The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-09-17


The special train bearing the president
fGov. Murphy and their party arrives
fhere at O'Clock. Gov Murphy was &C
Ecompanied by Senators Kane and Dry
hden. by several prominent state official
bAnd by his military staff.
Special trains brought nearly a thous
rand New Jersey survivors OF the Civi
lwar. the trip OF the president from Jer
tsey City was devoid OF any special incl
hdent. After daylight crowds assembled
Eat every station TO greet the president
lat Chambersburg. Pa, he greeted th'
Ecrowd cordially AT Hagerstown, Md.
Hvhere the train was switched to the Nor
lfolk Western the president left his
breakfast table 20 address throng oil
eeveral hundred people. He said
A SHORT SPEECH.
'T am on my way 10 accept on behalf
of the United States government the
monument erected TO the New Jersey
troops who fought at Antletam; but In
10 larger sense: / go TO commemorate the
valor OF every man who I'm the days that
tried mems souls, proved their truth by
F1heir endeavor in the service OF the ma
tional government (cheers)"
At 10 O'clock the president and Gov
murphy accompanied by Senators Kean
and Dryden, their entire party and hum
dreds OF citizens left Sharpsburg sta
lfion for the famous old Dunkard church
ION the battlefield OF Antietam. There the
lbrigades of veterans formed in columns
sof fours and escorted the president, Gov.
murphy and their guests TO the monu-
ment-
THE MONUMENT.
The monument is IN the form of an or
nate corinthian column OF granite 10 feet
high surmounted by a heroic fgure In
bronze OF an officer with upraised sword
leading his men In charge. The figure
ss intended as a representation OF Capt
Irish, of the 18th n. j. Voluteers, who
was the only New Jersey officer killed
ut Antietam
After the assemblage had been called
TO order by James o. Smith OF the New
Jersey monument commission, and an
invocation had been pronounced by Rev.
Or. Frazer Of New York. Mr.. Smith re-
ported 10 Governor Murphy on the work
of the commission. On behalf OF the
state OF New Jersey Governor Murphy
accepted the monument.
President Roosevelt as he arose 10 ac-
~cept the monument on behalf OF the fed
eral government. was accorded an ova-
ti.r.
thank YOU OF New Jersey for the
monument TO the troops OF New Jersey
who fought at Anuetam, and on oehalf OF
'the nation / accept the gitt. we meet TO-
l,day upon one OF the great batuehelds OF
sahe civil war No other battle OF the civil
war lasting but one day shows as great a
percentage OF loss as that which occurred
here upon the day on which Anuetam
twas fought. Moreover, In its ultimate Ell
hects this battle was of momentous and
eyen decisive importance, for when IL had
ended and Lee had retreated south OF the
Motomac Lincoln forthwith pushed lha'
Immortal paper, the preliminary declara-
zion OF emancipation; the paper which de
cided that the civil war. besides being
war for the preservation OF the Union
should be a war for the emancipation OF
the slave, so that from that time onward
xhe causes OF Union and OF Freedom, ol
knational greatness and indlVidual hperly
were one and the same.
Men of New Jersey. congratulate your
state because she has the right 10 CLAIM
lber full share in the honor and glory OF
that memorable day, and congratulatt
Pyou. Governor Murphy. because on tha'
kday you had the high good fortune to
serve as a lad with credit and honor IN
one OF the Ave regiments which your
state sent 10 the battle. -Four OF those reg
iments. by the way, served In the division
commanded by that gallant soldier
Henry w Slocum, whom we OF New YORK
Can claim as our own.
The other regiment, that in which Gov
.ernor Murphy served. although practical
.1y an entirely new regiment did work as
GOOD as that Of any veteran organization
lepon the field and suffered proportional
fAoss. This regiment was at one time or
loered 10 the support OF n division COM
Enanded by another New York soldier. the
gallant General Greene, whose son him
eeat served an major general in the war
n spain. and who Is now. as police
commissioner OF New York rendering as
sisnal service In civil life as no had al
ready rendered IN military life.
MoMENToUs ISSUE.
II the issue OF Antietam had been 9th
er than II was, II is probable that al leas
two great European powers wouId have
recognized the Independence OF the Con-
feieracy; so that you who fought here
forty-one years ago have the profound
Satisfaction OF feeling that you played
well your part In one Of those crises his
with the fate OF all mankind
You men OF the Grand Army by Won,
victory not only rendered all American,
your debtors for evermore. but you rem
dered all humanity your debtors. II tn
Union had been dissolved. n the great ed
ihce built with blood and sweat and tear
by mighty Washington and his compeer
had gone down IN wreck and ruin, the re
ieult would have been an incalculable ca
t1smfty not only for our people-and mos
OF all for those who. In such event woul
have seemingly triumphed-but for a
mankind.
The great American Republic woul
have become a memory OF derision. an
ehs failure OF the experiment Of self-gos
arnment by great people on a grea
scale would have delighted the heart Z
every foe OF Republican institutions. ou
country. now 80 great and 40 wonderful
you'd have been split into little Jsnglin