The Topeka state journal., 1899-05-03
1T STANDS FOR BOTH.
Kentucky Dedicates a Monument to
the Blue and the Gray.


Chattanooga, Tenn, May 3-The
beautiful granite monument erected by
the state of Kentucky in Chickamauga
Park was dedicated this afternoon with
imposing ceremonies. AT noon Gov
Bradley, his staff and other prominent
kentuckianS left the city for the park.
Major Thomas II. Hayes of the Ken
lucky commission in an eloquent ad-
dress then formally rendered the monu-
ment to Gov. Bradley.
Governor Bradley said in part:
Many monuments have been erected
upon battlefieldS of this republic but
first Of all the states, with tender and
motherly devotion, to erect blended
monument to all her sons; a monument
that carries with it and upon it COM
plete reconciliation of all contending
passions.
This shaft is dedicated, not alone to
those who died on this and surrounding
fields, but to the gallant survivors who,
when the frOwning clouds of war were
dispelled by the bright sunshine of
peace, returned to their homes to re-
pair broken fortunes, and are today
numbered among the best and most
distinguished sons of the common
wealth.
Kentucky has evinced no partialfty
in this evidence of loving remembrance.
1t carries with it no heart burning, no
jealousy, no invidiOus distinction. 1t is
not an emblem of honor to the victor
and reproach to the vanquished-but an
future the descendants of chivalrous
Confederates may proudly gaze upon it,
realizing that the state has honored
their ancestors, and that, although their
cause was lost. their herOism is revered
and their memories perpetuated. And
the sons of the brave men who fought
on the other side may look upon it with
equal pride, feeling that it fifty COM
memorateS the gallant deeds of their
illustriOus ancestors, who preserved the
nation from destruction. May it en-
dure forever, standing guard over vic
tor and vanquished, with the statue
that SurmOunts it, in one hand holding
the torch of liberty shedding abroad it's
benign rays; in the other grasping the
sword, emblematic of the strength of
one people, ready and anxious at all
times to uphold the integrity of one
country, and to drive, wounded and
bleeding, from its shores any insolent
foe that shall ever dare to invade them.
"And now, after the mists of
prejudice have been torn from our
eyes, and we are enabled to see the
bright stars of truth and reason which
shine beyond, all can plainly divine
the sentiments which inspired the ac-
tors in that bloody drama.
THAT the union should have been
preserved and slavery abolished all are
ready to cOncede. That the victOrS won
an honorable fight no one will dispute.
But while this is so manifest, it is
equally true that those who were for
tunate1y defeated were inspired by sin
cere devotion to principles conscien-
tiousIy believed to be just; that they
fought with valor. equalled alone by
those who opposed them, but never
surpassed, and their heroic bravery and
suffering entitle them to the admiration
of all mankind.
There could be no more convincing
evidence of the righteous termination
of that great struggle than the present
grandeur and power of the republic
today the richest nation on earth, the
workshop and granary of the globe.
i've
stitution of slavery, for the heroic blood
of our negro troops has obliterated
every lingering regret of the master,
and proclaimed in unmistakable Ian
guage that the liberty of 1899 is better
than the slavery of 1861.
1.-The monument dedicated today may,
in the rush of years, crumble and fall
into dust but around the SUBMITS of
Lookout and Missionary ridge, like
gathering mists, shall remain forever
the memories of these historic fields,
and in every heart shall be a monu-
ment of love and strength and patriot
ism which shall perpetuate through all
coming time the glories of that great
conflict.
Looking into the future, may not the
fond hope be indulged that in the end
our country may, in all things, be de-
liberate, just and wise? That our flag
may wave in triumph, feared by ty-
rants, in every land and on every sea.
That beneath it's fold shall gather the
oppressed of every land; and the slave
struggling beneath the rod of oppres-
sion feel his chains grow lighter, his
heart leap with joy and hail it's colors
as a deliverance. That nations. which
have been bitten by the serpent of ra-
pacity and conquest, shall look upon
its folds and be healed, as those who
with faith looked upon the braZen ser
pent that was lifted up in the wilder
ness. God grant ours shall be the vic
tory of enlightenment and liberty, the
triumph of right over might, of justice
over injustice, of humanity over cruelty
and oppression, until empires shall have
passed away and the nations of earth
become one.'
The monument was accepted for the
government by Gen. H. V. Boynton,
president of the Chickamauga-C Chatta-
nooga national military park commits
sion.
The monument, which is one of the
handsOmeSt at Chickamauga, was erect
ed to the memory of the KentuckianS who
wore both the blue and the gray and
both sides are equally represented in
the inscriptions. The Kentucky party
returns home tonight.