Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-12
HANCOCK IN BRONZE
Continued from First Page.)

We're: Gen. r. N. Batcheider, Gen. Francis
A. Walker, Gen. JOS. S. Smith, Gen Henry
Thomas l.. Livermore, Col. George A. Shall
lenberGer, Col. John Hancock Col. James
ID. Brady. Col. Clayton McMchael, Col.
Finley Anderson, Maj. Charles Smart, Maj.
William Il. W. Miller, Mai. George A.
krtnes. Capt. John G. Peiton. Capt. Rich
ard p. Strong. Capt. Israel Thicksteen.
Capt. Charles S. McEntee. Capt. Albert
Hunter.
Behind the staff Were three rows of seats
reserved for Senators. one for army and
navy officers and four for other invited
guests. The arrangement across the aisle
was the same, save three rows were re-
served fer Representatives in Congress.
Those entitled to seats on the stand were
not long iii securing their places, SO when
the presidential party arrived there was
no delay in commencing the exercises.
President Cleveland presi led, and opened
the exercises
':'he Presidents Address.
The following is the text Of the Presi-
dents address:
grateful government today pays tribute
to the memory of one of our country's
nobiest sons and bravest defenders. Will
i.ngly prompted by patriotic inclination,
have assembled 10 witness nations
appreciation of valiant deeds in time of
and its recognition of civic virtue IN
time Of peace.
We give this monument to the dead; but
the dead endows our gift with sign!ii-
canoe which makes it of priceless value to
the living. 1t is an open book constantly
teaching the lesson OF sincere and stcadfast
love of country. Those VINO look upon its
grand proportions IN yeaIo TO come Will be
reminded of such sacrifice and service
have made our nation great and our peopie
he ppy. With this monument before our
eyes, those in public station, who are
charged with the peoples interests and
with the making and execution OF their
laws. can hardly forget that honest effort
to secure the public veal and a stern in
sistence; at all times, upon faithful and
urselfish discharge of public duty in the
places they occupy are as essential to the
safety and preservation of ali that Ameri-
Gems hold dear as bravery and hcroism on
he field of battle.
The perpetuity of our popular government
depending upon fidelity to the prin-
ciples upon which it rests; the vast interests
Of a coniiding people, promoted and guard
ed only by honesty and faithfuness in heir
service; and obedience to those national
obligations which our embership in the
family of nations exacts, should be sufficient
to enforce upon those trusted by Their coun-
tryrnen the lessons which this monument
teaches.
Let us ALL however, open our minds and
hearts to the sentiments especially appro-
pria 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 that our
obligations as servants of the people are
more sacred, ana incentives 10
viSilant citizenship more impressive, be-
cause we have in our keeping the fame and
glory of our country's heroic dead.
The Right Rev. Henry Y. Satterlee, Epis-
copal bishop of Washington. offered prayer,
and at its conclusion the Marine Band
struck up THE Star Spangled Banner"
AS the last strains of the national hymn
died away young Cadet Gwynn Hancock
arose. and stepping to the front, grasped
the slender cords which were to loosen the
knots that held the silken national banner
in place around the statue of his ;llustrious
grandsire. He gave the lines a sharp tug,
and as the flag fell away, exposing the
striking and magnificent mass of bronze.
the boom of cannon was heard, followed
by another and another until major gen.
erals salute Of thirteen guns had been
fired
At the conclusion of the salute Mr.. De
Witt c. Sprague read an original poem,
dedicated to Gen. Hancock, and was fol-
lowed by the orator OF the day, Major Cen
eral John N. Palmer Of United States vol
unteers, and Senator from Illinois.
Gen. Palmer's address is as follows:
Senator PaImer's Address.
Senator Palmer said:
Mr.. President and gentlemen:
According to the terms of my invitation 1
to deliver short Grafton In connection
with these ded.catory services.
When l accepted this invitation 1 prom
.sed myself easy task, for 1 had met
Lieut.. Winfield Scott Hancock in st. Louis
more than forty years ago, and was then
impressed by his solderly appearance and
his pleasant. genial manners.
l again met him after he had won such
rare distinction that he was empowered
by the War Department to raise a special
veteran corps. l had watched his course
daring the civil war with profound interest,
and had formed the most favorable opin-
ions of his sold:erly qualities. Influenced
NV Oil T
toned, and by my sincere reverence for
the memory of him whose statue is to be
unveiled today, 1 accepted the duty.
1t has no doubt been observed by others,
hut it DID not occur to me at the moment,
that the life and the services of Gen. Han
Geek are better known to the American
people than are those of any other of the
great soldiers who won distinction during
the civil war. So much has been written
and spoken of his great achievements that
what 1 will be able to say today will,
fear, sound to my audience like an imper-
feet echo of what mas been often better
told.
The domestic and social phases of the
l:fe of Gen. Hancock have been described
by that biographer whose delightful story
commences at the time she became his wife,
She shared much of his barrack and tent
life She followed the sagacious advice of
Major, afterward Gen. Robert e. Lee
which she quotes, and accompanied her
husband to California. She describes the
long residence upon the Pacific coast. She
studied the character Of her husband, and
with intell;g elt, wtfely intuition, she came
to understand him as others did afterward.
She says: He understood himself. The
talents and requirements of a professor at
West Point did not belong to him. He re-
quired broader fields for his nervous, ener-
getic character. Otherwise his profession
would have become irksome and profitless."
So much of his respondence with ner
as she has given to the world shows how
much he loved and contided in her, and
when she speaks of him as a husband and
a father she is eloquent
Grants Tribute.
The military qualities of Gen. Hancock
are well known to the country. The story
of his brilliant services has been told in
detail by biographers, but Gen. Grant mas
condensed his real character and reputation
into few sentences:
Hancock stands the most conspicuous
figure of all the general officers who did not