The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-31


Strong. The principal observance of the
day was at the tomb of Grant, in River
side, overlooking the Hudson River. The
services there were under the auspices of
| U. s. Grant Post G. A. R., and included a
| memorial address by Governor Mckinley
of Ohio, who said:
| God grant that while the old soldiers are still
with us they shall enjoy without stint, grudge
OF suspicion the bounteous benefactions of the
country that they served so well and the
| care and benediction of all their neighbors
and fellow-citizens. Let us care for the needy
survivors of this struggle through the
spirit OF the martyr who promised that the
Nation should care for him who shall have
borne the battle and for his widow and his
orphans. 1t is no wonder that the old soldier
loved the flag under whose folds he fought and
LOT which his comrades shed SO much blood
He loved it for what it is and for what it repre-
sents.
IL has been sanctioned by the blood of our
best and our bravest; it records the achieve
| ments of Washington and the martyr
dom OF Lincoln. 1t has been glorified
IN the hearts of freedom-loving people
not only at home but in every part of the
world. Our flag expresses more to humanity
than any other flag. 1t means more than any
other national emblem. 1t stands for the will
OF the Tree people and proclaims that they are
supreme and that they acknowledge no earthly
sovereign but themselves.
The respect which our flag commands at
home and abroad, on land and on sea, has in
the past been often demonstrated. No Incl
dent to my mind is more striking than that
which occurred in Mexico when Hon. Joel R.
PoInsett of South Carolina was the United
states Minister at that court. 1t was imme-
dlately following an election which was Bit
terly fought and the defeat ted party were des-
perate in their disappointment. The excited
people took possession of the artillery barracks
and planted batteries along the streets and the
streets flowed with blood. While the firing
was going on the widow of viceroy of Mexico
who lived in the adjoining house to that of
our Minister, trembling with fear and almost
overcome with excitement, sought his home
and appealed to him for protection, and while
engaged in assuring her of full protection at
his hands shot was fired at him, which passed
through his coat and lodged in the shutter of
his balcony window.
The maddened mob as he disappeared, then
cried out TO fire in the window and break down
the gates. AT the very moment when pas
sion was running highest and men had be-
come maddened with desperation, ready to
batter down the gates and walls surrounding
the house, Mr.. Poinsett directed the secretary
of the legation to throw out the American
flag, which he did, and then the Minister and
forth on the veranda beneath its folds In
stantly the shouts were hushed, the fury of the
mob began to abate and the muskets dropped
by the side, which moment before had been
pointed with deadly intent at the home and
person OF our Minister. Dread and awful
silence fell On the warning multitude. The
Minister announced that he was the accredited
representative of the American Government
The leaders hastily and confusedly consulted,
the mob lied away and guards were placed
by the insurgents about the Minister'S house
to protect it and him and all who sought pro-
lection within its walls. Why? 1t represented
the dignity and power of the United States and
commanded instant respect When our flag
was unfurled it did what an armed force could
not have done without bloodshed; it was the
voice of commando it represented the force of
the United States A shot fired at the flag was
a shot fired at the United States, and the
wild mob respected its power it respected the
flag which symboliZed it.
Let all of US unite in securing continued re-
spect for the glorious old banner and hold fast
| to that true National spirit which in the past
has been quick to resent any insult to it,
Governor Mckinley eulogiZed the character
Of General Grant, "the hero of Belmont, Shiloh,
Donaldsonville, Vicksburg, Lookout Valley
the Wilderness, Petersburg and Appomat-
toX," General Grants career from the time he
left his shop in Galena until the time of his
death at Mount McGregor, was hurriedly but
graphically outlined. Continuing, Mr.. McKln-
ley said:
General Grant stood in his civil station bat
ting for the legal fruits of that they may be
firmly secured to the living and their posterity
forever. His arm was never lifted against the
right; his soul abhorred the wrong. His veto
OF the imitation bill; his organization of the
Geneva Arbitrage Commission to settle the
claims of the United States against England;
his strong and conciliatory foreign policy; his
constant care to have no policy against the will
of the people; his enforcement of the constitu-
ton and the maintenance in every part of the
country; his faith at home and abroad marked
his administration as strong wise and patriotic.
Great and wise as his civil administration was,
however, the achievements which make him
zone of the immortal few whose name
will never die" are found in his military
career. Carping critics have sought to mar it;
strategists have found flaws in it, but in the
presence of his successive, uninterrupted and
unrivaled victories, it is idlest chatter which
none should heed.
With no disparagement to others, two names
rise above ali others in American history since
Washington, transcendantly above them. They
are Abraham Lincoln and Usysses S. Grant
Each will be remembered for what he did and
accomplished for his race and mankind. Gen.
eral Grant needs no monument to perpetuate
his fame. 1t will live and grow with increased
luster SO long as liberty lasts, and that love of
liberty has place in the hearts of men. Every
soldiers monument in the North, now stand
ing or hereafter to be erected, will record his
worth and work, as well as those of the men
who fought by his side. His most lasting me-
mortal will be the work he did; his most en-
during monument the Union, which he and his
associates saved and the priceless liberty they
secured.
We are not Nation of hero worshipers. We
| are Nation of generous freemen We bow in
affectionate reverence and with most grateful
hearts to these immortal names-Washington
Lincoln and Grant-and all who were associ-
ated with them and will guard with sleepless
vigilance their mighty works and cherish their
memories evermore.
The United States cruiser Cincinnati was
anchored in the river near by, by order of
the Secretary of the Navy, and fired
salute. At New Rochelle the statue Of
Thomas Paine, Trainer of the Declaration
of Independence, was unveiled this after
noon, addresses being delivered by Colonel
R. G. Ingersoll and Thaddeus B. Wake
man.
|