The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-13
TRIBUTE TO HANCOCK
STATUE OF THE LATE MAJOR GEN.
ERAL UNVEILED AT WASHINGTON.
Brief Address by President Cleveland
and an Grafton by senator
Palmer, of Illinois.

WASHINGTON. May 12.-with imposing
ceremonies the heroic equestrian statue Of
Major General Winfield Scott Hancock Was
unveiled here this afternoon before an i'm
mense gathering. which. included President
Cleveland, Vice President Stevenson and rep
resentatives of the Supreme Court. the dip
lomatic corps both bodies of Congress and
army veterans and colleagues of the late
general. The unwilling was preceded by a
military demonstration. Four companies Of
artillery, marching as infantry. four COM
panies OF marines, with the Marine Band.
Light Battery c, Third Artillery, a squadron
from the Sixth Cavalry, the full District
militia and numerous military organizations,
including the Second Army Corps. at the
head of which General Hancock achieved his
greatest Victories, participated in the parade.
Brigadier General Brooke, commanding the
Department OF the Dakotas, u. S. A, was
the grand marshal of the day. The exer-
cises opened with a prayer by Right Rev.
James Y. Satterlee. bishop Of Washington.
President Cleveland then made a brief ad-
dress, in which he said:
"A grateful government to-day pays
tribute to the memory or one or our coun-
try,ss. noblest sons. and bravest defenders.
Willingly, prompted by patriotic inclination,
we have assembled to witness nations ap-
probation OF valiant deeds in time of war
and its recognition OF civic virtues in time
or peace. We give this monument to the
dead, but the dead endows our gift with a
significance which makes II OF priceless
sane 10 tne LIVING IL Is an open BOOK: con-
steaGfast love OF country. Those who look
on It's grand proportions In years to come
will be reminded of such sacrifice and service
as have made our Nation great and our peo-
pie happy. With this monument before our
eyes, those In public station who are charged
with the peoples interests and with the max
ing and execution of their laws can hardly
forget that honest effort TO secure the public
veal and stern insistence at all times on a
faithful and unselfish discharge OF public
duty In the places they occupy are as essen
tial to the safety and preservation OF all that
Americans hold dear as bravery and heroism
popular government, depending on our fidelity
10 the principles on which it rests, the vast
interests OF confiding people, promoted and
their service and obedience to those national
obligations which our membership in the fam
lly or nations exacts. should be sufficient to
enforce upon those trusted by their country
men the lessons which this monument
teaches. Let us all. however, open our minds
propriate to this occasion, and let our sense
OF public duty and our aspirations be quick
ened and stimulated by voice from the
grave. admonishing us 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
keepihg the iame and glory OF our country
heroic dead
GENERAL PALMER'S ADDRESS.
The principal address was delivered by
Senator John M. Palmer, Of Illinois, major
general of the United States Volunteers dur
ing the war. 1t was devoted to a eulogy of
the manly and soldieriy qualities of General
Hancock, and contained beautiful tribute
to his wife, who was his biographer 1.-THE
military qualities of General Hancock" he
said, ARE well known to the country The
story Of his brilliant services has been told
In detail by biographers. but General Gran,
has condensed his real character and repu-
tation into few sentences: Hancock stands
the most conspicuous figure of all the gen.
eral officers who did not exercise separate
command. He commanded a corps longer
than any other one, and his name was never
mentioned as having committed in battle
a olunder for which he was responsible. His
genial disposition made him friends, and his
personal courage and his presence with his
command in the thiclest of the fight won
for for MIN the confidence of the troops serving
Continuing. Senator Palmer said: at have
said that Hancock had an eye for a battle
neid The terms l use are not technical
but they describe quality in an officer thai
its application to a field like that of Get
tysburg, and in less degree to Chicka.
A-sduSd Wueil ne IedcneQ GellySDurg Han
cock found the position Of the Union forces
menaced by startling dangers AT glance
he saw the advantages Of the position and
boldly resolved that there the battle should
De fought TO determine the fate of the CONT.
nent. To be great is TO be equal TO, the
requirements OF great occasions. and it is t.
the skill, the courage and the res0lute cool
ness OF Hancock that Gettysburg was select.
ed as a battlefield. and 1t is to the officers
or all ranks and grades, and TO the hardy
resolute courage Of the private soldiers o.
many. States that the country owes the
In conclusion Senator Palmer said: "Mr
President, we stand in the presence Of thi.
appropriate monument of hero, we do al
that we can TO perpetuate his fame, con
scious that as the centuries recede his grea
and less frequently mentioned
| statue took place. Seven hundred invited
| friends gathered at the scene, incudins
| many relatives and friends of the deceased
| General.
| The statue stands in the heart of the bust
| ness district Of Washington. 1t is the worl
| OF Henry j. Ellicott, the noted sculptor. ant
| inches, the distance from the plynth to TIL
| top of the hat is fourteen feet six inches
| and the height of the pedestal from tn
ground to the plynth is nineteen feet tw.
| inches. The proportion of the rider Is sue
| that II standing erect he would measure tel
/ feet in height.
| Another Victory for Deuber.