The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1897-05-01
AT THE TOMB OF GRANT
DEDICATION OF THE LAST RESTING
PLACE OF THE GENERAL.
President. Cabinet, Foreign DipIO-
Inatists and Citizens of All walks
of Life Present.

New York, April 2S.-Never before in
the history of the United States, mas
such a tribute been paid to the nople
dead as when, with the wondrous pageant
nv land and sea, the nation uedlcateu
the tomb that now holds the bouy Oh
ulysses s. Grant. 1t was an occasion
more Of triumph, eulogy ana national
nride than of a funeral rite, for in those
~ years since first the nation mourneu
for Grant. the keenness of grief has worn
off and there lives in the hearts OF men
the hero worship which found such tu-
multuous vent today.
The greatest of our citizens, our Sol
diers and our sailors stood side by side
with men of fame of almost every natlon
of the earth and paid without regard TO
race or creed, or party prejudice, the
last and long delayed honor of the living
to the dead while the greatest throns
that ever filled the city of New YORK
added it's surging peans to the roar OF
the belching guns and the tramp Oh mar
ching soldiers. And in that thronS there
was no north and no south, for since the
soldier president had said: Let us nave
peace." the gray had blended with the
blue.
When the tomb was reached a strange
sight met the eye. All around the oval
in the center of which stood the monu-
ment to Grant, were what seemed to be
black hlllocks. This somber background
was formed by thousands of spectators
who filled the stands, built up from the
ground on both sides of the tomb to the
level of the steps that lead to its massive
doors.
president Mckinley stood bareheaded
in the wind speaking to the thousands
who stood in the circle in front of him:
General Grants services and character
will continue undiminished and advance
in the estimation of mankind so long as
liberty remains the cornerstone of free
government and integrity of life the
guaranty of good citizenship. Faithful
and fearless as a volunteer soldier, in
trepid and invncible as COMMANDMENTS
chief of the armies of the union, calm
and confident as president of the reunited
and strengthened nation, which his
genius had been Instrumental in achiev-
ing, he has our homage and that of the
world; but brilliant as was his public
character we love him all the more for
his home life and homely virtues, his in
dividuality, his bearing and speech; his
simple ways had a flavor of rare and
unique distinction, and his Americanism
was so true and uncompromising that his
name will stand for all time as the en-
bodiment of liberty, loyalty and national
unity" These words give the keynote of
the presidents address.
General Porters grafton in honor of
the nero seemed 10 impress the CIOWu
less than the sight of the pale-faced,
bareheaded president standing beside the
widow of the dead general, ex-President
Cleveland and the gray-haired statesmen
and soldiers.
Surrounded by his cabinet, his generals
and his friends. President Mckinley stood
and reviewed the grandest military pa
geant ever seen in this city. There were
regular soldiers, regular sailors, national
guardsmen of the sea and land forces,
Grand Army veterans, Confederate vet
Grams. and the striplings who in the flu
ture may fight as CALAMITY as their faith
ers did.
With General Dodge and his staff rode
Chief Joseph, the Nez Perez Indian and
Buffalo Bill.
According to careful estimates made
some time after the parade had started
for review there were between $4,000 ana
$4,000 men in line. OF this aggregate the
United States regular and naval forces
numbered 1000; National guard of New
York, 13,000 and National guards of other
states, y $50. The c.. A. r. veterans in
line were computed at 10000
When the cheering was at it's loudest
and when the wind had somewhat died
away, a touching scene was enacted
which was seen by few. Silently Mrs.
Grant stole away from the president 5
reviewing stand, where she had been
watching the gallant troops go by. and
leaning on the arm of her son, Colonel
Grant, made her way to the tomb. fol-
lowed only by the members of the Grant
family The bronze doors We're opened
and the widow of the hero passed from
the noise of the outside world to the quiet
of the tomb. For 10 minutes she stayed
there. and then with her face hidden in
her hands she left the scene.
Soon after this President Mckinley
went aboard the Dolphin amid the boom
ing of guns, and reviewed the great war
ships that lay In the shadow of the tomb
The foreign men of war in the process
sion We're; English warship Talbot
French corvette Fulton, Italian cruiser
Dogali. Spanish cruiser Infanta Isabella
Spanish cruiser Maria Teresa.