The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-04-27
Observation-Disclosures SPEECH
He Expresses Beautiful and impress
sive Sentiments Regarding Gen.
Grant.

New York. April l27.-At the memorial
services today President Mckinley
spoke as follows
Fellow Citizens A great life, dedi-
Gated to the welfare of the nation here
finds its early coronation. Even if this
day lacked the impressiVeness of cere-
mony and was devoid of pageantry, it
would still be memOra bic because it is
the anniversary of the birth of one of
the most famous and best beloved of
American soldiers.
Architecture has paid high tribute to
the leaders of mankind, but never was
a memorial more wOrthily bestowed
or more gratefully accepted by a free
people than the beautiful structure be-
fore which We are gathered.
In marking the successful completion
Of this work, we have as witnesses and
participants, representatives of all
branches of our government, the resi-
dent officials of foreign nations, the
governors of states and the sovereign
people from every section of our COM
mon cOuntr-- who Joined in this august
tribute to soldier, patriot and citizen.
Almost II years have passed since
/ the heroic vigil ended and the brave
spirit of Ulysses S. Grant fearlessly
took its fight. Lincoln and Stanton had
preceded him, but of the mighty cap
tains of the war, Grant was the first to
be called. Sherman and Sheridan sur
vived him but have since Joined him
on the other shore.
The great heroes of the civil strife on
land and sea are for the most part now
no more. Thomas and Hancock, Lo-
gan and Mcpherson. Farragut. Dupont
and Porter and a host of others have
passed forever from human sight.
Those remaining grow dearer to US
and from them and the memory of
those who have departed genera lions
yet unborn will draw their inspiration
and gather strength for patriotic pur-
pOse-a great life never dies. Great
deeds are imperisha BILE: great names
| immortal. Gen. Grants services and
character will continue undiminished
in influence and advance in the estima-
/ ton of mankind so long as liberty re
mains the cornerstone of free govern
! ment and integrity of life the guaranty
of good citizenship.
Faithful and fearless as a volunteer
soldier, intrepid and invincible as com
mander-in-chief of the armies of the
Union, calm and confident as president
of reunited and strengthened nation
which his genius had been instrumental
in achieving. 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 homelv
virtues, his individuality, his bear
ing 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 embodiment
| of liberty, loyalty and national unity.
Victorious in the work which under
| Divine Providence he was called upon
| to do, clothed with almost Hmitiess
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 pOWerless to
| sWerVe him from the path of duty.
! Great as he was in war, he loved peace,
and told the world that hOnOrabI arbi-
trattOn 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. Today his memory is held in
/ he lad fn
| victory and by those who accepted his
/ generous terms of peace. The veteran
/ leaders of the blue and the gray here
| meet not only in honor of the name of
/ the departed Grant, but to testify to
| the living reality of a fraternal national
/ spirit which has triumphed over the
| differences of the past and transcend
| ed 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 General Grant
| should have a 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 for
| getful even in death. Fitting too is it
| that the great soldier should sleep be-
/ side the native river on whose banks
! he first learned the art of war and OF
| which he became master and leader
/ without a rival.
But let US not forget the glorious dis
tinction with which the metropolis
| among the fair sisterhood of American
| cities has hOnored his life and memory
With all that riches and sculpture car
do to render the edifce worthy of the
man, upon a site unsurpassed for mag
! nificence, has this monument beer
I reared by New York as a perpetual rec
ord of his 1luStr1OuS deeds in the GER
] tainty that as time passes around Il
i will assemble with gratitude and reyer.