The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-16
MIR. FLOWERS GRANT SPEECH.
His Protest Against the Proposition to Remove
t!rnnt'x Body TO Mnshington.

His Protest Against the Proposition to Remove
Grants Body to Washington.
WASHINGTON, May lit has been remarked
here that amid the many incidents of Grant
Memorial day in New York the good work of II
number of New York Congressman to prevent
the removal OF Gen. Grants body from New
York to Washington has been overlooked. This
work was performed in the second session of the
Fifty-first Congress-. 1t will DO remembered
that the Senate passed the resolution of Senator
Plumb Of Kansas requiring the removal of Gen.
Grants body from Riverside Drive TO the Airing
ton Cemetery in Washington. and that this reso-
luton was defeated in the House of Represent
ativcs mainly through the efforts of the New
York congressman.
One of the most forcible speeches in the House
OF Representatives during the debate was made
by Representative Roswell p. Flower, who said
Mr.. Speaker, it was the wish of Gen. Grant
that his wife be buried at his side. She chose
New York, and the city gave her the choicest
plot OF land within its limits. Mrs. Grant is a
resident OF my Congress district, and has the
opportunity now of visiting her husbands tomb
daily. She has written a letter saying in effect
that il the people of the United States nre unani-
nous that her husband be removed 10 Washing
ton she will not object. This declaration of hers
Is characterized by the spirit of Him who said:
II this cup pass not from Me except l drink it,
Thy will be done
by this resolution you insult tho memory of
Gen. Grant, as well as his widow.
1T is an insult to the city of New York, which
supports more charities at home and abroad
throughout the land than any other city of the
Union. We had raised $l54.0oo toward his
monument. but shortly after the death of Gen.
Grant we were called upon for relief by the
Johnstown sufferers of Pennsylvania. and thus
subscriptions stopped temporarily. And the
chairman OF this which unanimously
reports this resolution knows full well tho
measure Of our charity. There is not a church
built nor q college endowed unless New Workers
are called upon in some way to aid. There is not
Il missionary bishop or a church west Of the Mis-.
souri, which does not in large measure draw
from the omen handed citizens OF New York for
support and construction.
a1hc body of the first NAPOLEON was removed
from st. Helena TO Paris, MS he had removed the
mcnts from every country to which he paid a
visit in war, to bcautify his capital. He made u
Of al these tropkies' in Paris, dazSlecd the World.
1t was httinG, therefore,. i'll that empire ,hat all
Its attractions should DC at Paris. France is
Mayors, of the different sections OF France are
all appointed from Paris.
The Germans knew full well how 10 capture
France. They belcaguercd Paris. and when it
cApitulatcd France was in their grasp. Ours is a
SibfsrG the k BTit IS " ]c csP9GrtSii and an if bar MSF G the dS siiy
of Washington, they did not conquer the re-
public. When the Confederates marched around
II at Anttetam and Gettysburg and threatened
IT the people rallied in their might and saved
tho Union, because the strength of the Govern
school district, in the town, in the cHIty;. and in
the State. Her choicest jewels are in the Baskets
of the States and never should be removed to
N"sir, what Would the gentleman from Penn
sylvania think OF q proposition 10 ask Mrs. Gen.
taken from Pennsylvania and brought to Ar
l!ngton Cemetery What would the gentlemen
from New Jersey think o. y ~rroposit ON to ask
MrR. Gen. Mcclellan IN consent thai thp hpiN nj
her husband be removed 10 the Federal Gene
teryi What would the delegation from Ohio
think OF n proposition 10 ask Mrs. Gen. Garfield
that the body of her husband he removed 10 Ar
lingtoni That, monument was not completed
'""WWhheetS would The dclosotiom from Illinois
think OF a proposition asking the son OF Abra-
ham Lincoln to give his consent that his fathers
should not the descendants of Thomas jefferson
be asked that his bones might be removed TO the
Federal Capital And now that, The ladies are
making 4 move to ~bcautify the hermitage, why
not ask them to send the body of the Old hero OF
New Orleans here TO Washington?
give her consent mat hex husbands remains be
brought here, instead of bong on her own prom.
ask the Texans TO send the body OF Gen. sam
Houston here on the backs of her stalwart SONS !
Franklin Pierce, OF Andrew johnson. and al tho
rest OF our eX-Presidents and heroes he bought
here In order TO strengthen The present boom in
doncy of the age In all these States no, QUO.
half OF the money has been raised for monuments
over their dead X-Prcsidcrts and Generals that
we have raised in The city of New Nurk.
is this Congress willing TO appear hc.0rc the
eyes Of tho world in the act OF committing sdcr,-
leEe, tho crime of stealing SaCrr! things, the
snatching away in a short dcNatc. from al hon.
Orcd state OF the Union, OF tho body OF our
heroic dead. who.c burial pluca MAS chosen ny
his wife, WAS PlnrjionCd by lh' gonCrnl Govern
ment by participation in II, ana whose ctCrna!
rest, by all that appeals to our scnBc of right,
has been up 10 this moment believed 10 10
guarautco1, NJ the scored ri@ht 10 ciGOmh his
remains has been Coniidet 10 the Sth;r of Now
York This resolution shocks on" sense of 10
Ccncy, "a il reminds Us OF u line: iti,ic his
bones over tho stones.
at is u revolving precedent. What guaranty
have the other States that their heroic dead
may not in he future Ike burkcd L" adorn 4 Fed
crdl Capitals
"Sir.l ! ask this House, In all canGOr. 20 defeat
this resolution. Ills - direct Insult TO the Grand
Army of the State Of New York, who are raising
money by courses 81 lectures for this monument,
a direct insult 10 the wife of Gen. Grant, ~ d.
rect insult to any person who hasa relative dead
who has over done service 10 this country"
Representatives Quinn, Cummings, Sliroia,
ltaincs and Farquhdr also made srr0rhCJ OPP
posing the SenaLC'S HctioH. and hnHiIy, after 10
hard fight, the Now va congressman Won,
and senator Flumb'sr resolution was defeated.
SINCE THE WAR
m 10 a MhSumatism radically cured