The Ravalli Republican. [volume] (Stevensville, Mont.) 1894-1899, 1897-05-05
GRANT THE HERO
His Remains Lie in the Grand
Mausoleum.
The President, Cabinet, and Other
Notables Present litary
and Naval Display.

OliCt Ill lllC lllSCpiN Sl Vic NOJlu anu
never before in the history Of the
United States has such a tribute been
paid to the noble dead as when, to-
day, in Il wondrous pageant by land
and sea, the nation dedicated the
tomb that now holds the body Of
Ulysses S. Grant.
ItW;,s an occasion more Of triumph
ant eulogy and national pride than Of
a funeral rite, fo,, ia these y years
since first the nation .mourncd for
Grant, the kccnoss OF grief. has worn
off and there lives in the hearts Of
men : ,the hero worship which has
found such tumu(tuous vent today.
| The greatest Of oNz citizens, our sol
licrs and our sailors today stood side
by side with men OF fame Of almost
every nation Of the earth and paid.
without regard to race or creed or
party prejudice, the last ny-de]aycd
honor of the living to the dead,
while the greatest throng that ever
Hllcl t;lc city:oc New York added its
surgny pacns to the roar Of bclchlng
guns and the tramp Of marching sol
diers. And in that tllrong there was
no North and no South, for since the
soldier president said: 'Lct us have
peace" the gray had blended with
the blue.
Before the presidential pa'Jy left
city to take part in the dedication
ceremonies the flag ~drckcd streets
were black with people who chccrcd
yocjfcrously as the great men drove
BY When the tomb was reached a
strange sight met the eye, All
around the oval, in the center Of
which stood the gray monument to
Grant, were what seemed to be black
hllocks This sombcr background
was formed b. thousands of spccta-
tors who filled the stands built up
from the ground on both sides OF the
tomb to the level Of the steps that
lead to it's massive doors. 10 the
south, where the loop around the
oval met the Riverside drive, there
were two solid lines Of humanity. On
all four sides of the oval the stands
were packed to overlooking, while
facing these crowds was the grcao
mass of eager sightseers who had not
been officially provided for. The
solemn service Of dedication seemed
to throw q strange hush over this
vast throng.
The president stood bareneaJcd in
the wind. When he spoke he was
heard distinctly by the 5000 persons
who stood in the circle in front OF
him. General po:tcr's Grafton in
honor of the hero seemed to impress
the crowd less than the Sight Of the
palc~faccd, barchcadcd prcsidcn.
standing beside the widow Of the
dead general, cX-Prcsidcnt Cleveland
and the gray haired statesmen and
soldiers. 1t was their presence
rather than their words that lent
soellnity to tic occasion. And when
it was all over and Mayor Strong had
formally accepted from the nation
the trust OF the tomb, and when thr
president and his party disappeared
in the luncheon, a sigh Of relief went
up from the crowd. for at last the
hero lay in a tomb bc1itting such re
noWn and fittingly dedicated by {
grateful nation.
The land parade was waited fol
aftc; >tle .concllt;ipn Of the ccrc'
monies. The sky became overcast
with clouds and the wind increased
until it almost .hcWlcd around tho
trees. The waters OF the lIudsol
reflected the ashcu hue OF the sky
and the great white ships that float
ed on is bosom stood in almost
ominous relief. The dusty road bed
Of the drive was whipped up unit
black coats became brown, and The
spectators fOrSOOk their unShcltcrct
seats for the protection Of the toni
pillars. Then, suddenly in the cIolt
Of dust from the south, from between
black lines Of people who met in tslt
perspective, came the nodding plume:
Of the soldiers. On they marched
an endless line Of white and red ant
blue and gray. First passing on th'
west side Of the monument oval an(
, returning on the north road undci
:, the monumental arch, they passct
). there in review, and then back agaiL
into the black background Of human
itv and the White clouds Of dust.
Surrounded by his cabinet, hi:
generals and his friends, Prcsidcn
Mckinley stood and reviewed TIN
grandcst military pageant ever seen
in this city. There were regular sol
, dicrs, regular sailors, national guards
, men Of the sea and land forces, Crane
Army veterans, confederate Vcter
aus and the striplings, who, in tilt
| future, may fight as gallantly as die
| their fathers.
When the cheering was at its loud
est and when the wind had some
, what died away, touching scene
r was rc-cnactcd which was seen b,
few. Silently Mrs. Grant stole away
from the presidents reviewing stand
where she had been Watching th(
gallant troops 60 by, and, leaning OF
the arm Of her, son, Colonel Grant
made her way to the tomb, followed
/ only by the members Of the Gran
tt family. The bronze doors Of tht
!. tomb were opened and the widow o
the here passed from the noise Of the
: outside world into the quiet Of 1hE
, tomb. For about ten minutes sl'
: STAYED there and then, with her lac'
: hidden in d. her hands, she left tn
scene.
Soon after this President Mckin
c ley went on board the Dolphin annie
: the booming Of guns and reviewed