The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-06-01

Wilson, chief of engineers. Gen. Will
son gave history Of the monument
project and alluded to the many dis
tinguished soldiers who had contribut-
ed to the fund. Gen. Schoield respond
ed. and in the name of the donors,
presented the monument to the army
Of the United States. The trust was
accepted by Secretary Alger, who said:
by command of the president, in whose
name l appear today, l accept, for the
government Of the United States this beau
tlrul monument, erected to her honored dead.
1t will stand a lasting monument to those
men VINO gave UP their lives to save this
patlon from destruction when the question OF
us existence was given over to the arbitra-
ment OF arms. This is the fitting spot IN the
land for its abiding place. Here is the SOL
dier school of the republic, famed for the
cassie beauty OF its surroundings, and sane
tined with its association with the name Of
men whose genius and valor in defense of the
government which educated them to the pro-
ress1on OF arms, and whose loyalty to the flag
which here, in their early manhood, they were
taught to love, has brought imperishable re-
nown to the country Of their devotion. This,
too, is the fittest day of all the year for It's
dedication and unwilling. for 1t is the day set
apart by the people and by law for popular
tribute to those who on land and sea. offered
their lives a willing sacrifice upon the altar
OF American honor and liberty.
After the singing of 1.-THE Star
Spangled Banner" Justice Brewer, of
livered the address Of the day. He
said:
The greatest NEED of praise which can be
bestowed upon the army of the United States
Is that 1t makes certain to every citizen the
blessing Of peace and order and law. Doubt
less young gentlemen, as you look over the
bright fields of the future, you see dazzling
before you visions Of military glory: the
pride. pomp and circumstance Of glorious
war; is there, and the eagle and the stars
wait to rest on your shoulders; but when the
evening of life shall you will realize
that the highest praise which can be awarded
to you is that in your military lives you
have been the defenders of law and guardians
Of peace; that you have stood back Of legls-
iator and judge and president and been
the unfailing guarantor that in peace they
shall act, and that by every citizen their
acts shall be respected and obeyed.
Another voice which comes from this ST.
lently eloquent witness says that these men
died that there might be preserved in our
borders equal opportunities for ALL The doc
tr1ne of equal rights and equal opportunities
which has always been the theory OF our
political and social institutions, is, notwith-
standing some idle talk, still ever, the
great fact of our life. The humblest child
may look upon the White house with expec-
tation. The poorest and most friendless stu
dent may begin with faith and hope his
struggle for a seat the highest bench
OF the nation. place in the halls of con-
gress is not thing Of purchase or inheritance,
and the few exceptions which occur only
attest the fact as well as the strength
and vigor of the rule. This is today, and
God grant that it may ever remain, a land Of
equal rights and equal opportunities. 1t is
fitting that this memorial to the officers and
soldiers Of the regular army who died In the
recent war should be here, for this is the
military center OF the nation, the great
school of those who are to be the officers
and commanders, and 1t is well that the
lessons Of those patriotic and heroic lives
should ever be present before the young,
who shall come to prepare themselves to take
the places they filed and glorified. 1t was
fitting also that this work should have been
undertaken and carried through by the sur
viving officers and soldiers of the army, for
it is your comrades memory that is thus
preserved.