Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-30
MEMORY OF SHERMAN
Statue of Loved Commander
Unveiled at New York.
ADDRESS BY SEC. ROOT
GRANDSON OF THE OLD WARRIOR
PULLS THE CORD.
Mayor Low Accepts on Behalf Of City
Memorial Services at Tomb
Of Grant.
ADDRESS BY SEC. ROOT

NEW YORK, May 80.-Very appropriately
New York chose Decoration day for the un-
yelling of Augustus st. Gaudens equestrian
statue of General William 7. Sherman
erected by the citizens of the metropolis In
the plaza circle at the 59th street and 9th
avenue entrance to Central Park.
This ceremony was the principal event IN
the city's observance of the day. 1t was
preceded by a parade Of troops, the u. "A.
R. and the Loyal Legion, and of which
Major General A. r. Chaffee was grand
marshal.
The parade was reviewed by Governor
Cdell and Elihu Root, Secretary OF war;
who were accompanied on the reviewing
stand by Mayor Low, the officials OF the
chamber of commerce and guests.
The cord which unveiled the statue was
drawn by Master William T. Sherman
Tha ckara, a grandson of General Sherman.
This was followed by prayer by Arch
bishop Farley, after which Cornelius N.
Bliss, acting chairman of the committee,
presented the statue to the city.
Mayor Low accepted 1t on behalf OF the
corporation in a short address, and Eihu
Root Secretary of War, delivered the ora
ton.
Secretary Roots Address.
"Of all the statues with which the afrec-
ton Of friends and the admiration OF con-
temporaries are adjoining or disfguring the
public places of the modern world, few Will
carry any personal meaning to future gen
erations, serve to perpetuate the memory
of the men whom they are designed to
honor. The little great men of the hour
pass across the stage of the world s HE
with their generations, and are forgotten.
Neither granite shaft nor monumental
bronze can confer upon them immortality,
or rescue them from the individual oblivion
which merges their achievements and their
sacrifices into the general progress OF the
nation and the race.
Rarely, as the centuries pass, some great
national crisis with the inspiration of
struggle, and the test OF requirements pc
yond the capacity of common men, Sits the
material of a nation, and reveals a man
equal to great occasion; whose deeds link
his name forever with the decisive events
which determine the worlds progress, rem
der his existence a fact of historic signifi-
canoe, and make what he was part or
the common and familiar knowledge Of
mankind.
Such a crisis was the American war for
the Union. Such a man was William Te-
cumseh Sherman. The tremendous conse-
quence to mankind of the decision whether
America was to be one nation or group
of small and diScordant states, dtmly fore
seen by the men of half a century ago,
even now only begins to be realized by the
world which sees looming large in the hori-
ION of the future the unreasonable posi-
bllities for good or evil in hundreds of mil
lions of people, free, independent, self-goy-
erning, with limitless resources, with vital
force and energy never surpassed, and
united under one government by common
institutions, common sentiment of
tionality and general loyalty to the same
ideals.
Essentially Decisive.
1.-The part that Sherman played in that
great struggle was not merely courageous,
loyal. devoted, brilliant. 1t was essentially
decisive. Erase it from the pages Of his
tory and no human mind can divine how
the blanks would have been filled. No one
will dare to say another could have done
what Sherman did. Shiloh and Corinth
and Vicksburg and Chattanooga and Mis-
sionary Ridge crowned him with laurels.
THE desperate and resourceful campaign
which ended in the capture of Atlanta es-
tablished his place in history a great
commander The march from Atlanta to
the sea. and still on from Savannah north
ward through the Carolinas to Raleigh and
the surrender of Johnston, ranks among
the great and impressive military events
of history.
But. more than all these in the general
maintenance and conduct of the war, the
powerful influence of his military genius,
the strong support of his ndomitable will
the forward impulse of his tremendous en-
ergy. the singular nobility of his unselfish
character, which, meeting like Characters
tics in Grant, enabled them to work to-
gether like brothers-all these made The
personality of Sherman essentially de-
cisive part of the great consumma ton
which determined that America was to be
free and united. We cannot add to mis-
fame; we cannot contribute to his mmdr-
tality.
"The statue raise today can but point
future generations to the pages CT history,
where his name and deeds are imperlsh ably
recorded. Neither praise set up nor
detraction pull down the immortas In that
Valhalla of the truly great where he has
taken his eternal place.
His People Loved Him.
But we who knew him living can record
our admiration and personal affection We
can tell those who come after us that not
only was Sherman great, but his people
loved him. This stern and relentless mas
ter of horrid war had a heart as gentle and
as tender a woman's. The veterans who
had served under his command came to
him in after years as to a father, to find
always his open sympathy and his purse.
His magnanimous nature accorded a gen
erouS need of praise to every decree of
merit exhibited by others associated in his
great undertakings. He fought-not urged
by ambition or for fame or for fortune, but
inspired by loyalty and love OF country
Before Sumter was fired upon he declared:
On no earthly account will / do any
act or think any thought hostile to or in
defiance of the old government of the
United States
And when the great struggle was ended
he declared:
Wars legitimate object is more perfect
peace
And he turned with alacrity and glad
ness to the path Of mercy ard Cancellation
He was disciplinarian without being a
martinez, and his broad sympathies with
all his countrymen made him the ideal
commander of volunteer soldiers
In peace he was constantly solfcttous
for the adoption Of measures for the future
welfare and greatness of his country He
Tn tha I,,sIl
Pacific roads. which he foresaw would pac-
ify and civilize the plains and bind to-