New-York tribune., 1905-02-18
ACCEPT WILLARD STATUE.
Memorial Ere, Held an Both
Houses of Congress.
traoM THE TRIBUNE HUaEAU.I

washington Feb. 17.-CongreSs to-day accepted
the statue of Frances E. willard presented by the
State of Illinois IN anticipation of the ceremonies
vast number OF women and school children, most
ly girls, thronged the corridors and Statuary Hall
The galleries were packed. One section was re-
served for the members Of the Illinois statuary
Commission. Although there about forty
pedestals in the hall. the statue of Miss Willard is
the first of TO find place there.
IN the Senate addresses euogizing Miss Willard
were made by Messrs. CuIlom, Beveridge. Dollver
and Hopkins On motion of Mr.. Cullom the statue
1.-The statue Of OF the most emf
ne s. Of the United States" as the resolu-
uon - ed It. Mr.. Cullom said he proud
to say that he had been personally acquainted with
MISS Willard for the greater part of her active
Afe He said Miss Willard had brought sobriety
into the homes Of untold thousands; that the world
was better because she had lived and he congratu-
lated his State on its selection of for the
National Hall Of Fame
At the close of the ceremonies the Senate. as
further mark of respect to Miss Willards memory.
adjourned until IL o'clock tomorrow.
In the House the chaplain. referring 10 Miss
Willard in his prayer said that by the purity OF
her soul. the breadth and scope OF her intellectual
sttainments. the eoquence and chastity of her
speech and her unselfsh devotion to the purity of
the home. the state and humanity had won for
herself the splendid and just encomium-'The un-
crowned queen of purity and temperance
IEe proceedings began with the reading OF a
letter from Governor Deneen of Illinois presenting
the statue to the United States. Mr.. Foss offered
a resolution of acceptance. Pending It's adoption
speeches extolling the life and deeds Of Miss VIII
lard were delivered by Messrs. Foss, Graf and
Rainey OF Illinois. and LittIeheld OF Maine.
Mr.. Foss, in whose district Miss Willard lived.
feelngly referred TO her useful life and her Iabors
in the cause Of temperance as the founder of the
Womans Christian Temperance Union. She was
ne said, universally mourned one of the greatest
women Of her time. The placing Of her statue in
the Capitol was a tribute to Frances e Willard.
n and
tribute to woman and the magnificent progress she
had made under free institutions. People might
ask why Illinois did send a statue Of Lincoln
Douglas or Grant, but he contended that those men
were SO great they belonged to no State, having
been given to the Union.
MI Graf said Miss Willard was the most univer-
sally known and loved woman in the United States
and the influence Of her spotless life and example
mad become more and more apparent, and always
for good.
Mr.. LittleaeId said It was most fitting TO place
the statue OF Miss Willard In the Capitol ulinc.s
mad honored herself in doing so, by giving to
ankind that noble recognition
The closing remarks were made by MI. RaIney.
who spoke in part follows:
When the act was passed which established this
Hall OF Fame, winning the right to
place here upon the field Of battle. at the head of
crushing sQuadrons Of cavalry, or directing the
W moyeents Of i9ng lines & Of I infantry amid the Toar
ue "hlch mace TINS nauon, one anG ind1vsible.
was fought and won after the surrender at Apo
blooBing upon the graves Of the men who fell in
this, the greatest civil the world ever saw. II
women Of the South standing shoulder 10 shouider
with and women Of the NoFth-a peaceful
struggle to quench the fires Of sectional hatS and
antagOnisIn.
II was at this time that there came out Of the
North new leader-nOt a leader of armed men
but leader Of unarmed women, q woman Of su-
preme capacity, mental and moral and physical.
carved out Of the whirest Of Csrrara marble to the
nation as her contribution to this great Hall Of
Fame
In the years which followed the war one Of the
let in the sunlight upon North and South alike
was the army of women led by Frances z. Willard
marching through the North and South following
tne Whlte banHers upon which she had inscribed
the motto For God and Home and Native Land"
IN the dark days which followed the war. she fur
nlshed the common ground upon which all could
the magnolia blooms. or under grayer skies in the
colder North. She led the fight for the home for
personal purity for better habits living for the
rights or children. for the uplifting of women
With chains Of gold stretching across the gulf
which divided the sections, she bound together the
homes OF the North and the homes OF the South
until the dividing chasm disappeared. and q mighty
nation moves forward under banner with re-
slsrIeSs force to the tremendous DESTINY prepared
Tor IL by the omnpotent God. If peace hath its
victories. II IS peculiarly appropriate that Miss
In the State which produced q Lincoln q Douglas
and a Logan, we consider her one of our greatest
clEzens The women Of America have erected in
memory OF Frances Z Willard 2 monument nor
made Of marble, which crumbIes with the passing
centuries but made OF that enduring material which
Withstancs the ravages Of time-a monument OF
human love and human admiration and human
sympathy.
The resolution Of acceptance was then adopted
ana the House, at 5:48 O'Clock adjourned