The Topeka state journal., 1899-10-07
STOPS AT PEORIA.
The President Speaks at the Unveil-
ing of a Monument

ing of a Monument
Peoria Ill, Oct. IA good part of the
population of Peoria, the second city of
Illinois, yesterday, took part in an
elaborate demonstration to welcome to
their city the president Of the United
States. The great event of the day was
the unveiling of a beautiful monument
erected by Peoria's citizens as a mem
oriaI to the soldiers of the rebellion,
living and dead. The monument is a tall
shaft of marble, ornamented at the base
with bronze groups commemorating
scenes of the civil war. 1t is erected on
an elevation in front of the court house
and by its base had been constructed
platform upon which the president and
the members of his party took seats to
review long procession of militia, veter-
ans of the war and returned volunteers
of the Spanish war. The concourSe of
people surrounding this platform and
packing every street in its vicinity was
by far the largest which has thus far
greeted the president on his western
tour. After his review of the parade
the president took his seat facing the
yelled monument, by the side of Martin
Kingman, chairman of the exercises
The monument was unveiled by Mrs.
S A. Kinsey, who has been chairman
of the monument committee since It's
inception in 1888. A great cheer burst
from the multitude as the folds of can
vas fell away from the shaft. Then
",
of Mr.. Kingman, and followed by the
cabinet officers, made tour of the open
space surrounding the monument, in
Specting the beauties carefully on all
sides. The sculptor OF the figures at
the base Mr.. Fritz Triebel, of Peoria,
also walkd by the side of the president
during this inspection. The formal ex-
ercises of dedication were then pro-
ceeded with.
An address was given by Mr.. King
man, followed by the president, who
dedicated the monument in a formal
address.
The president said:
F'Mr. President and Mayor, Ladies and
Gentlemen, My Fellow Citizens:
''I am glad with my fellow citizens
of Peoria county, the members of the
Grand Army of the Republic and the
ladies memorial association to stand
about this monument, dedicated to pa
triOtic service and heroic devotion in
as holy a cause as ever engaged man
kind. This monument aWakenS sacred
memories; that is its purpose. 1t was
erected by these patriotic women that
it might for all time perpetuate one of
the most glorious pages in American
history It tells the whole story of the
War-the siege, the march, the bivOuac,
the battle line, the sufferings, the sacri-
fees of the brave men, who from 81
to '65 upheld the flag (great applause.
1t tells every page of the history of
that civil struggle and its triumphant
consummation by Appomattox court
der from Lee and we were kept a ma
tion united again forever. I like this
monument / like this symbol that I
face today-the defense of the flag.
| (Cheers.) That is what we do when
ever and wherever that flag is as
sailed Capplause) and with US war al
ways sleeps when the assailants of our
| flag consent to Grants terms of uncOn-
| ditionaI surrender (great and continued
| applause). My fellow citizens, I do not
! intend to make a speech here today
/ (cries of Go on.D I could add nothing
| of a patriotic sentiment to that which
/ has already been uttered. But I de-
| sire to express in this presence my ap-
| probation, not of the tribute that was
| paid to the president of the United
| States, but the tribute which the peo-
| pie of Peoria city and Peoria county
| have paid to the brave defenders of the
American flag in time of our greatest
| peril. You are proud of the monument
You should be proud of the demonstra-
| ton today which led to its unveiling
! Six thousand children from the schools
! marching by with the flag of stars in
! their hands and the love of their coun-
| try n their hearts.