The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-01
DEAD NOT FORGOTTEN
MEMORIAL DAY GENERALLY OBJ
SERVED IN THE BIG CITIES.
Graves of Soldiers in All the Gene
teries Decorated with Flowers,
Wreaths and Flags.
MONUMENT 1T WEST POINT
DEDICATED BY GEN. ALGER, JUS
TICE BREWER AND OTHERS.
Exercises at Grants Tomb in River
side Park, and at Arlington, Where
$4,000 Brave Men Are Buried.

WEST POINT, N. Y, May 31-In the
presence of five thousand people, the secre-
taTy of war and many high officials of
the army, the battle monument erected by
their comrades in honor of the officers and
soldiers of the regular army who fell in
battle in the civil war; was dedicated to-
day. The showers of the night and the
early morning cleared away as the hour
for the ceremony approached, and the sun
was almost uncomfortably warm by the
time the exercises began. The construc-
ton of the monument has been in progress
for several years, but delays of various
kinds have interrupted it and held it back
The monument is probably one of the finest
or the kind in the world. 1t consists of a
great monolith of polished granite forty
SIX feet nigh and five and one-half feet in
diameter. Surmounting this shaft is a fig
ure of Fame" modelled by MacMonnies,
and when the height of the figure is added
to that of the shaft the head of Fame"
towers ninety feet in the air. Sculptor
MacMonnies first made a figure of Vic
tory, but when it was placed in position
IL was found to be out of all proportion
with the rest Of the monument; then, too,
there were other defects, which provoked
criticism, and the committee rejected the
noted sculptors work. Mr.. MacA1onnies
then set himself to modelling a figure of
'Fame,' at the same time correcting the
errors he had made in his first figure This
proved perfectly satisfactory. The ground
was broken for the monument as long ago
as 1864. The sum of $4,000 had been coll
lected and was in safe hands. The enter
prise was now neglected until the interest
on the $4,000 had increased that sum to
$to,QO0 and the active work began. Sew
eral accidents interfered with the progress
| monument toward
Everything conspired to-day to make the
dedication Of the monument an impressive
ana dlgnlned ceremony. Among those who
occupied seats on the speakers stand were
Secretary ,A5lger. General Merritt, General
tertleld, General Stanton, Paymaster Cen
eral Velie, General SaXton and General
James Longstreet The exercises opened
with an invocation by Chaplain Shipman,
which he prefaced with the recitation of
the Lords prayer those in the pavilion
Joining. Then followed the presentation of
the monument to the United States army
by Brigadier General John NJ. Wilson, chief
OF engineers, U. S. A.
GENERAL ALGER'S ADDRESS,
In accepting the monument, Secretary
of War Alger said, in behalf Of the United
States government:
| by the command of the President in
whose name L appear to-day, 1 accept for
the government of the United States this
| beautiful monument, erected to her hon
ored dead 1t will stand a lasting monu-
ment to those men who gave up their lives
to save this Nation from destruction, when
the question of its existence was given over
to the arbtrament of arms This is the
fttest spot in the land for it's abiding place
Here is the soldier school of the Republic
famed for its classic beauty and surround
ings, and sanctited by its association with
, the names of men of genius and Valor in
defense of the government which educated
them to the profession of arms, and whose
loyalty to the flag which here, in their
has brought impershable renown to the
country of their devotion. This, too, is the
dedication, for it is the day set apart by
the people and by law for popular tribute
to those, who, oil land and sea, offered
their lives as a willing sacrifice upon the
altar of loyalty and liberty.
'It will ever be gladly borne in mind
that this monument does not simply COM
memorate the names and fame of those
who wore the insignia of rank. 1t is quite
characteristic in the chivalrous men who
the humble but equally devoted and dar-
ing men who followed where they led. The
true soldier and officer never forgets what
he owes to the men he commands:
In the history OF all nj nations that t
and III strength has been achieved in war,
and the brightest of wars pages are il
Illuminated BY the deeds of knightly men in
the field. 1t can truthfully be said that
greater disaster cen come to a nation than
war, for life without honor is not worth
the living. The spotless integrity of the
academy in their official and daily lives. is
a guide for you, and wherever you may
men-the successors OF those whose names
must live immortal when succeeding gen
have their example for your beacon light
Go forward then, knowing that you have
the prayers and hopes of seventy millions
of people with you, and remember that
over you floats the proudest flag in the
world. This flag shall guard the life
at whatever cost Guard well, then, your
heritage and keep ever before you the
thought that patriotism is the highest I'M
| ,lCai in hn W
TT is the fond hope of the best minds
of every land, that the time may come
| forces in the field shall no longer be re-
quired, when all differences between ma
| tions shall be settled by benign influences
of mems best Judgment and that arbitra-
ton shall be substituted for artillery mus
kerry and the saber. Bqt whlIe .h;s man. man Is
nation so devoutly wished may become the
rule of the world, may not be realized
and it is therefore incumbent upon every
prudent people, at all times, to be pre-
| pared for any emergency, so that If war
should come they would be in readiness
ADDRESS BY JUSTICE BREWER.
David j. Brewer, associate justice of the
United States Supreme Court, then deliv-
cred an address, saying, in part:
1--WE stand to-day in the presence of a
stately column erected by the soldiers and
officers of the regular army of the United
States to commemorate the heroiSm and
sacrifice of those of their number who, dur
ing the civil war, gave their lives for their
| country, and in order thdt LIBERTY ana
| Union might remain one and inseparable
| now and forever 1t speaks of heroic
achievements. 1t is eloquent with the suf-
| fering and self denial and sacrifice which
the great war developed and ennobled. But
beyond all that, it bears two voices, which
/ fain would catch in the words of my
talk and speak to every citizen of the
! United States. 1t says to us that they
| whose names are written on its face gave
| UP their lives, not merely for military
| glory but also that war should cease and
| peace with all its blessings, prevail.
THE greatest need of praise which can
be bestowed upon the army of the United
States is that it makes certain TO every
! citizen the blessings of peace and order
| and law Doubtless, young gentlemen as
YOU look over the bright fields of the
future you see dazzling before you visions
of military glory. The pride pomp ana
| circumstance of glorious war are there
and the eagle and the stars wait to rest
on your shoulders but when the evening
of life shall come you will realize that the
highest praise which can be awarded to
YOU is that in your military life you have
been the defenders of law and the guard
ians Of peace; that you have stood back
of legislator and Judge and President and
been the unfailng guarantor that in peace
they shall act, and that by every citizen
their acts shall be respected and obeyed
Another voice which comes from this
silently eloquent witness says that these