The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-23
THE GOVERNORS ADDRESS.
MIR. Tanner Accepts the Statue in He
half of the State.

Governor John R. Tanner, in a short
speech, accepted the monument on behalf
of Illinois, saying in part
Most gladly do l. as the humble repre-
sentative OF this Commonwealth, accept
in behalf of the people, this monument to
the memory of one of Illinois most beloved
ana gifted sons. And, in accepting this
memorial for the great State which Logan
so truly loved and so long served, l shall
make my few words accord, so far l can,
with the historical lessons which the life
ana career of John A. Logan so pointedly
teach to the rising generation of America.
Il snail not try to glorify or to further eX-
ait the name OF Logan. That he has done
LOT hl1nSen beyond any mans power to
add or to detract. By word and by deed
by character and by courage, by untiring
deVouon ana supreme service to his fellow
cAlZenS, Logan placed his name upon the
brightest and best pages of American his
tory. Generations yet unborn, with full
hearts and tear-dimmed eyes, will read that
splendid story of PATRIOTISM devotion and
courage, and those who prone to de-
SPAR of the cause of liberty and good gov
eminent will here take heart and learn a
higher faith in the goodness and wisdom of
mankind.
1T is said that the greatest statues re-
qulre the least drapery, and certainly the
great characters of history can gain very
little from words and phrases of mere eu-
logy. A great fame which rests upon SUI
preme ACHIEVEMENTS for mankind and
which take hold firmly upon the hearts
and souls of men ask nothing from the tin
sci of mere speech. That thing called no.
toriety often owes it's existence TO what
is written and said, but fame-real fame
has its enduring foundation upon that
1T is the deed of the hero which praises
him. Men of vanity and self-importance
often Wrangle desperately for a little stand
ing room in the dim vale of historical OBJ
livion but Logan was content to do the
simple and unconscious duty of the hour,
and, with a serene confidence he left to his
country and to time the keeping Of his
matchleSS fame. He rested his cause upon
the good opinion of his fellowmen, and this
mo A0f S11Fr dnA hats 9xr
by an immense Outpouring of the men and
women who love and honor his memory,
is ample proof that he did not trust his fell
lOw-citiZens in vain.
AT the day of his death Logan possessed
i'll the United States the largest and most
devoted personal following that any man
has had since Lincoln and Grant passed
from mortal view; and now, more than ten
years after this man was followed to the
tomb by mourning nation, the people
have built and dedicated to his memory this
magnificent memorial. Why has this been
done? Why is the name OF Logan reVered
by the American people? Not aimleSSly
have our citizens given their substance for
this purpose and not without adequate rea-
sons have they left their various callings
and gathered about this shrine to give eX-
preston to their faith and their gratitude.
1t is because there is a lesson in this he
role life and in this exalted career. 1t is
what this man diG and what he was and
what he stands for in American history
which is thus typfied and embalmed in
bronze, rather than the mere personal out
lines of a form now passed away.
Il will tell you briefly, felow-citizens,
what L think this occasion and this demon
Stration really means. They mean that
John A. Logan is, in the public mind the
very embodiment of the militant patriotism
of the United States; that he is, and will
ever be, to the people the greatest of the
volunteers in the cause of nationality and
liberty, the pre-eminent cttizen-Soldier, the
representative, above all others, of the vol
unteers who fought and conquered IN the
ranks for the Union cause.
Not trained and educated to fight bat
ties, not a warrior by occupation, but rath-
er by nature and surroundings a man of
gentleness and peace, he sprang with the
quick instincts of a patriot to the defense
of his country III a supreme crisis, and,
seizing the trailing banner of the Republic,
bore it onward to victory and glory. Lo-
gan represents pre-eminently the military
power which resides in the people He rep
resents that safeguard of popular govern
mentS which was found during the rebel
lion in the sturdy courage and patriotism
of the ctizen-soidier of the United States.
l do not say that Logan represents no 9TH
er thing and no other idea, but l do say
that he furnishes the most distinguished
example of d citiZen-sodier to be found in
the history of this world.
when Logan came to the aid of the
Union he brought with him all the hosts
of this State, who fingered in the border
land of doubt and dstrust. His call was
like the slogan of ROderick Dhu, and in
it was the contagion which brought the
great uprising for the Union throughout H.
linois. Doubt fled and duty to country
arose supreme, as the Black Eagle of Hi
nois armed and mounted for the fray,
dashed to the front and called to his be-
wildered and doubling countrymen to fol-
low.
Time would fail me to speak of the
splendid career of General Logan in civil
life AS a statesman he was wise courage
Gus and incorruptble, but even these quail
tiles did not protect him from bitter calum-
nv Often aSsailed as though he had
been criminal by d portion of the
venal and venomous press of his own city,
because it could not control and swn him,
he demonstrated to the world that he could
not be driven and that he could not be
bullied, and he further demonstrated that
he who fearlessly does his duty will have
at least the support of good and thoughtful