have we been so well equipped for war upon land as now, and we have
never seen the time when our people were more smitten with the love of
peace. To elevate the morals of our people; to hold up the law as that
sacred thing which, like the ark of God of old, may not be touched
by irreverent hands, but frowns upon any attempt to dethrone its
supremacy; to unite our people in all that makes home comfortable, as
well as to give our energies in the direction of material advancement,
this service may we render. And out of this great demonstration let us
draw lessons to inspire us to consecrate ourselves anew to this love
and service of our country.
INDIANAPOLIS, AUGUST 22, 1889.
_Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument._
A memorable event in the history of Indiana was the laying of the
corner-stone of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument at Indianapolis
on August 22, 1889. The Board of Commissioners for the erection of
the monument--under whose supervision the attendant exercises were
conducted--comprised: George J. Langsdale, of Greencastle, President;
Geo. W. Johnston, of Indianapolis, Secretary; T. W. Bennett, of
Richmond; S. B. Voyles, of Salem; and D. C. McCollum, of La Porte.
President Harrison and his party were honored guests on the occasion; he
was accompanied by Secretary Jeremiah M. Rusk, Attorney-General W. H.
H. Miller, Private Secretary E. W. Halford, Capt. William M. Meredith,
Marshal Daniel M. Ransdell, and General Thomas J. Morgan.
At College Corner, on the Indiana border, the President was met by Gov.
Alvin P. Hovey, Mayor Caleb S. Denny, Hon. William H. English, William
Scott, John P. Frenzel, Robert S. McKee, J. A. Wildman, Albert Gall,
Dr. Henry Jameson, and others, comprising an honorary escort committee.
Governor Hovey welcomed the President to Indiana in a brief, cordial
address, to which President Harrison responded:
I thank the Governor for this larger welcome extended as Governor on
the part of the people of the whole State. You have well said that the
people of Indiana have been kind to me, and if, when my public career
is ended, I can return to you the happy possessor of your respect and
good-will, I shall not leave public office with regret.
Arriving at Indianapolis on the evening of the 21st, the President
was formally waited upon by the Monument Commissioners and Board of
Trade Reception Committee. General James R. Carnahan, on behalf of the
Commissioners, and George G. Tanner, President of the Board of Trade,
warmly welcomed him.
To their addresses President Harrison replied:
_Gentlemen of the Committees and Friends_--I scarcely know how to
convey to you my deep impressions at this cordial welcome back to
Indianapolis. I cannot hope to do it. I have been deeply touched by
this generous and courteous reception. It was not my expectation when
I left Indianapolis a few months ago, under so serious a sense of my
responsibilities, that I would return again so soon to my home. But
this occasion was one which I could not well be absent from. It is one
that should enlist to a degree that nothing else can do our patriotic
interests and State pride. It is true, as General Carnahan has said,
that I took an early interest in this movement. I felt that until this
monument was built, until its top-stone was laid, and its voice had
been heard by the people of this State in expressive speech, we had
not done that for our soldier dead which we should, and that we had
neglected those who died for us. I am glad, therefore, to be present
and see this monument started. I reverently rejoice with you on this
occasion, and hail the work which these commissioners have so wisely
and magnificently begun.
Among other distinguished guests participating in the ceremonies were
Mrs. Jennie Meyerhoff, of Evansville, President of the Woman's Relief
Corps, Department of Indiana; Col. George C. Harvey, of Danville,
commanding the Sons of Veterans, Division of Indiana; Mrs. Zelda
Seguin-Wallace and Miss Laura McManis, Indianapolis; Miss Kate Hammond,
Greencastle, and Rev. H. J. Talbott.
The march to the monument was one of the most imposing demonstrations
ever witnessed in Indiana. Fifteen thousand veterans and others formed
the great column, commanded by Chief Marshal Charles A. Zollinger, of
Fort Wayne; Chief of Staff, Major Irvin Robbins; Adjutant-General, Major
Wilbur F. Hitt, assisted by a brilliant staff of 60 prominent citizens.
In addition to these officers of the day was a mounted honorary staff,
representing the thirteen Congressional districts. They were: First
District, Gil R. Stormont, Princeton; Second, Col. Elijah Cavens,
Bloomfield; Third, Capt. James B. Patton, Jeffersonville; Fourth,
Marine D. Tackett, Greensburg; Fifth, Maj. J. G. Dunbar, Greencastle;
Sixth, Maj. J. F. Wildman, Muncie; Seventh, Capt. D. W. Hamilton,
Indianapolis; Eighth, Capt. A. C. Ford, Terre Haute; Ninth, Col. R. P.
DeHart, Lafayette; Tenth, Capt. M. L. DeMotte, Valparaiso; Eleventh,
Col. C. E. Briant, Huntington; Twelfth, Capt. J. C. Peltier, Fort Wayne;
Thirteenth, Gen. Reub. Williams, Warsaw. More than 100,000 people
witnessed the pageant.
The monument is a majestic square embellished shaft of Indiana
limestone, some 250 feet high, surmounted by a heroic figure of Victory,
the pedestal resting upon a great circular stone terrace. The architects
were Bruno Schmitz, of Berlin, and Frederick Baumann, of Chicago. The
ceremony of laying the corner-stone was conducted by the following
officials of the Grand Army of the Republic: Commander of the Department
of Indiana Charles M. Travis, of Crawfordsville; Senior Vice Department
Commander P. D. Harris, of Shelbyville; Junior Vice-Commander B. B.
Campbell, of Anderson; Assistant Adjutant-General I. N. Walker, of
Indianapolis; Officers of the Day Wm. H. Armstrong, of Indianapolis, and
Lieut.-Gov. Ira J. Chase, of Danville.
Gov. Alvin P. Hovey, as presiding officer, delivered an eloquent opening
address, which was followed by the singing of the hymn "Dedication,"
written for the occasion by Charles M. Walker, of Indianapolis. The
speakers of the day were Gen. Mahlon D. Manson, of Crawfordsville, and
Gen. John Coburn, of Indianapolis. Their masterly orations were followed
by the reading of a poem, "What Shall It Teach?" written by Capt. Lee O.
Harris, of Greenfield.
When Governor Hovey introduced the Chief Executive of the Nation the
vast audience swayed with enthusiasm. In a voice low, and with a slight
tremble in it, President Harrison began his fine tribute to the men who
responded to the country's call. As he proceeded his voice rose higher
until it rang out clear as a bugle and drew from the multitude repeated
and vociferous cheers. He spoke as follows:
_Mr. President and Fellow-citizens_--I did not expect to make any
address on this occasion. It would have been pleasant, if I could
have found leisure to make suitable preparation, to have accepted
the invitation of the committee having these exercises in charge
to deliver an oration. I would have felt it an honor to associate
my name with an occasion so great as this. Public duties, however,
prevented the acceptance of the invitation, and I could only promise
to be present with you to-day. It seemed to me most appropriate that
I should take part with my fellow-citizens of Indiana in this great
ceremony. There have been few occasions in the history of our State
so full of interest, so magnificent, so inspiring, as that which
we now witness. The suggestion that a monument should be builded
to commemorate the valor and heroism of those soldiers of Indiana
who gave their lives for the flag attracted my interest from the
beginning. Five years ago last January, when the people assembled in
the opera-house yonder to unveil the statue which had been worthily
set up to our great war Governor, I ventured to express the hope that
near by it, as a twin expression of one great sentiment, there might
be builded a noble shaft, not to any man, not to bear on any of its
majestic faces the name of a man, but a monument about which the sons
of veterans, the mothers of our dead, the widows that are yet with us,
might gather, and, pointing to the stately shaft, say: "There is his
monument." The hope expressed that day is realized now. [Cheers.]
I congratulate the people of Indiana that our Legislature
has generously met the expectations of our patriotic people. I
congratulate the commission having this great work in charge that
they have secured a design which will not suffer under the criticism
of the best artists of the world. I congratulate you that a monument
so costly as to show that we value that which it commemorates, so
artistic as to express the sentiment which evoked it, is to stand in
the capital of Indiana. Does any one say there is wastefulness here?
[Cries of "No, no!"] My countrymen, $200,000 has never passed, and
never will pass, from the treasury of Indiana that will give a better
return than the expenditure for the erection of this monument. As I
have witnessed these ceremonies and listened to these patriotic hymns
I have read in the faces of the men who stand about me that lifting up
of the soul, that kindling of patriotic fire, that has made me realize
that on such occasions the Nation is laying deep and strong its future
security.
This is a monument by Indiana to Indiana soldiers. But I beg
you to remember that they were only soldiers of Indiana until the
enlistment oath was taken; that from that hour until they came back
to the generous State that had sent them forth they were soldiers of
the Union. So that it seemed to me not inappropriate that I should
bring to you to-day the sympathy and cheer of the loyal people of
all the States. No American citizen need avoid it or pass it with
unsympathetic eyes, for, my countrymen, it does not commemorate a war
of subjugation. There is not in the United States to-day a man who, if
he realizes what has occurred since the war and has opened his soul to
the sight of that which is to come, who will not feel that it is good
for all our people that victory crowned the cause which this monument
commemorates. I do seriously believe that if we can measure among the
States the benefits resulting from the preservation of the Union, the
rebellious States have the larger share. It destroyed an institution
that was their destruction. It opened the way for a commercial life
that, if they will only embrace it and face the light, means to them a
development that shall rival the best attainments of the greatest of
our States.
And now let me thank you for your pleasant greeting. I have felt
lifted up by this occasion. It seems to me that our spirits have been
borne up to meet those of the dead and glorified, and that from this
place we shall go to our homes more resolutely set in our purpose
as citizens to conserve the peace and welfare of our neighborhoods,
to hold up the dignity and honor of our free institutions, and to
see that no harm shall come to our country, whether from internal
dissensions or from the aggressions of a foreign foe. [Great cheering.]
A camp-fire was held at night at Tomlinson Hall, presided over by
Charles M. Travis, Commander of Indiana G. A. R., where an audience of
over 5,000 assembled. The orators of the occasion were Hon. Samuel B.
Voyles, of Salem; Judge Daniel Waugh, of Tipton; General Jasper Packard,
of New Albany; Col. I. N. Walker and Albert J. Beveridge, Indianapolis;
Hon. Benj. S. Parker, New Castle, and Hon. Wm. R. Myers, Anderson.
President Harrison's appearance was greeted by a prolonged
demonstration, the audience rising with one impulse. Commander Travis
said: "I told you I would treat you to a surprise. Here is your
President. He needs no introduction."
President Harrison's reply was:
_Mr. Chairman, Comrades_--I think I will treat you to another
surprise. My Indiana friends have been so much accustomed to have
me talk on all occasions that I am sure nothing would gratify them
more--nothing would be a greater surprise than for me to decline to
talk to-night. I am very grateful for this expression of your interest
and respect. That comradeship and good feeling which your cordial
salutation has expressed to me I beg every comrade of the Grand Army
here to-night to believe I feel for him.
Now, I am sure, in view of the labors of yesterday and to-day,
that you will allow me to wish you prosperous, happy, useful lives,
honorable and peaceful deaths, and that those who survive you may
point to this shaft, which is being reared yonder, as a worthy tribute
of your services in defence of your country. [Cheers.]
INDIANAPOLIS, AUGUST 23, 1889.
_Reunion of the Seventieth Indiana._
The day following the ceremonies at the Soldiers' Monument President
Harrison attended the fifteenth annual reunion of his old regiment,
the Seventieth Indiana, at Tomlinson Hall. Many survivors of the One
Hundred and Second and One Hundred and Fifth Indiana, the One Hundred
and Twenty-ninth Illinois, and the Seventy-ninth Ohio regiments were
present. These regiments, with the Seventieth, constituted the First
Brigade--General Harrison's command. The gathering, therefore, was
alternately a regimental and brigade reunion.
Col. Samuel Merrill, who delivered the annual address, escorted the
President, and amid enthusiastic cheering installed him as presiding
officer of the assembly. Other prominent members of the Seventieth
present were Gen. Thomas J. Morgan, Capt. Wm. M. Meredith, Daniel M.
Ransdell, Moses G. McLain, Capt. H. M. Endsley, Capt. Wm. Mitchell,
and Capt. Chas. H. Cox. General Harrison was unanimously re-elected
President of the regimental association; he was also chosen first
President of the brigade association. The other brigade officers were
Vice-President, Gen. Daniel Dustin; Second Vice-President, Gen. A. W.
Doane; Secretary, J. M. Ayers; Treasurer, E. H. Conger.
In the absence of Mayor Denny, City Attorney W. L. Taylor cordially
welcomed the veterans to Indianapolis. To this greeting the presiding
officer, President Harrison, responded:
_Mr. Taylor_--The survivors of the Seventieth Indiana Volunteer
Infantry, now assembled in annual reunion, have heard, with great
gratification, the cordial words of welcome which you have addressed
to us. We have never doubted the hospitality of the citizens of this
great city, and have several times held our reunions here; and if
we have more frequently sought some of the quieter towns in this
Congressional district--where the regiment was organized--it has
only been because we could be a little more to ourselves than was
possible in this city. You will not think this a selfish instinct when
I tell you that, as the years go on, these reunions of our regiment
become more and more a family affair; and as in the gathering of
the scattered members of a family in the family reunion, so we have
loved, when we get together as comrades, to be somewhat apart, that
we might enjoy each other. It has been pleasant, I am sure, however,
to link this annual reunion with the great event of yesterday. It did
us good to meet with our comrades of the whole State--those who had
other numbers on their uniforms, but carried the same flag under which
we marched--in these exercises connected with the dedication of a
monument that knows no regimental distinction. [Applause.]
If those having charge now will announce some proper arrangement by
which I can take by the hand the members, not only of the Seventieth
Indiana, but any comrades of the First Brigade, who have done us honor
by meeting with us to-day, I would be glad to conform to their wishes.
It is perhaps possible that, without leaving the hall, simply by an
exchange of seats, this may be accomplished, and when that is done
there may yet be time before dinner to proceed with some other of the
exercises upon the programme.
CHICAGO, DECEMBER 9, 1889.
Monday morning, December 9, 1889, President Harrison, accompanied
by Mr. and Mrs. Russell B. Harrison, Mrs. McKee, and First Ass't
Postmaster-General J. S. Clarkson and wife, arrived in Chicago for the
purpose of participating in the dedication of the great Auditorium
building, in which--while in an unfinished state--was held the
convention of June, 1888, that nominated General Harrison for the
presidency. The distinguished party was met by a committee comprising
Mayor D. C. Cregier, Ferd. W. Peck, Gen. Geo. W. Crook, Hon. A. L.
Seeberger, Col. James A. Sexton, Alexander H. Revell, Franklin S.
Head, C. L. Hutchinson, Charles Counselman, J. J. P. Odell, Col. O. A.
Schaffner, F. S. Bissell, and R. W. Dunham.
During the morning the President and Vice-President Morton, under the
guidance of Mr. Ferd. Peck, visited the Board of Trade and were tendered
an enthusiastic reception by the members of that famous exchange. Then
followed a reception and lunch at the Union League Club, as the guests
of Mr. Peck and President Bissell of the Club. Other prominent citizens
present were Governor Fifer, Geo. M. Pullman, Marshall Field, Joseph
Medill, S. M. Nickerson, J. R. Rumsey, N. K. Fairbank, Sam. W. Allerton,
A. A. Sprague, H. H. Kohlsaat, Wm. Penn Nixon, A. L. Patterson, Adolph
Caron, C. I. Peck, A. L. Coe, John R. Walsh, J. W. Scott, John B.
Carson, M. A. Ryerson, V. F. Lawson, and O. W. Meysenberg. Later in the
afternoon the President and Mr. Morton, accompanied by Governor Hoard,
of Wisconsin, General Alger, and Judge Thurston, visited the Marquette
Club--of which the President is an honorary member--and were received by
President Revell, Secretary Gould, H. M. Kingman, C. W. Gordon, and C.
E. Nixon, comprising the Reception Committee.
The dedication of the auditorium hall in the evening was an event of
rare interest in the history of Chicago. President Harrison and his
party and Vice-President and Mrs. Morton were the honored guests of
the occasion. Other distinguished out-of-town guests were Sir Adolph
Caron, Hon. G. A. Kirkpatrick, C. H. McIntosh, and Mr. Wells, of Canada;
Governor and Mrs. Fifer; Governor and Mrs. Merriam, of Minnesota;
Governor Hoard, of Wisconsin; Governor and Mrs. Larrabee, of Iowa; Mrs.
Governor Gordon; ex-Governor Morton, of Nebraska; General Alger, Judge
and Mrs. Walter Q. Gresham; Mr. and Mrs. House, of St. Louis, and Mr.
and Mrs. F. J. Mackey, of Kansas City.
The Auditorium--the modern Parthenon--typifying the spirit of the age,
is largely the conception of Mr. Ferd. W. Peck, and its realization is
the fruit of his zeal, supported and encouraged by the wealthy men of
Chicago. The great structure, costing three and a half million dollars,
was built by the Chicago Auditorium Association, whose officers at the
time of completion were: Ferd. W. Peck, President; N. K. Fairbank,
First Vice-President; John R. Walsh, Second Vice-President; Charles
L. Hutchinson, Treasurer; Charles H. Lunt, Secretary. The building
was begun June 1, 1887; the laying of the corner-stone occurred in
September that year, and was witnessed by President Cleveland and other
distinguished visitors. It has a frontage of 710 feet on Congress
Street, Michigan and Wabash avenues. The exterior material is granite
and Bedford stone. The height of the main structure is 145 feet, or
ten stories; height of tower above main building 95 feet, or eight
floors; height of lantern above main tower 30 feet, or two floors;
total height 270 feet--one of the tallest buildings in the world. The
permanent seating capacity of the auditorium is over 4,000, but for
conventions--by utilizing stage--this capacity is increased to 8,000.
A feature of the great hall is the grand organ. In addition to this
unrivalled convention hall the colossal structure contains a recital
hall, 136 stores and offices, a hotel with 400 guest rooms, and a
magnificent banquet hall 175 feet long.
The gathering at the dedicatory exercises nationalized the Auditorium;
15,000 people were within its walls. The President and Mrs. McKee were
the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Ferd. W. Peck. Among the several thousand
prominent residents present were the following gentlemen and their
families--stockholders in the Auditorium Association: G. E. Adams, A.
C. Bartlett, G. M. Bogue, C. W. Brega, J. W. Doane, J. B. Drake, J.
K. Fisher, Carter H. Harrison, Charles Henrotin, O. R. Keith, G. F.
Kimball, S. D. Kimbark, J. T. Lester, W. L. Peck, R. W. Roloson, W.
C. Seipp, Lazarus Silverman, Robert Warren, John Wilkinson, Jr., C.
S. Willoughby, C. T. Yerkes, J. McGregor Adams, W. T. Baker, Gen. J.
C. Black, H. Botsford, R. R. Cable, C. R. Cummings, J. C. Dore, G. L.
Dunlap, C. B. Farwell, J. J. Glessner, E. G. Kieth, W. D. Kerfoot, W. W.
Kimball, L. Z. Leiter, J. M. Loomis, A. A. Munger, N. B. Ream, Conrad
Seipp, J. G. Shortall, W. Sooy Smith, P. B. Weare, Norman Williams, F.
H. Winston, and J. Otto Young.
The exercises opened with an address of welcome by Mayor Cregier,
followed by a speech from Mr. Peck, President of the Association, who
received an ovation. President Harrison's address was followed by the
rendition of the hymn "America" by the Apollo Club of 500 trained
voices. Hon. John S. Runnells delivered the dedicatory oration. Then
came the real event of the day--"Home, Sweet Home" and the "Swiss Echo
Song" by the incomparable songstress Adelina Patti, who shared the
honors of the occasion with the President. The programme concluded with
an address by Governor Fifer and the grand "Hallelujah" chorus from "The
Messiah."
As Mr. Peck introduced President Harrison the great assembly
enthusiastically testified its welcome. The President spoke as follows:
_Ladies and Gentlemen_--Some of my newspaper friends have been
puzzling themselves in order to discover the reason why I left
Washington to be present here to-night. I do not think I need, in view
of the magnificent spectacle presented to us here to-night, to state
the motives which have impelled my presence. Surely no loyal citizen
of Chicago who sits here to-night under this witching and magnificent
scene will ask for any other reason than that which is here presented.
[Applause.]
I do most heartily congratulate you upon the completion and
inauguration of this magnificent building--without an equal in this
country, and, so far as I know, without an equal in the world.
[Applause.] We have here about us to-night in this grand architecture,
in this tasteful decoration, that which is an education and an
inspiration. [Applause.] It might well tempt one whose surroundings
were much farther removed from this scene than is the capital city
to make a longer journey than I have done to stand for an hour
in the view of such a spectacle of magnificence and grandeur and
architectural triumph as this. [Applause.] And if that be true,
surely there is reason enough why the President may turn aside for a
little while from public duty to mingle with his fellow-citizens in
celebrating an event so high and so worthy of commemoration as this
triumph to-night. [Prolonged applause.]
Not speech, certainly, not the careless words of an extemporaneous
speech, can adequately express all the sentiments I feel in
contemplating the fitting culmination of this deed. [Applause.] Only
the voice of the immortal singer can bring from these arches those
echoes which will tell us the true purpose of their construction.
[Applause.]
You will permit me, then, to thank you, to thank the Mayor of
Chicago, to thank the President of this Association, and to thank all
those good citizens with whom I have to-day been brought in personal
contact, for the kindness and respect with which you and they have
received me; and you will permit me to thank you, my fellow-citizens,
for the cordiality which you have kindly displayed here to-night.