The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-10-16
ADDRESS BY ROOSEVELT.
at the dwelling of the Monument to General
Sherman.
(By the Associated Press. }


Washington, Oct. 15.-The unveiling of
the Sherman Monument was witnessed by
an immense throng here today, among
which were some of the most prominent
figures in civil and military life of the
nation. President Roosevelt's address
was the event of the day. He spoke as
follows:
Today we meet together to do homer
to the memory of one of the great men
whom, in the hour of her agony, our na-
tion brought forth for her preservation.
The civil war was not only in the inn
portance of the issues at stake and of the
outcome the greatest of modern times,
but it was also. taking into account ITS
duration, the severity of the fighting, and
the size of the armies engaged, the great
est since the close of the Napoleontc
struggles. Among the generals who rose
to high position as leaders of the various
armies in the field are many who will be
remembered in our history as long as
this history itself is remembered Sher-
idan, the incarnation of fiery energy
and proWeSs; Thomas, farsighted, cool
headed, whose steadfast courage burned
ever highest IN the supreme moment
of the crisis: Mcclellan, with his extra
ordinary gift for organization; Meade,
victor in one of the decisive battles OF
all time; Hancock, type of the true fight.
ing man among the regulars; Logan, type
of the true fighting man among the vol
unteerS-the names of these and ofsmany
others will endure so long as our people
hold sacred the memory of the fight for
union and for liberty. High among these
chiefs rise the figures of Grant and OF
Grants great lieutenant, Sherman, whose
statue here in the national capital is to-
day to be unveiled 1t is not necessary
here to go over the long roll of Sherman's
mighty feats. They are written large
throughout the history of the civil war.
Our memories would be poor indeed if we
did not recall them now, as we look
along Pennsylvania avenue and think of
the great triumphal march which surged
down its length when at the close of the
war the victorious armies of the East
and Of the West met here in the capital
of the nation they had saved.
There is a peculiar fitness in commem
Grating the great deeds of the soldiers
who preserved this nation, by suitable
monuments at the national capital.
trust we shall soon have proper statue
of Arabaham Lincoln, to whom more
than to any other one man this nation
owes its salvation. Meanwhile, on be-
half of the people of the nation, l wish
to congratulate all of you who have been
instrumental in securing the erection Of
this statue to General Sherman.
The living can best show their respect
for the memory of the great dead by
bn NKroty I,i<.I, L.
act upon the lessons taught by the lives
which made these dead men great. Our
homage today to the memory of Sher-
man comes from the depths of our being
We would be unworthy citizens did we
not feel profound gratitude toward him,
and those like him and under him, who
when the country called in her dire need
sprang forward with such gallant eager
ness to answer that call Their blood
and their toll, their endurance and
patriotism, have made us and all who
come alter US forever their debtors. They
lett US not merely reunited country
but a country incalculably greater be-
cause OF It's rich heritage in the deeds
which thus left it reunited. AS a nation
we are the greater, not only for the valor
and devotion to duty displayed by the
gle for the Union, but also for the
valor and the loyalty toward what they
regarded as right of the men in gray: 10
this war, thrice fortunate above all other
recent wars in its outcome, left to all Of
US the right of brotherhood alike with
valiant victor and valiant vanquished.
Moreover, our homage must not only
find expression OH our lips; it must also
sbn npfh in
great and glorious thing for nation to
be stirred to present triumph by the
splendid memories of trumphs in the
past. But it is a shameful thing for
nation, if these memories stir it only to
empty boastings, to pride that does
not shrink from present abasement, to