Daily Kennebec journal., 1897-04-28

of the tomb. Among these was Mrs Nc
kinley. who was slightly indisposed,
Gen. Porter was followed by Mayor
Strong.
The Star Spangled Banner was then
played by the band. after which Gen.
Horace Porter was introduced by the
mayor. The orator of the day was ac-
corded a warm reception. More discreet
than the President Gen. Porter kept his
hat on while he was speaking. He read
his address from typewriter manu-
script.
General Porters Address.
1t is all like dream. One can scarce
ly realize the lapse of time and the mem
ora BILE events which have occurred 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 generation since
the legons of Americas manhood
poured down from the hilltopS, Surged
up from the valleys knelt upon their
native soil to swear eternal allegiance to
tho Union, and went forth to seal the
oath with their blood in marching under
the victorious banners of Ulysses >.
Grant Today countless numbers of his
contemporaries. their children and their
children's children gather about his
tomb to give permanent sepulture to his
ashes and to recall the record of his I'M
periShable deeds.
T 1t is peculiarly fitting that this memo
rial should be dedicated in the presence
of the distinguished soldier who marched
in the victorious columns of his Illus
trious chief, and who now so Worthily
occupies the chair of state in which he
sat. There is a source of extreme graf
ification and profound significance IN
the fact that there are in attendance
here not only the soldiers who fought
under the renowned defender of the
Union cause, but the leaders of armies
who fought against him, all uniting in
testifying to the esteem and respect
which he commanded from friend and
foe alike.
This grateful duty which we discharge
this day is not unmiXed with sadness. for
the occasion brings wildly to mind the
fatal day on which his generous heart
ceased to beat and recalls the grief
which fell upon the American people
with a sense of pain which was akin to
the sorrow of a personal bereavement,
and yet il is not an occasion for tears;
not q time to chant requiems or display
the sable draperies of public mourning.
He who lies within the portals OF yonder
tomb is not a dead memory; he is living
reality. He has been consigned to the
chamber of death, but not to the realms
of forgetfulnesS. Our grief is caI1ned Dy
the recollection of the blessings his lie
conferred and the fame he has left to the
custody of his fellow-citzens. We con-
sccrate this day to a tribune to the mem
DRY of the departed worth The story
of his life is the history of the most
eventful epoch in his countrys annals.
| Upon an occasion such as this it would
seem more fitting to stand silent by the
tomb and let history alone speak, but IL
| has been deemed proper that living wit
nesSes 10 his virtues should pay the
grateful tribute of their testimony. The
allotment of time permits only brief
| allusion to the achievements of his mar
vellous career.
! Ulysses S. Grant sprang from the
| loins of the American people and derived
| his patent of nobility direct from God.
| He possessed an abiding confidence in
| the honesty and intelligence OF his fell
| ow-countrymcn. and always retained
| his deep hold upon their affections. Even
! when clothed with the robes of the mas
| ter. he forgot not that he was still the
| servant of the people. In every great
| crisis he was content to leave the eff
| forts to his countrymen and the results
/ to God.
! As commander of men in the field he
| manifested the highest characteristics OF
| a soldier. as evinced in every battle in
| which he was engaged from Palo Alto &c
| AppomattoX. He was bold in conception
| fixed in purpose and vigorous in eXecu-
! tion. He never allowed himself to be
| thrown on the defensive, but always
! aimed to take the initiative in battle
| He made armies, not cities the objective
|
/ which would have deferred another
seemed only to inspire him with create.
confidence and his soldiers soon learned
to reflect much of his determination
His motto was. when in doubt move tC
the front" His sword always pointed
the way to an advance: its hilt was new.
er presented to an enemy. He once
wrote in a letter to his father. Il never
expect to have an army whipped. unless
1t is badly whipped. and can't help it.
I a1,,r-td fttttt .t
which enabled him to endure every form
of fatigue and privation incident to mill
tary service in the field. His unassum
ing manner, purity of character and alb
solute loyalty inspired loyalty in others
confidence in his methods and gained
him the devotion of the humblest of hi.
subortlinates. He exhibited a rapidity %
thought and action on the field which en-
abled him to move with promptnes:
rarely never equalled, and which never
failed to astonish and often to battle ths
efforts of less vigorous opponent.
A story of his martial SEsds inspires us
with the grandeur of Ills and tho
majesty of achevemerIs5Afe did no
fight for glory, but for na.s 3al eXistenc,
and the equality and rights9pf men. Hi.
sole ambition was his coukfy's prosper
ity. His victories failed rb elate him
In the depatches which reported his
triumphs there was no word of arrogance
no cxaggeration. no aim at dramatic eff
= -@fect. With all his self reliance he wa.
! never betrayed into immodesty of ex
preston. He never underra ted himSel
in n battle, he never overrated himsel
in a report He could not only command
armies, he could command himself In
exorable as he was in battle. war nevel
hardened his heart or weakened tn,
strength of his natural affections II,
retained q singular sensitive nature :
rare tenderness of feeling shrank from
the sight of blood and was painfully
alive to every form of human suffering
? While his career as a soldier eclipset
! by its briliiancy. his achievements as ;
statesmen. yet when we sum up tn