The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-05-13
STATUE OF HANCOCK
The dwelling Ceremonies at Wash
ingtOn Yesterday.
SPEECH OF THE PRESIDENT
He Eulogizes the Dead General, as
Do Also Other Speakers = An
Immense Gathering Of Citi-
zens In Attendance.

Washington, May 1.-THE equestrian
statue of Gen. w. s. Hancock was un-
veiled to-day. President Cleveland
made brief address, in which he said:
"A grateful government to-day pays
tribute to the memory of one of our
country's noblest sons and bravest de-
tenders. Willingly prompted by patri-
otto motives we have assembled to wit
ness nations appreciation of valiant
deeds and In time of war and its recog-
milton of civic virtues in the time of
peace. We give this monument to the
dead, but the dead endows our gift
with a significance which makes 1t of
priceless value to the living. 1t is an
open book constantly teaching the les
son of sincere and steadfast love of
country. Those who look upon its
grand proportions in years to come will
be reminded of such sacrifice and serv-
ice as have made our nation great and
our people happy. With this monument
before our eyes, those in public station
who are charged with the peoples in
terests and with the making and exc
cution of their laws can hardly forget
that honest effort to secure the public
veal, and a stern insistance at all times
upon faithful and unselfsh discharge
OF public duty in the places they oc-
cupy are as essential to the safety and
preservation of all that Americans hold
dear, as bravery and heroism on the
field of battle. The perpetuity of our
popular government depending upon
our fidelity to the principles upon
which it rests, the vast interests OF. our
people prompted and guarded only by
honesty and faithfulness in their SER
vice and obedience to the national OBJ
| legations which our membership in the
family of nations exact, should be suf-
ficient to enforce upon those the les
I 1t. L. A..
us all, however, open our minds and
hearts to the sentiments, especially ap-
propriate to this occasion and let our
sense of public duty and our patriotic
aspirations be quickened and stimula-
ted by a voice from the grave admon-
ishing that our obligations, as servants
of the people. are made more sacred
and our incentives to vigilant citizen
ship more impressive because we have
in our keeping the fame and glory of
our country's heroic deeds"
Senator Palmer's address was devot-
| ed to a eulogy of the manly and SOL
dierly qualities of General Hancock and
contained a beautiful tribute TO his
wife, who was his biographer. The
military qualities of General Hancock
| he said are we'll known to the country
| The story of his brilliant services has
| been told in detail by biographers. but
| General Grant has condensed his real
| character and reputation into a few
| sentences: Hancock stands the most
! conspicuous of all the general officers
| who did not exercise a separate COM
mand. He commanded a corps more
/ than any other one, and his name was
never mentioned as having committed
| in battle a blunder for which he was
| responsible. He was a man of very
| conspicuous personal appearance. His
| general disposition made him friends
| and his personal carriage and his pres
ence with his command in the thickest
of the fight won for him the confidence
of the troops serving under him."
Continuing, Senator Palmer said: 'T
| have said that Hancock had an eye for
| a battlefield The terms L use are not
| technical, burt they describe an officer
| that every practical soldier under
stands. 1t has its application to the
| field like that of Gettysburg and in a
less degree to Chickamauga. When he
| reached Gettysburg Hancock found
the position held by the union forces
menaced by startling danger. At once
| he saw the advantages of the position
and boldly resolved that this great bat
| tie should be fought to determine the
| fight of the continent. To be great is
| to be equal to the requirements of
| great occasions and IL is to the SKILL
| the courage and the resolute coolness
| of Hancock that Gettysburg was held
as a battlefield and II is to the officers
| of all ranks and grades and to the
| hardy, resolute courage of the private
soldier of many states that the country
withheld the crushing repulse of the
| confederate forces.
"It is enough to say for him that he
was great according to the best def
milton of greatness. He comprehended
| and seized great opportunities.
| Now, that we have ceased to strug-
| gle against each other. we know with
| absolute confidence that the men OF
every section and of all parts of the
great republic are equally patriotic and
| alike willing and ready to defend the
/ integrity of the union and the honor
of the nation against all and every foe.
/ Americans of all sections and of all
/ parties, of one common country. now
| know, respect and confide in each 9TH
er, and we will transmit that sentiment
| of respect and confidence to our child
rem which will offer a sure guarantee
for peace and the defense of national
honor"