Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 June 1891 — “LET US HAVE PEACE.” [ARTICLE]

“LET US HAVE PEACE.”

A Statue of Grant Unveiled at Galena, 111. 3 * An Immense Attendance of Distinguished and Other People—Chaancey XL Depew the Orator. A magnificent mpnument to the memory of “The Old Commander” was formally unveiled at his old home, Galena, 111., with impressive ceremonies, on Wednesday. June 3d. An immense throng participated representing the States of Illinois, Iowa! Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan. Business was entirely suspended. The pretfj little city was literally covered with bunk, ing. All business houses and residences, with scarcely an exception, were enveloped in the national colors. Shortly after 12 o’clock two special trains from Chicago brought inlarge numbers of distinguished guests. Among them xvere Hon. Chauncey M. Depew, of New York, the orator of the day; ex-Governo. and Mrs. Hoard, of Wisconsin; Gen. and Mrs. Nelson A. Miles, Judge and Mrs Walter Q. Gresham, John Gelert, th« sculptor of the monument; Mr. James W, Scott, of the Chicago Herald—to whose suggestion and energy is mainly due th* existence of Grant Park, the beautifulbreathing spot within Avhich the monument Is located; Rev. P. S. Henson, eminent Baptist divine, and wife; H. EL Kohlsaat, the donor of the monument; Senator Cnllom and Attorney General Hunt, of Illinois; Senator Allison and Congressman Henderson, of lowa, and Judge Blodgett. There was a great paradethrough the principal streets of the city. .'Mr. Depew made a carefully prepared speech, reviewing in detail the principal ev’ents in the career of Gen. Grant, coneluding with the following tribute: General Grant was the product and rep.resentative of the best element in our sor cial life. Home and its associations have been the training and inspiration of our greatest and noblest men. They have come from the class which had neither poverty nor riches, and which was com» Selied to work for the support of the faro* y and the education of the children. Ha members are God-fearing men and loving, sacrificing Avomen. It gave us Lincoln from the farm, Garfield from the towpath, Sherman from the crowded house efi the brave and struggling widow, Sheridan from the humble cottage and Grant from the home of the country storekeeper of the — Ohio wilderness. These men never lost their sympathy with every human lot and- • aspiration, or the hoinely simplicity of their early conditions and training. Grant was clerk In the custom-house and President of the United States, a lieutenant in Mexico and commander-in-chief of the armies of the Union, numbering over a million of men, the unknown junior in a tanners’ firm at Galena and the guest of emperors and kings. But the memory of the church of his mother was ever visible in his reverent regard for her teachings. The applause of soldiers for their commander, of partisans for their chief leader, and of the world for one of

its most illustrious heroes was grateful, but the sweetest music for him was within the family circle, in the loving companionship of his wife and children and the t prattle of his grandchildren. Though her received such honor and recognition abroad and such distinction at home, he was always, whethor in the presence of royalty or of the people, a modest, typical American citizen. '"Through the verses of (treat poets runs a familiar strain, through the works of great composers an oft-repeated tune, and the speeches of great orators a

recurring and characunisuc thought. These are the germs which exhibit the moving forces of their minds. During the war “I propose to move immediately upon yourworks.” “Unconditional surrender.” “I shall take no backward step.” “I propose to fight itmut on this line if it takes all summer,” are the beacon lights of the plans and strategy of Grant, the soldier. At Appomattox. “The war is over,” “The rebels are our countrymen again;” at the threshold of the Presidency, “Let us have peace;” on his bed of agony and death at Mount McGregor, when his power of speech was gone, writing to a confederata feneral by his bedside, “Much as I suffer, do it with pleasure, if by that suffering can be accomplished the union of my country,” are the indices of the labors, the aspirations and the prayer of Grant the statesman and the patriot. The mounmeut is the gift of H. 11. Kohlsaat, a former resident of Galena and now a millionaire citizen of Chicago. A year ago he intimated to some of his friends his desire that the city, of Galena should bo graced by a statue to “The Old Commander,” who, with his family, had resided there during one of the most important periods of his life. The matter was formally presented to

the City,Council and the citizens of Galena by Mr. Kohlsaat and Mr. James W. Scott, of the Chicago Herald,another former resident of Galena. No appropriate sight for the monument,however, could be found until Mr. Scott initiated a movement by which ai\,„elevated plot of ground on the east side of the city, forty feet above the Galena river, and covering six acres was ordered purchased and to he forever dedicated to the city for park purposes. A portion of the purchase was contributed by the City Council, a second sufii was raised by the citizens of Galena, and the balance was secured in Chicago through the efforts of Mr., Scott. Tho inelosure was named Grant Park, and already contains a magnificent soldiers’ monumenl and a fountain erected by the ladies of the city. The bronze statue stands on a solid base formed of three tiers of Quincy gray granite, with a pedestal of beautifully carved and polished red granite from the quarries of Maine. On the front surface is the simple Inscription in plain, large letters, “Grant, Our Citizen.” The statue is heroic in size and represents General Grant in citizen’s dre«s standing as if it reflection. The likeness Is excellent; and the portrayal of the individuality of thi man is admirable.

A meeting to condemn mob law was helt at Columbia, Tenn., twQlyncbings bavin* taken place there recently. The law ant order men organlzM the meeting, but th* opposition controlled it’ The mass meeting practically expressed itself as beini In favor ‘of lynch law under certain circumstances. F. F. Emery, shoe manufacturer, wht has been reported as financially ember rassed. says he has not assigned yet, bu probably will very soon. The creditors he says, will get all assets without lega squabbles.