Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-21
DEVOTED TO EULOGIES
SENATORIAL PRAISE OF BLAIR. BEN
TON AND GRANT.
Ceremonies in Connection With the
Installation of Their statues
in the Capitol.

The Senate occupied after ? o'clo,l J,
Saturday afternoon with eulogies on Ben
ton and Blair of Missouri and laler IN
Gen. Grant. on the occasion of the accel,-
lance of his statue presented to Congress
by the Grand Army OF the Republic
Mr. Vests Review.
Mr.. Vests review of Col Bentons career
was an interesting history of The days Of
Clay. Webster and Calhoun. He was. MIR.
Vest said. not the equal of Clay an ora
tor. of Webster as a lawyer. or of Cal
houn as an analytical debater, but he was
the superior of any Of them an alLround
legislator. He contcnded that but for Blair
influence Missouri would have given her
schd military strength to the south. and
If this had occurred ii possible that the
result of the war might have been different
on account of the effect upon southern Illi-
nois. Kentucky, Maryland and other states.
Blair had, he said. more personal friends
than any man who ever lived in Missouri.
Closing Mr.. Vest said These men sleep
side by side in Missouri, and so long this
Capitol stands or the nation exists those
silent statues. Will be eloquent and eternal
pledges on the part of Missouri to eter-
nal Union.'
MIR. Vest was followed by Mr.. Hoar.
Mr.. Honr EuIoEfzes Benton.
Mr.. Hoar paid eloquent tribute to the
memory of Benton, saying. in part:
The whole country approves the choice
of Missouri. When the figure of Benton is
unveiled the genius of Missouri-rather. the
genius of the west-has come. He is to
stand among his peers. the representative,
the embodiment, of great history.
Missouri did well that she waited nearly
half century after his death before elect
ing him to the greater and perpetual sem
ate, which is to sit forever in yondcr cham
Der. 1t would be well if this example were
always followed. No party spirit, no influ-
ence of friendship. no mere personal graft
ttude. no temporary or tieeting popularity
has influenced the choice. We know now
what manner of man Missouri. by her de-
liberate choice. delighteth to honor and
what manner Of man the American people
delight to honor.
Thomas H. Benton was a sturdy and
courageous champion. He understood,
no other man ever understood. the interest
OF the great west. He is. beyond all ques-
ton, without competitor or rival down to
this moment, the foremost statesman of
the states beyond the Mississippi
He loved Missouri. He loved the west.
He loved the south. From his coming into
public life. indeed. from his coming into
manhood. there was scarcely a pulsation Of
the popular western heart that he did not
share. Yet when the time came for him to
choose between office, party. his state pop
ularity. the love of old friends and COM
panions. influence, power. the master pas
sonS of his soul. it seemed on the one
hand, and freedom and country upon the
other. he did not hesitate in the choice.
This is the character which the great
state of Missouri speaking through her
governor and honored senators, gives to
the American people today. Certainly Mas
sechusetts feels herself and her great chill
dren of the days of the Puritan and the
days of the revolution honored by the COM
panionship Sam Adams. if need be. will
draw a thought more high to John winthrop
to make room for him. Webster will greet
his old antagonist The marble lips of
Charles Sumner whom Benton welcomed in
the Senate in 1851. will return the greeting
now from yonder stately antechamber.
THE old strifes are forgotten: the old
differences have vanished. But the love Of
liberty, the love of justice, the love of ma
tional honor. the spirit that prizes liberty
and justice, above gain or trade or empire
the spirit of this great statesman of the
west-abides and shall abide forevermore.
Mr.. Cockrell did not speak, owing to
lack Of time, but had printed his eulosy
of Benton and Blair.
At the conclusion of the speeches the
resolution accepting the statues of Benton
and Blair We're adopted.
The Grant Statue Ceremonies.
The Senate then proceeded to the con-
sideration of the resolution accepting from
the G. A. r. the statue of General Grant.
BY special order of the Senate, two of the
galleries of the Senate had been reserved
for members of the G. A. R., and both
We're we'll filled; while by further special
order the national officers of the G. A. r.
were admitted to the floor of the Senate
during the exercises attendant upon the
consideration of the resolution.
The Senate concurred in the resolution Of
fered earlier in the day in the House by
Mr.. McCleary extending the thanks of
Congress to the G. a. r. for the statue and
accepting the same.
A soldiers tribute to great soldier was
the brief speech of Senator Hawley Comm.
He congratulated his comrades of the G.
A. r. upon the successful contamination OF
a great work and said the noble gift was
accepted with sympathy and gratitude.
After a handsome eulogy by Mr.. Har-
rs, Mr.. Turley delivered a notable address
from the view of a private soldier in tho
ranks of the confederate army, and his
tribute brilliant. He said that the
sentiments of the people Of the south had
in recent years changed toward Grant and
gradually had become those of cordially
and esteem. He never could reach, he
said, that inner chamber of the southern
peoples hearts; that was occupied alone by
the Immortal Lee, whom the people of
the southland loved because he was the
very inca rnation of their cause. Mr.. Tur-
ley said he did not think of Grant
commander or as a President much as
he thought of him the gallant soldier.
the friend of Lee and the protector of the
private soldier of the confederate army.
and as such soldier he paid tribute to the
memory of Grant.
Mr. Carter paid brief but beautiful
tribute Ito the nations greatest military
chieftain," and then Mr.. Allen concluded
the speechmaking with a view of Gen.
Grant from the view of "a private soldier
who served under him.
The concurrent resolution passed by the
House, being identical with the resolution
offered by Mr.. Hansbrough, was adopted.
SENATE BILL 1929.