The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-09-20
FOR NATIONAL USES
MANY THOUSANDS THERE
Generals Palmer and Gordon Make
Touching Speeches-vioe Pres
ident Stevenson Presides
Over the Ceremonies.

| ident Stevenson Presides
Over the Ceremonies.
Chattanooga. Tenn. Sept. l9.-To-
night the government OF the United
States is in full possession OF the
Chickamauga and Chattanooga field.
The nation has another public park
which, while IL may not be as grand
from a scenic point OF view as the yell
lowstone. Il will be far dearer to the
hearts OF the people. The unique feat
ure OF the dedication to-day Is the men
who struggled and fought against each
other at Chickamauga this day 80 years
ago meet to-day again as brothers. and
each did his share toward making the
dedication a success. They signed
compact by which the last vestige of
venom caused by the civil war was
blotted out. Within the limits OF this
grand historic place OF pleasure for the
nation to-day there were upwards of
$1,000 people. There were hundreds of
men OF renown. who took part In the
conflict between the north and south.
The dedication was conducted by the
men who fought Ia that awful strife.
| Two generals. with silver-gray hair
who headed thousands of men In the
ARRAY on opposite sides. made the
principal speeches at the dedication.
They were Gems. John NJ. Palmer and
John h. Gordon. The exercises were
witnessed by no less than $4,000 people
of the North and OF the South and at
least half OF them took part in that
bloody civil war.
The first event OF the day was the
display of arms by battery F. Fourth
United States artillery. Then there
was battalion and regimental drill.
showing new tactics and field move
ments under command OF Colonel Holl-
and. Those exercises at arms were of
great interest to the veterans. though
they expressed themselves that such
tactics would have fallen as timothy
before the mowers blade against those
adopted during the battle OF Chicka-
mauga. Vice President A. Z. Steven
son presided over the dedicatory ex-
ercises. He was introduced by Gen.
John s. Fullerton, chairman OF the
Chickamauga and Chattanooga Ma
tional park. and was greeted with
loud applause.
Vice President Stevenson in taking
the chair said: IT am honored by be-
ing called to preside over the ceremo-
nies of this day. BY solemn decree of
the representatives of the American
people, this magnificent park with Its
wonderous association and memories Is
now tto be dedicated for all time to na-
tional and patriotic purposes. This is
the fitting hour Of the august cere-
monies which we now inaugurate. To-
day, by act of congress. the Chicka-
manga and Chattanooga National mil
itary park is forever set apart for all
common uses; solemnly dedicated for
all the ages to all the American peo-
pie. To-day Is auspicious. 1t notes
the anniversary of one OF the greatest
battles known to history. Here In the
dread tribunal OF last resort. valor
contended against valor. Here brave
men struggled and died for the right.
as God gave them to see the right.
Thirty-two years have passed. but the
few survivors Of that masterful day.
victors. vanquished. alike. again meet
upon this memorable field. Alas, the
splendid armies which rendezvoused
here are now little more than a pro-
cession Of shadows.
ION fame's eternal camping ground
Their silent tents are spread;
While glory guards with solemn round
The bivouac of the dead
Our eyes now behold the sublime
spectacle OF the honored survivors OF
the great battle coming together upon
| A1t
not in deadly conflict. but as brothers
under one flag. fellow citizens of a
common country. All grateful to God
that In the supreme struggle the gov
ernment OF our fathers. our common
heritage. was triumphant, and that TO
all OF the coming generations OF our
countrymen It will remain an 'mdivisi-
BILE union Of indestructible states Our
dedication to-day In but a ceremony. In
the words of the immortal Lincoln
at Gettysburg. But In n larger sense.
we cannot dedicate. We cannot desc
crate. We cannot hallow this ground
The brave men. living and dead. who
r struggled here have consecrated II far
/ above our power to add or detract'
will detain you no longer from listen
{ ing to the eloquent words of those who
: were participants in the deadly struR-
B gle, the sharers alike In Its dangers
. its glory"
!, The meeting was called to order at u
o'clock The great national area se-
l lected by the national commission on
, Snodgrass Hill for the exercises, was
} so arranged that nearly every one Of
, the 10000 auditors could hear She
speeches and addresses throughout. Py
way of beginning there was a national
salute by a. guns OF artillery. followed
: by the star Spangled Banner" played
by one of the United States infantry
bands. II was cheered to the ,ho i:y
; the vetreans OF the blue and the fray
) and many grizzled veterans shed tears
of Joy. When the applause ceased
I Vice President Stevenson made briei
, address appropriate to the occasion
Prayer was then offered by Rt: Rev
Bishop Gaiior OF Tennessee. Amer
lea" was then sung by the audience
: accompanied by a band. The volume OF
!. sound rolled up as great tidal wave
) and long before the song ended tears
were courslng down the cheeks of thou.
sands Of veterans. Gen. John NJ
Palmer. the venerable senator from
Illinois, made the first dedlcaiory I'd.
dress. AT first his voice had a tremu.
lous sound. He became grandly elo.
/.