The Garfield Statue

Washington, May 13. - At the business meeting yesterday morning of the Army of the Cumberland Colonel Henry Stone, of Boston, was chosen as the orator for the next reunión, and Colonel McMichael, of New York, as altérnate. Chicago was selected as the place lor the next reunión, and Chickamauga week. In September, 1888, as the time. The present offlcers were unanimously re-elected: President, General P. H. Sheridan; Treasurer; General J. 8. Fullerton; Corresponding Secretary, General Henry M. Cist; Recording Becretary, General John W. Steele. The remainder of the day was devoted to the ceremonies attending the unvailing of the Garfteld statue. At twelve o'clock sharp the entrances to the grand stand were thrown open, and the invited guests were quickly assigned Beate. Among the flrst to arrive were the sons of General Garfleld. Secretary Bayard and Attorney-General Garland were the first members oí the Cabinet to arriye. They were followed by Chief Justice Waite and the Asaociate Jus tices of the Bupreme Court At one o'clock the President, accompanied by General Sheridan, arrived. Simultaneously the van-guard oí toe procession appeared in quick march from Pennsylvania avenue. Colonel Wilson Uien aaaounced that the proceedlngs would be opened with prayer by Rev. 8. H. Giesy, D. D. After Mr. Giesy had conclnded his prayer, "The Star Spangled Banner" was very effectively rendered by the full marine band. As the last note died away, at twenty minutes past one o'clock, the American flag which had covered the statue was quickly dragged away. The salute from the south front of the capítol was then fired. General Bheridan then introduced the erator of the day, General J. Warren Keifer, who, on the part of the Monument Committee, delivered an address transferring the statue to General Sheridan. At its conclusión General Sheridan, in behalf of the society, transferred the statue to the President in the following words : " Me. President: This statue which has been unvailed in your presence to-day was erected by the comrades of General Garneld belonging to the Army of the Cumberland. They recognized his merit as a soldier, and they wished to pay some testimony to that merit and to his worth as a man. I have the honor, sir, on behalf ot the society of the Army of the Cumberland, to ask you, as the representative of the American people, to accept the statue from their hands as it was given to me." [Applause. In accepting the statue President Cleveland spoke as folio ws: "FBLiow-CrnzBNS: In performance of the öuty assigned to me on this occasion, I hereby accept, on behalf of the people of the United States, this beautiful and completed statue. Amid the lnterchange of fraternal greetings between the survivors of the Army of the Cumbertand and their former foes upon the battlefield, and, while the Union General and the peopto's President awaited burlal, the common grief of these magnanimous soldiers and mourning citizens found expregsion In the determination to erect this tribate to American greatness; and thus to-day in its symmetry and beauty, it presenta a sign of animositics forgotten, an emblem of brotherhood redeemed, and a token of a nation restored. Monuments and statues multiply throughout the land, fittingly illustrative of the love and affection of our gratefnl people, and commemorating brave and patriotic saoriflees In war, fame in peaceful pursuits, or honor in public station. But from this day forth there Ehall stand at our seat of government this statue of a distinguished citizen, who in his life and services combined all these things and more, which challenge admiration in American character- loving tenderness in every domestic relation, bravery on the field of battle, fame and distinction in our halls of legislation, and the highest honor and dignity in the Chief Magistracy of the nation. This stately efftgy shall not fail to teach every beholder that Mie Bource of American greatness ís confined to no condition, nor dependent alone íor its growth and development upon favorable surroundings. The genius of our National llfe beckons to usefulness and honor those in every sphere, and offers the highest preferment to manly ambition and sturdy, honest effort chastened and consecrated by patriotic hopes and aspirations. As long as this statue stands let it be proudly remembered that to every American citizen the way is open to fame and station until he, " Moving up from high to higher, Becomes on fortune' crowning slope The pillar of a people's hope, The center of a woriiTs desire." Nor can we forget that it also teaches our people a sad and distresslng lesson; and the thoughtful citizen who views its fair proportlons can not fall to recall the tragedy ol a death which brought grief and mourning to every household in the land. But while American citizenship stands aghast and affrighted that murder and assassiuation should lurk in the midst of a free people and strike down the head of their government a fearless search and-the discovery of the originl and hiding-place of these hateful and unnatural ■ things, should be followed by a solemn re- solTe to purge forever from our politicali methods and from the operation of our Gov-: ernment, the perversions and misconceplions which gave birth to passionate and bloody! thoughts. If from this hour our admira-' ! tion for the hravery and nobility of American manhood, and our faith in the possibilities and! opportunities of American eitizenship be renewed, if our appreciation of the blessing of a. restored Union and love for our Government be; strengthened, and if our watchfulness against, the dangers of a mad Chase after partisan. spoils be quiekened. the dedication of this Statue to the people of the United States wiU not be in vaiu." During the delivery of his address thej President was frequently interrupted byoutbarsts of applause. He spoke fluently in a clear voice, which was audible u' most of the vast crowd that fllled thel circle before the stand. Wüen he had concluded the band played "Hail Columbia," and Rev. F. D. Power, who was the pastor of General Garfleld's church in this1 city pronounced the benediction. i , i