The National tribune., 1908-12-03

individual heroism unparalleled in mod
ern warfare, and under his leadership
his uncomfortable columns rushed to
victory with all the confidence eff Ce-
sar's Tenth Legion. Generous of his
life, gifted with the ingenuity of Han
nibal, the dash of a Murat. the cour-
age of a Ney, the magnetism of his
presence forged weaklings into giants,
transformed routed squadrons into
charging columns and snatched victory
from defeat. He preferred shot and
shell to flags of truce; he would rather
lead forlorn hopes than follow in the
wake of charges. His standard rose
above all others on the field; wherever
blows fell thickest his crest was in
their midst; despite the daring of the
defense opposing ranks went down be-
fore the fercenesS of his onsets never
to rise again: he paused not till the
folds of his banners waved above the
strongholds he had wrested from the
foe"
Gen. Porter then sketched with the
pen of an artist Sheridan's matchless
generalship on. many hard won fields,
and in closing said:
"Yonder statue, which so faithfully
portrays his noble features. is a fitting
tribute of grateful hearts. The hallowed
memories which cluster about it will
recall the heroic age of the Republic
1t will point the path of loyalty to chill
uren yet UNBORN. ltS mute elOqueHce
will call for equal sacrifice should war
again threaten the Nations life.
Brave Sheridan! In gazing upon
yonder bronze 1 seem to see his silent
clay again quickened into life, once
more riding Rienzi thru a fire of hell.
leaping opposing earthworks at single
bound and leaving nothing of those
who barred his way except the frag-
ments scattered in his path. Matchless
leaderi Harbinger of victory! We sa-
lutte you. AS long as manly courage is
talked of or heroic deeds are honored,
| there will remain green in the hearts of
grateful people the talismanic name
of Sheridan"
Gen. Wright, c. S. A, Secretary of
ceeding to the Secretaryship of the
| Sheridan Commission, made a brief
speech as the presiding officer, in
which he eulogiZed the generalship of
| Sheridan and his companionable quail
| ties.
The prayer was made by Bishop
O'ConneIl The President spoke with
more than his usual eloquence, and
was applauded to the echo, as was
Gen. Porter. The music by the Ma
rine Band was all of a patriotic nature
and magnificently given.
Gen. Sheridan's Son.
The unvailing was done by another
Little Phil" the little boy" the dear
idol of his fathers heart, who has fol-
lowed so directly in his fathers foot
steps that he is already a Second Lieu
tenant of Cavalry.
| At the word from the Secretary OF
War, Lieut.. Philip Sheridan stepped to
| the front from his mothers side IN the
| full-dress uniform of his rank, and sa-
luted, then uncovered. A Sergeant OF
| Marines handed up to him the end of
| a slender, dangling cord, which reached
out to the flag-enfolded statue. The
tan that made him look like his father
was acquired right where his father
got his, out on the desert 5000 miles
away. where the sun about Fort Hua-
lchuca browns the skin before il
bleaches the bones. AS the shouts oi
the people rose at sight of this goodly
lad the red came rose flaming to hi:
cheeks. and, with cap under his arm
and his upturned face toward the twir
flags, he pulled the slender cords. Like
broke loose, and, parting, swung up
ward against the blue of the sky anC
the glory of the west-gliding sun. ant
between them, sentient with life, a
when he stayed the rout on the roaC
to Winchester, stood the hero and hi
horse in bronze-the boys father.
Over the face of this son of an Illus
trious sire there came an expression o
eXaitation which did not fade until tn,
shouting and the tumult of the excited
people, the brawling of the trumpet!
, and the thunder of the saluting gun!
had died away.
The horse and the rider, in polished
bronze, seemed one, and that one jus
halted to sum up the situation anC
spring into greater activity. The arts
caught his idea from the exalted mo
ment when Sheridan in that ride raj
lied his men about him, and with OLE
; slouch hat clutched in outfung hand