The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1897-05-01
AT THE TOMB OF GRANT
DEDICATION or THE LAST RESTING
PLACE or THE GENERAL.
President, Cabinet, Foreign Diplo-
matinta and Catisena Of An walks
Of Life Present.


New York, April SS-Never before in
the history of the United States. has
such a Istbute been paid to the noble
dead a. when. with the wondrous pageant
by land and sea, the nation dedicated
the tomb that now holds the body OF
Ulysses s. Grant. II was an occasion
more OF triumph. eulogy and national
pride than CT a funeral rite. for In those
II years since first the nation mOurned
for Grant. the keenness OF grief has worn
on and there lives in the hearts Of men
the hero worship which found such tu-
multuors vent today.
The greatest OF our citizens our sol
dieFs and our sailors 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 and long delayed honor of the living
to the dead. while the greatest throng
that ever filled the city of New York
added It's surging peans to the roar OF
the belching guns and the tramp of mar
ching soldiers. And in that throng there
was no north and no south. for siuce the
soldier president had said: Let US have
peace" the gray had blended with the
blue.
When the tomb was reached a strangc
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 hIllocks. 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
viii 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
ana fearless as volunteer soldier, in
trepid and invineible as COMMANDMENT
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 aehiev-
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
dtviduality, his bearing and speech: his
simple ways had a favor 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 Porter's grafton in honor of
the hero seemed to impress the crowd
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 ATmV VofaFanz
Grams. and the striplings who in the flu
ture may fight as calamity as their faith
ers did.
With General Dodge and his stan rode
Chief Joseph, the Nez Perez Indian, and
Buffalo Bill
According to careful estimates made
some time after the parade had started
Tor review there were between $500 ana
5000 men in line. OF this aggregate the
United States regular and naval forces
numbered 400; National guard of New
York, 13.eOo. and National guards of other
states. 1850. The G. A. r. veterans in
line were computed at 1000.
When the cheering was at its Ioudest
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 presidents
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 4
family. The bronze doors were 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.
Inc foreign men OF war in the process
sion were: English warshfp Talbot.
French corvette Fulton. Italian cruiser
logan, Spanish cruiser Infanta Isabella,
Spanish cruiser Maria Teresa.