The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-24
ALABAMA AND KANSAS.
Representative Wiley One of the Speakers on Reception of Inc
 gals Statue.

Washington, Jan. 22.-(Special.)-
 Below is Representative Wiley's ad-
 dress delivered yesterday on the occas-
 ion of the acceptance by Congress of
 the statue of John J. Ingalls,, presented
 by the State of Kansas. The address
 of Col. Wiley was finely delivered and
 heartily applauded by the House. The
 text of the address follows
 Mir. Speaker, the act of Congress passed in 1864, converted the deserted
 old Hall of the House of Represen-
 tatives into a national gallery. Under
 the provisions of that law each State
 and every of the American Union has the legislative authority to select from among her celebrated dead the two
 citizens most worthy the honor of oc- cupying d place in that historic Cham Der. rendered sacred by enduring sta tues which recall the traditions and call the story of our national life--of battles fought and victories won by the occur age, and of liberty preserved by the genius, of Anglo Saxon manhood. A world-renowned Roman orator once declared:
 T hold that no man deserves to be crowned with honor whose life is a failure. He who only lives to eat and drink and accumulate money is Il fail-
 ure. The world is no better for his being in it. He never wiped a tear from sad face, never kindlcd fire on frozen heart. l repeat with emphasis he is a failure. There is no flesh in his heart. Let no such man
 be honored."
 But the converse of the prososition is equally true. It is our boundeu duty to devise adequate measures to the end that the worthy great shall
 not be forgotten. To prepetuate in afoua or r11a rhlp OT hrOn za nr brass tl,p memory of those who have rendered
 distinguished service to their country,
 to science, or humanity is an impera- tive responsibility that can not be
 evaded. It is a laudabIe purpose to erect statues or build monuments to commemorate the valor. patriotism, or useful deeds of our illustrious dead
 on the bloody fields of war and in the busy pursuits of peace; to the soldier
 statesman, orator. jurist, philosopher,
 scientist, artist, historian, poet, hu-
 manitariaE, and philanthropist; to the captains of industrial development and commercial enterprises, as well as to
 those uEselfish members of society
 who devote their lives and spend their
 fortunes in relieving suffering hu- manity. To keep from oblivion the immortal names that were not born
 to die" is but q paltry recognition of
 lne never -eHulIlB ODllSdliOn pOSleTlly
 owes to them.
 In yon Hall of Fame are costly mem- Orials, contributed by the different
 States of the Union. which will serve
 to keep fresh in our memories the
 heroic endeaVors put forth by our in- trepid forefathers in subduing the wilderness, in conquering the savage red man, in resisting cruel expressions,
 in protecting popular rights, and in preserving constitutional liberty. These monuments perpetuate the Vir- tues and the valor of the brave, free.
 independent, and Christian men who
 built this magnificent Government of
 ours in form so grand and enduring
 as to excite the wonder and challenge
 the admiration of the civilized world. The sovereign State of Kansas mas placed in Statuary Hall marble statue Of John J. Ingalls, as one of her l two most useful and eminent citizens: and her sister States: through their representatives in Congress assembled delight to share in his greatness and | renown, in his glory and fame, as q common heritage of a common coun- l try, and are here today to participate | in the interesting exercises which | solemnize this occasion, and to assist
 in doing honor to the memory of this extraordinary character.
 In this connection we are reminded