The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1896-05-13
Pays q Tribute to q Brave De.
tenders Memory
AN HEROIC STATUE UNVEILED
Ia Reeosaltlon Of Services Of Winfield
Scott Hancock
President Cleveland and Senator Palmer Pay
the Need Of Praise to the De.
parted Patriot
Associated Press Special wire.


trian statue Of Major General Winfield
Scott Hancock wa unveiled here this
afternoon before an immense gathering.
which included President Cleveland.
Vice. President Stevenson. representa-
tives of the suprme court. diplomatic
corps, congress. army veterans and col
leagues of the late general. The unveil-
ing was preceded by military demon
stration, in which the Second army
corps, at the head of which Gen. Hancock
achieved his greatest victories. partici-
pated. Brigadier General Brooke, COM
nanding the department of the Dakotas,
u. 8. A., was grand marshal. The exer-
clses opened with prayer by Bishop Sat-
terlee of Washington.
President Cleveland made a brief ad-
dress in which he said:
"A grateful government today pays
tribute to the memory of one of our
country's noblest sons and bravest de-
tenders. willingly prompted by patriot
ic inclination. We have assembled to
witness a nations appreciation of val
liant deeds of war and its recognition OF
civic virtues in time of pece. We give
the monument to the dead, but the dead
endows our gift with significance
which makes 1t of priceless value to the
living. 1t Is an open book constantly
teaching the lesson Of sincere and
steadfast love Of country Those who
look upon its grand proportions in years
to come will be reminded of such sacri-
fee and service as have made our nation
great and our people happy. With this
monument before our eyes, those in pub
lie station who are charged with the
peoples interests and with the making
and execution Of their laws. can hardly
forraf thA honest Aff0rf soC1Ira the
public veal and stern insistence at all
times upon a faithful and unselfish dis
charge of public duty in the places they
occupy are as essential to the safety
and the preservation of all that Ameri
cans hold dear as bravery and heroism
on the field Of battle.
The perpetuity OF our popular gov
ernment depends upon our fidelity to
the principles upon which 1t rests: the
vast interests of conf1ding people,
promoted and guarded only by honesty
and faithfulness in their service and
obedience to those national obligations
which our membership in the family of
nations exacts. should be sufficient to
enforce upon those trusted by their
countrymen the lessons which the monu-
ment teaches. Let us all. however. open
our minds and hearts to the sentiments
especially appropriate to this occasion,
and let our sense of public duty and our
patriotic aspirations be quickened and
stimulated by a voice from the grave,
admonishing us that our obligations as
servants of the people are made more
sacred and our incentives to vigilant
citizenship more impressive because we
have In our keeping the fame and glory
of our country's heroic dead"
Senator Palmer's address was devo-
ted to an eulogy of the manly and sold
ierly qualities of Gen. Hancock and con-
taied beautiful tribute to his wife, who
was his Aographer
The military qualities of Gen. Han
COCK he said, "are we'll known to the
country. The story of his brilliant SER
vices has been told in detail by bio
graphers. but Gen. Grant has condensed
rev sentences: Hancock stands the
most conspicuous t'gIre of all the gem
eral officers who did not exercise a sep
arate command. He commanded a
corps longer than any other one, and
his name was never mentioned as hav-
Ing committed in battle blunder for
which he was responsible. He was a
man of very conspicu.. . personal an
pearance. His genial disposition made
him friends, and his personal courage
and his presence with his command in
the thickest of the fight won for him the
confidence of the troops serving under
him.
oCIldtOT runner Sd1Qs
have said that Hancock had an eve for
a battlefield The terms I use are not
technical but they describe a quality in
an officer that every practical soldier
understands. 1t has it's application to
a field like that of Gettysburg, and in
a less degree at Chickamauga When he
reached Gettysburg, Hancock found the
position held by the Union forces me-
naced by startling dangers At once he
saw the advantages of the position and
boldly resolved that this great battle
should be fought to determine the fate
OF the continent. To be great is to be
equal to the requirements Of great occa-
sions and 1t is to the skill, the courage
ana the resolute coolness of Hancock
that Gettysburg was selected as a bat
tlefeld, and It is to the officers Of all
ranks and grades and to the hardy.
fesolute courage of the private soldiers
OF many states that the country owes
the crushing repulse Of the confederate
forces
II will not intrude myself into the in
vidious office of inquiring whether Gen.
Hancock possessed all the qualities
which are by universal consent conced-
ed to other great commanders. It is
enough to say for him that he was great.
according to that best definition of
greatness. he comprehended and seized
great opportunities
against each other we know with abso-
lutte confidence that the men of every
section and of all parts of the great re-
public are equally patriotic and alike
willing and ready to defend the integ-
rity of the Union and the honor of the
nation against all and every foe. Ameri-
cans OF all sections and of all parties, of
one common country now know, respeG.
and conf1de in each other, and we will
transmit that sentiment of respect and
conhoence to our children, which will
anord a sure guaranty for internal
honor
But at the beginning of the strife be-
tween the sections the officers of the
army were embarrassed by difficulties
OF an altogether different character.
tor the most part they had been edu-
cateo together in the national military
scnooi; they knew each other well and
rome OF them doubted the courage or the
resolution Of the other. They were cit
!Iens OF different states, and some of
mem were overcome by the delusion that
thelr paramount allegiance was due to
tne @ state OF their birth or Of their domi-
When characterize the theory of