'll as most of the other
great men of this country, had been
| poor man and draws from this lesson
for those who belong to the school OF
despair" THE secret of good citizen.
ship and earnest effort" he said, lis to
| be contented. but never satisfied"
Mr. Dcpcw reviewed in eloquent,
even poetical periods. the usual traits
of character Of the great leader as OBJ
served in his domestic life, in his career
as military leader, and subsequently
as a statesman. His greatness, he
said. was the product of an emergency.
| He continued:
Heroes Not Made.
| The schools cannot create heroes. They train
and discipline faculties which only opportunity
can reveal whether they are the gifts OF great
commander We have learned confidently tc
rely upon the man appearing when the emer
| gency demands him But until then he stands
| In the rSar ranks.
! Full many gem Of purest ray serene.
The dark unfathomed caves OF ocean bear:
| Ful many a flower IL born 10 blush unseen
| And waste lis sweetness on the desert air. .
II It's the paradox OF preparation for the mas
I sery Of great events. that those who have been
L
| ment or the army. have rarely been equal to The
demands ofrcvolufion or rebellion Won Moltse
| ls slmest alone among eminent soldiers In hsv
INC exhibited in youth the promise so rloriousy
fulfilled in his prime. Cesar was . cisspsted
asndy Wellington vas dull boy. The oni5
rsoord Of Napoleon ~ ST cyr beyond the aver
age was that he was every healthy" Grant
| preferred farming 70 the army, and entered
/ West Point with reluctance. Standing near the
uidIle OF his class. hs neither secured
| ths sttenrou OF those above. nor aroused
/ the envy Of the cadets below him IN scholarship
| Neither Instructors nor fcilewstudents saw in
| the sergeant reduced IN the ranks the germs oi
| ne srst straregist Of his time As mighty con
| vusssons of nature break channels. ard nrirr
sources of supply TO sueferrsnesn streams con.
| vsrted ~ tss sarAqsake into great rivers. "a
| NE reserve po~srs ana latent forces Of SONS
fas, ar. brought into action oniy BY The srsycsI
/ responsibilities and sransest crises. seward
/ Chase sad sumner were the leaders Of she icrn,
lnsnf opanicn of their period They possessed
lifelong erperisnes IN public affairs, snd had
/ wor anil s~s.rvea universal fame se~Srd vas
great senator aua greater foretrn minisssr
| We has had fsv sqnsss as dtpsornassst ssncs
| TsIieyrsnd eeass rrsssx~sd rsve i-sersnt
| snx q creative srfesiseaee Of he hsfhes, eraer
/ eauner AIDED 10 snee eeairf learning ard rnitars
| me sifts ~ suvern ersfprs. ersa ~ the Pre-
| soansess eooxsrtions snf ssaofon- fot hrassu
| rs~rss Ths cam rssrosrsft ~ shs present
clearly ss~s that eifhes ~ them weuid have
/ proved u.sfoai fafisrr ta she fesrfsi rerils
| saa tsrrisss essesn 80 sasveiessasr ecntfesis'
1 ~ re srkno~n Fksegsn.
Nj. pepsw spoke Incidentally o'
Gen Ice in terms of highest rfsiss.
| Said he ''ft neither defrast. ffenn his
| fanss nar isnrsirs the estimate ~ this
sanswmrass sslaiss that he VA. i~asrr
By 1FaaA Great as he vas. he had met
. greater
| ~ A. s..epe~e~~s er~~~e-ssss.
| ne tassfest ssseA eses - sss s~3ssss - Z
| sassssss - "a -.s<s ~ eeses -sA<s @sssss az,