The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-04-28

JOluGu, AL the COICluSlOll Ol IIlS ny lllll the Rev. J. P. Newman stepped forward to offer prayer and perfect silence for lowed the swelling sounds of moment before. The prayer closed with the Lords Prayer" in which many of the people joined
 The bishop took his seat, and the hymn of thanks, "Old Netherland Folk Song," was sung, President McKin- ley then stepped to the speakers place, and again was cheered as long as be- fore, It was some time before the cheers subsided Then he spoke in a clear, strong voice, that carried well, the following address:
 Fellow Citizens;
 "A great life, dedicated to the welfare of the nation, here finds its earthly coronation. Even If this day lacked the impressiveness of ceremony and was devoid of pageantry, it would still be memorable, because 1t Is the anniver- sary of the birth of one of the most | famous and best beloved of American soldiers. | 'Architecture has paid high tribute to the leaders of mankind but never was memorial more worthily bestowed or more gratefully accepted by free peo- pie than the beautiful structure before which we are gathered.
 With Washington and Lincoln, 1 Grant has an exalted place in history and the affections of the people. To day his memory is held In equal esteem | by those whom he led to victory and 1 by those who accepted his generous terms of peace
 Tt Is right, then, that General Grant | should have a memorial commensurate with his greatness, and that his last resting place should be the city of his choice, to which he was so attached in life, and of whose ties he was not for getful even in death. Fitting, too, is it that the great soldier should sleep beside the noble river on whose banks he became master and leader without rival.
 But let us not forget the glorious distinction with which the metropolis among the fair ssterhood of American cities has honored his life and memory. With all that riches and sculpture can do to render the edifice worthy of the man, upon site unsurpassed for mag nificence, has this monument been reared by New York as a perpetual re- cord of his illustrious deeds, in the cer- tainty that, as time passes, around it will assemble with gratitude and rev. erence and veneration, men of all climes races, and nationalities.
 New York holds in its keeping the precious dust of the silent soldier; but
 his achievem ments-what he and his
 brave comrades wrought for mankind are In the keeping of seventy millions of American citizens, who will guard the sacred heritage forever and forever
 more."
 The president took his seat once more
 cheered, and the band struck up "The Star Spangled Banner" At the end of
 the song, General Porter spoke in part as follows:
 Tt is all like a dream. One can
 scarcely realize the lapse of time and the memorable events which have oc- cured since our hero president was first proclaimed one of the great of earth. The dial hands upon the celestial clock record the flight of more than a gener~ ation since the legions of American manhood poured down from the hill-
 tops, surged up from the valleys, knelt upon their native soil to swear ale
 glance to the Union and went forth to
 seal the oath with their blood in marching under the victorious banners
 of Ulysses S. Grant. To-day countless
 numbers of his contemporaries, their
 children and their children's children
 gather about his tomb to give perma- nent sepulture to his ashes and to re-
 call the record of his imperishable
 deeds.
 ,, "The story of his life is the history
 of the most eventful epoch in his coun- try's annals. Upon an occasion such as ; this it would seem more fitting to stand
 silent by the tomb and let history alone speak, but it has been deemed proper that living witnesses to his virtues should pay the grateful tribute to theil , memory. The allotment of time per mits only a brief allusion to the achievements of his marvellous career. , Ulysses S. Grant sprang from the = Joins of the American people, and de rived his patent of nobility direct from , God. He possessed an abiding conf !. dence in the honesty and intelligence o1 5 his fellow countrymen, and always re- tained his deep hold upon their affec- = tions.
 = "As commander of men in the fiel6 : he manifested the highest characteris. : tics of soldier, as evinced in every , battle In which he was engaged from
 Palo Alto to Appomattox. He was bolG 7 in conception, fixed in purpose. and wig. :, orous in execution. He never allowed : himself to be thrown on the defensive
 but always aimed to take the initiative
 in battle. He made armies, not cities , i, the objective points of his campaigns
 Obstacles which would have deterreC | another seemed only to inspire him witt
 greater confidence, and his soldier! soon learned to reflect much of his de <. termination. He motto was, When il c doubt move to the front His swort
 always pointed the way to an advance 6 it's hilt was never presented to al f enemy.
 h "A story of his martial deeds inspire!
 us with the grandeur of the events ant = the majesty of achievement He dit not fight for glory, but for national ex f istence and the equality and rights O n men. His sole ambition was his coun . try's prosperity. His victories failed t = elate him.
 r "He began his administration vigor