The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-05-22
THE STATUE OF GRANT
UNVEILED IN THE R0TUN0A OF THE
RATIONAL CAPITAL.
IMPOSING PUBLIC CEREMONIES
Over the Acceptance OF the Statue by
the Government as a Gift From the
Grand Army of the Republic Ad-
dresses by Prominent Men, Several of
Them Ex-Confederate Soldiers-The
Unwilling Ceremonies Private and
Witnessed by Only few Persons.

Washington, May 19.-The statue of
General Grant, presented by the Grand
Army of the Republic to the nation.
was unveiled in the great rotunda of
the capitol today and the elaborate
ceremonies commemorative of the event
were held in the hall of the represent
atives, in the presence of a vast con-
course of people who included the
widow, daughter and descendants Of
the general; hundreds of his comrades
in arms, the officers and committees
of the Grand Army of the Republic,
and many persons distinguished in
military, political, and social circles.
The statue represents the contribu-
tions of thousands Of his comrades,
none of whom was allowed to subscribe
more than Is cents, and is the result
of a movement started shortly after
General Grants death at Mount Nc
Gregor, in July, 1885. 1t is the work of
franHlln Simmons, an American sculp-
tor. OF marble, of heroic size, it rep
resents the grim old soldier in the full
uniform of a general equipped for the
heid, with top boots and gauntlets, his
cloak over his left arm and his right
hand Resting on the hilt of his sword
The fact of the unveiling was kept
secret and only a few outsiders wit
neSseu 1t. There were no ceremonies
Miss aSartoris, attired in white, drew
the lanyard that covered the statue
Mrs. Grant inspected it critically, and
smiled her approval. The party then
repaifed to the hall of the house, where
the ceremonies occurred
me ceremonies in the house were
profoundly impressive. They consisted
of addresses by Mr.. McCleary, of Min
nesota, Mr.. Grosvenor, Ohio, Mr.. Rich
ardson, of Tennessee, Mr.. Warner, of
illinois; Mr.. Linney of North Caro-
lima; Mr. Gardner, of Michigan: Mr..
Brosius, of Pennsylvania, and Mr..
Dollivar, of Iowa.
The galleries opposite the speakers
rostrum had been reserved for the
members of the Grand Army of the
Republic, and was crowded.
Mr., Richardson, of Tennessee, who
fought in the Confederate army against
Grant, said in part:
THE most eXtravagant and fulsome
eulogy that can possibly be bestowed
by human lips upon General Grant
does not in the slightes degree derogate
from the pure and matchless fame of
the hero and idol of those who fought
ates in that bloody period during
which his marvellous character was de-
veloped. and which gave him the op-
portunity to win everlasting renown.
But for the indominable courage and
valor Of the Confederate soldier there
would have been no opportunity for
this development and for the proof of
Is giant strength. AS an eX-confeder-
ate soldier, I revere his memory, and
demand, and have a just right to de-
mand, to share in the honor and glory
which cluster like jeweled diamonds
around his name, and render him con-
spicuous above his contemporaries as
an American soldier and citizen. Con-
federateS can and do honor him. be-
cause in battle he was foeman worthy
of their STEEL
In the senate Grant ceremonies also
were held
After a handsome eulogy by Senator
Harris, Senator Turley delivered a no.
table address from the viewpoint of
a private soldier in the ranks of the
confederate army, and his tribute was
brilliant. He said that the sentiments
of the people of the south had in recent
years changed towards Grant and
gradually had become those of cordial
1ty and esteem. He never could reach,
he said, that inner chamber of the
southern peoples hearts. That was oc-
whom the people of the sopthland
loved because he was the very incar-
natlon of their cause. Sena tor Turley
said he did not think of Grant as a
commander or as a president so much
as he thought of him as a gallant SOL
dier, the friend of Lee and the pro-
tector of the private soldier of the
confederate army, and as such a SOL
der he paid tribute to the memory of
Grant.
Senator Turner spoke of Grant as
the great silent soldier, who lies
upon the bank of the Hudson. AS he
struck the hardest blow, so was his
hand the first to pour healing balm
into the wound thus made" He was
proud, he said, to lay an humble brief
upon General Grants tomb. He con-
s1dered him as combining the qualities
OF both Moltke and Wellington, for he
Planned with the precision of the for
mer and carried forward his plans
with the tenacity Of the latter. Despite
the mistakes he made, 'his reputation
is safe and it will endure as long as
the nation endures."
Both chambers adopted resolutions
accepting the statue.
AT the conclusion of the memorial
exercises in the house, an old white
haired man arose in one of the gal
ler1es and in stentorian voice began
10 urge the necessity, on account Of the
uncertainties of human life, Of electing
an alternate president and vice presi-
dent II was some time before the po-
lice could reach him. He was then
promptly elected. He proved to be a
demented old man.
After suffering from piles for fifteen
years was cured by using two bottles
OF DeMitts Witch Hazel Salve.
~