The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-31
Secretary Roots Address


of mankind. Great and long -continued
appause)
Secretary Roots Address.
Secretary Root, in his address, accepting
the monument, said:
"Mr. Chairman, My Fellow Citizens:
1T is a grateful duty which 1 now per-
FORM to accept on behalf of the govern
ment of the United States this beautiful
MEMORIAL of the men of Maryland who fell
upon this historic field. II commemorated
the dauntless valor of the men upon both
sides of the great conflict, which shook to
its foundations the government of the
country and brought into high relief the
noDlest qualities of a race, peaceful in its
purposes, slow to anger long suffering but
of warlike fiber and terrible in its capacity
for strife and for victory. (Applause.)
1.-THE monument commentaries more
than that. All over this fair world are
cotted fields where men have taken mems
blood Ten thousand times ten thousand
deeds of valor have passed into oblivion,
and the warfare of mankind from the
days of savagcrye until now has mainly
teen remembered but to cause a shudder
and prayer that it might not recur.
Upon what grows from the flood that
stains the SGD d ponds a batdefeld's
claim to commemoration. And from the
great conflict which found one of its Gull
minating hours in these valleys and upon
sings for this country and for mankind,
emitting the scene to histcr'c place and
the men to be forever remembered. From
the stern discipline of these years
of warfare there arose that mu-
tual respect which is the only
sure foundation of unity and perpetuity
in our land. (Applause) From Il ose
struggles there arose the power 10 COM
mand and the power to obey The habit
of discipline, the capacity for loyalty, TIE
enlargening of heart and nature which
makes men capable Of rising above the
greed for gold and the selfish interests Of
the hour and devoting life, even unto
death, for a flag, for a cause, fo- nl-
ton. (Applause).
Mckinley Was There.
'"rhis monument commentaries moi
merely the valor and the sacrifice OF the
men who fell at Antietam. but it comment
CRATES the relayng of the foundations Of
the republic. Not only the men who fell
at Aniietam, but the men who survived
are TO be commemorated by this
structure, for they have waged that
greater battle of civilization and Of
patriotism. We are not without a
conspicuous Illustration here to-day. On
the second day of Antietam. when the
Federal line was hurled against Lees
right, an Ohio regiment was stationed
by the banks of the creek, not far to
the left of the bridge, upon which was
centered Lees terrible fire of shot and
she'll and away to che rear, with the sup
ply wagon was a commissary sergeant,
boy of Is. who, as the days and The hours
wore away, remembered that the men of
his regiment would be fainting and
weary for the food left in his charge be-
hind And then the boy, without orders,
compelled by no soldiers duty, loaded
his wagon. called for volunteer drivers,
and on from the rear to the front through
- f.11I .Sri,, s1,stI !,
every instant, brought 20 the front and
10 the fainting soldiers of his regiments
the endorsements of food and strength
that enabled them to go on with the
conflict till the end. (ApplauseD The
regiment was the Twenty-third Ohio; its
colonel was Rutherford b. Hayes, after
ward The nineteenth President of the
United States (opplause), and upon THAI
field of battle the Colonel and future
President recommended for a commission
that hoy of is for gallantry in action, and
the commission came-the commissary
sergeant is William Mckinley. the TWEEN
fy-fourth President of the United States
Enthusiastic applause)
''AIy fellow citizens he stands not alone;
that great-hearted kindness fer all Amer
leans which makes him not only Presi-
dent but a father to US all (applause) Is
not alone. The impetus given by loyal
sacrifice and noble deeds upon this battle
field has continued TO this hour In Ameri-
can breasts. and has helped largely to
make America what she Is (AppauseC
The monument is of granite and bronze
octagon % feet in diameter at base and
80 feet high 20 the top of the statue. II
commentaries the Second Third, Fourth
Fifth and Purnell legion, regiments of in
fantry, and Batteries A and B, First
Maryland, Union Artillery and Brocken-
braugh's and Dement'S batteries OF Con-
federate Artillery. The monument cost
$4,000.