The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-05-04

menCGu WIN ID9 SLuRluH vi |
A solemn silence then fell on the
crowd as Bishop John p. Newman IN
yoked the blessing Of heaven on the
ceremonies. Many Of the people joined
In the I" Our Father" which concluded
the bishops prayer. AS soon as the
prelate had taken his seat the hymn OF
thanks, "Old Netherland Folk Song"
was sung by the chorus.
Another mighty cheer arose as Pre-
sident Mckinley, after the singing OF
the HYMN, moved to the rail in the
speakers stand TO deliver his address.
He was introduced by Mayor Strong.
PRESIDENT M'KINLEY's SPEECH.
"Fellow Citizens: A great life, dedi-
Gated to the welfare Of the nation, here
finds its earthly coronation. Even IL
this day lacked the imp~ressiveness of
ceremony and was devoid Of ~pageantry,
it would be still memorable, because it
is tho anniversary Of the birth OF one
Of The most famous and best beloved OF
American soldiers.
"Architecturc has paid high tribute
TO the leaders of mankind, out never
was Il memorial more worthily bestowed
or moro gratefully accepted by II free
people han the beautiful structure he
fore which we are gathered.
in marking the successful compile
tiOn OF this work we have as witnesses
and participants in this representatives
OF all branches OF our government, the
resident officials Of foreign nations, the
Governors Of States and the sovereign
people from every section Of our COM
non country, who join in this august
tribute to the soldier, patriot and cit
i2en,
Almost twelve years have passed
since tic heroic vigil ended and the
brave spi'it Of Ulysses S. Grant fear
lessly tour it's flight Lincoln INC
stanton hao preceded him, but of the
mighty captains Of the war Grant was
tn, first to be called. Sherman and
sheridan survived him, but have since
joined him on the other shore.
The great heroes of the civil strife
now no more. Thomas and Hancock,
Logan and Mcpherson, F%arragut, Du
pont and Porter and a host of others
have passed forever out from human
sight. Those remaining grow dearcr
to us, and from them aud the mcmory
Of those who have departed generations
yet unborn will draw their inspiration
and gather strength for patriotic pur-
poses.
"A great life never dies. Great deeds
are im~perishable great anne immor
tai. General Grants services and
character will continue undimiLishcd
in influence and advance in the estima-
ton OF mankind so long as liberty re-
mains the corner stone of fr"c on~orn-
! ment and integrity Of life the guaranty
Of good citizenship.
"Faithful and fearless as u volunteer
soldier intrepid and invinCible rs com
mander-in-chief Of the armies Of the
Union, calm and contidentas President
Of a reunited and strengthened nation,
which his genius had been instrument
tai in achieving, he has IL homage
and that Of the world: but brilliant as
was his public character, we love him
all the more for his homo life and
hOmely virtues. In his individuality, in
his bearing and speech. in his simple
ways, he had q havor of rare and unique
distinction, and his Am~ericanism was
SO true AMI uncompromising that his
name will stand for all time as tho en-
bodiment of liberty, loyalty and ma
tiOnal unity.
Victorious in the work which, under
divine providence, he was called upon
to do, clothed with almost limitlcss
power, he was yet one of the people
patient, patriotic and just. Success
did not disturb the balance Of his mind,
while fame vas ~powerless to swerve
him from the path of duty. Great as
he was in war, he loved peace and told
the world that honorable arbitration
of differences was the best hope Of
civilization.
with Washington and Lincoln,
Grant has an exalted place in history
and the affections OF the people. To
day his name is held in equal esteem
by those whom he led to victory and
by those who accepted his generous
terms OF peace. The veteran leaders
OF the blue and the gray here meet not
only to honor the name of the departed
Grant, but to testify to the living real.
ity of a fraternal national spirit, which
has triumphed over the differences OF
the past and transcribed the limita'
tions OF sectional lines. It's compile.
ton, which we pray God to speed, will
be the nations greatest glory.
1T is right then that General Grant
should have a memorial commensurate
With his greatness ana that his last
resting place should be the city Of his
choice, to which he was so attached in
life, and whose ties he was not forget
full Of even in death. Fitting, too, it is
that the great soldier should sleep be.
side the noble river OF whose banks he
first learned the al OF war, and OF
which he became master and leader
"lOtouU d twill
But let us not forget the glorious
distinction with which the m]etropoli.
among the fair sisterhood of Americas
cities has honored his life and memory
With all hat riches and sculpture can
do to render the edifice worthy of the
man, upon a site unsurpassed for mag.
n,ficence, has this monument been
reared by New York as a perpetual
record Of his illustrious deeds, 10 the
certainty that as time passes around il
Will assemble, with gratitude and rev.
erence and veneration, men OF al
cllmes, races and natiOnalitieS.
New York holds in its keeping the
precious lust Of the silent soldier; but
his achievements-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 for,
ever more"
The vast crowd listened with keer
attention tn the Presidents words and
at intervals broke into cheers wher
some incident in the dead soldiers
career was alluded to by the distin
guished speaker.
As the President concluded his ad
dress Col. Fred Grant advanced and
shook him warmly by tee hand. Al
the two men stood in the foreground
OF the wonderful picture the spectators
~applauded. 1.-The Star Spangled Ban.
noI' was played by the band, after
v ich General Horace Porter was in.
- yl,.noI L., a. Ai-