Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-04-29
ABILENE WEEKLY REFLECTOR ABILENE KANSAS APRIL % sg-TWE PAGES

integrity Of lie and guaranty OF good citizen
ship Faithful and fearless rs volunteer SOL
der, intrepid and inylncible as commander
in-chIef Of the armies Of the union. calm and con-
fdent o. president Of reunited and strength
ened nation which his genius had been instru-
mental In achieving he has our homage
and that u the world but brilliant IS was
his public character, we love him oil the
more for his home life anc homely virtues.
His individuality, his bearing and speech, his
simple ways had favor Of rare and unique
distraction and his Ameficanism was 20 true
and uncompromsing that his name will stand
for ell time o. the embodiment Of liberty. 10y
atty and national unity Victorious In the
work which under Divine Providence he was
called upon to do, clothed with almost llmitless
power, he was yet one Of the people; patient,
patriotic and Just Success did not disturb the
even balance Of his mind, while fame was pow
erleM to swerve him from the path Of duty As
great Is he was In war. he loved peace and told
the world that honorable arbitration Of differ
ences 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 memory 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 10 testify TO the liv-
reality Of a fraternnl national spirit which has
triumphed over the differences Of the past and
| transcends the limitations OF sectional lines.
It's completion. which we pray God to speed,
will be the nations greatest glory. 1t Is
right, then that Gen. Grant should have
q 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 forgetful
even In death. Fitting, too is II that the great
soldier should sleep beside the noble river on
whose banks he first learned the art Of war,
and Of which he became o master and leader
without rival.
But let US not forget the gl0rous distinction
with which the metropolis among the fair sis
terhOod Of American cities has hOnored his life
and memory. With oil that riches and sculpt-
ure can do TO render the edifce worthy OF the
man, upon site unsurpassed for magnihcence,
has this monument been reared by New York
us perpetual record Of his illustrious deeds In
the certainty that as time passes around IL will
assemble with gratitude md reverence and VEN
GRAFTON men of oil clmes, races and rationale
ties, New York holds in It's keeping the
precious dust Of tine silent soldier, but his
achievements, what he and his brave comrades
wrought for mankind, are In the keeping OF TO-
&c., 00) American citizens, who will guard the
sacred heritage forever and forever
Mr.. McKinley's address was followed
by those OF Gen. Porter and Mayor
Strong. Almost every reference to
Grant in all the speeches was wildly
cheered.
The land parade was waited for after
the conclusion of the ceremonies. The
sky became overcast with clouds and
the wind increased until 1t almost
howled around the trees. Suddenly
in the cloud Of dust from the south,
between the two black lines Of people,
who seemed to meet in the perspective,
came the nodding plumes of the SOL
diers. On. they marched, an endless
line Of white and red and blue and
gray. First passing on the west side
of the monument oval and returning
on the north road under the monu-
mental arch, they passed the president
in review, and then back again into
the black background of humanity and
the white clouds of dust. Surrounded
by his cabinet, his generals and his
friends, President Mckinley stood and
reviewed the grandest military pageant
ever seen in this city. There were reg
ular soldiers, regular sailors, national
guardsmen Of the sea and land forces,
Grand Army veterans, confederate vet
Grams and the striplings who, in the
future, may fight as gallantly as their
fathers did.
As five o'clock, the hour at which
President Mckinley was to go on board
the Dolphin, approached, the crowd on
the pier where he was to embark grew
larger and larger until several thou. |
sand had assembled. They greeted
the president and his party with a
cheer which was re-echoed from hun
dreds Of steamers which, having come
up the river in the naval parade, had
taken positions in rather inconvenient
proximity to the Dolphin. The presi-
dent set foot on the deck of the Dol
phin, the presidential salute Of 81 guns
was fred, and the fleet Of steamers
blew whistles until the sound of the
firing was scarcely audible President
Mckinley was met on board by Rich
ardson Clover, commanding officer Of
the Dolphin, and was introduced by
him to Rear Admiral Francis M. Bunce,
commanding the naval division.
At $3.50 the Dolphin started down the
river, followed by the immense feet Of
steamers, which had awaited the ar
rival Of the president The New York
was the first vessel passed by the Dol
phin and President Mckinley dotted
his silk hat and bowed us the first gun
OF her salute doomed across the waters.
Next came the Indiana and then the !
guns of the British cruiser Talbot well
coined the president. The Texas was
the next to greet him, and the two
Spanish ships, the Marie Teresa and
the lnfanta Isabella, the French cor.
vette Fulton, the Italian cruiser Do
gall, and the Raleigh, Columbia, Am
phitrite and Terror Of the White
Squadron saluted in quick succession
as the Dolphin steamed by.
The Dolphin came to anchor oppo- |
site West Fifty-Second street, having
been preceded down the river by the
torpedo boat Porter. The president
stepped into the launch, and as she
steamed away for the Fifty-Second
street pier, the Dolphin's gun doomed
farewell salute and her sailors and
n, IN ri NOS mammal tha roi1e