Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1897-04-29
Dedication of Gen. Grants Tomb.
Absolutely Pure .

New York, April 27.-Never but once
in the history of the world and never be-
fore in the history Of the United States,
has such tribute been paid to the
noble dead as when today, with won
drous pageant by land and sea, the
Nation dedicated the tomb that now
holds the body of the hero, Ulysses s.
Grant.
1t was an occasion more of triumphant
eulogy and National pride than of fun.
eral rite, for in these twelve years since
first the Nation mourned for Grant the
keenness of grief has worn off and there
lives in the hearts of men the hero wor-
ship which found such tumultuous vent
today.
The greatest of our citizens. our SOL
diers 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, or prejudice, the last
and long delayed honor Of the living to
the dead, while the greatest throng that
ever filed the city of New York added
it's surging pean to the roar of belching
guns and the tramp of marching SOL
diers.
And in that throng there was no north
and no south, for, since the soldier-pre
dent had said "Let us have peace" the
gray had blended with the blue.
Before President Mckinley and party
left the city to take part in the dedica-
ton ceremonies, the flag decked streets
were black with people who cheered
vociferously as the great men drove by.
When the tomb was reached strange
sight met the Sye. All around the oval
in the center of which stood the gray
monument Of Grant, were what seemed
to black hillocks. This sombre back.
ground was formed by the thousands Of
spectators who filed the stands, built
up from the ground on both sides OF the
tomb to the level of the steps that lead
10 Tic LldbSlVe uOOTb.
To the south, where the loop around
the oval meets the Riverside drive
there were two solid lines Of humanity.
On all four sides of the monument oval
the stands were packed to overfowing,
while facing these crowds was the great
mass of eager sightsee who had not
been officially provided for.
The solemn service of dedication seem
ed to throw a strange hush over the
vast throng. President Mckinley stood,
bareheaded, in the window. When he
spoke, he was heard Distinctly by the
5000 persons why stood directly in front
of him.
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. 1t was their
presence rather than their words that
lent solemnity to the occasion,
And when it was all over, when Mayor
Strong had formally accepted from the
Nation the trust OF the tomb, and when
the president and his party disappeared
in the luncheon tent, sigh of relief
went up from the crowd, for at last the
hero lay in the tomb BETTING his re-
nown and fittingly dedicated by CRATE
full Nation.
The parade was waited for after the
conclusion OF the ceremonies. The sky
became overcast with clounds and the
wind increased until it almost howled
around the trees. The waters of the
Hudson reflected the ashen hue of the
sky and the great white ships that
hoated on its bosom stood in almost
ominous relief. The dusty road bed of
the drive was whipped up until black
coats became brown and spectators for
sock their unsheltered seats for the pro-
lection Of the tomb pillars
Then, suddenly, in the cloud OF dust
from the south, between the two black
lines Of people which seemed to meet in
the prospective, came the nodding
plumes of soldiers. On they marched,
anyendless line of white and red and blue
and gray. First passing on the west
side Of the monument oval and return