Speeches of Benjamin Harrison, Twenty-third President of the United StatesHarrison, Benjamin
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Speeches of Benjamin Harrison, Twenty-third President of the United States
Harrison, Benjamin
Harrison, Benjamin, 1833-1901; Speeches, addresses, etc., American; United States -- Politics and government
The spectacular event of the day was the grand military and civic
parade, participated in by President Harrison and the other guests.
Six thousand men were in line, commanded by Chief Marshal Gen. James
Barnett and a brilliant staff. At the head of the great column marched
115 survivors of Garfield's old regiment--the Forty-second Ohio--led by
Capt. C. E. Henry, of Dallas, Texas, the Colonel, Judge Don A. Pardee,
being absent. The procession comprised twelve divisions, commanded by
the following marshals: Capt. J. B. Molyneaux, Gen. M. D. Leggett, Col.
W. H. Hayward, Em. Sir M. J. Houck, Col. Louis Black, Col. John Dunn,
Capt. E. H. Bohm, Captain McNiel, Capt. Louis Perczel, Col. Allen T.
Brinsmade, Col. C. L. Alderson, and Capt. M. G. Browne.
Ex-President Hayes officiated as Chairman of the dedicatory meeting
at the mausoleum, and introduced Hon. Jacob D. Cox, of Cincinnati,
who delivered the oration of the occasion. Many other distinguished
men spoke briefly. When the Chairman introduced President Harrison an
ovation was tendered him, and almost every sentence of his address was
enthusiastically cheered.
The President spoke with great earnestness. He said:
_Mr. Chairman and Fellow-citizens_--I thank you most sincerely
for this cordial greeting, but I shall not be betrayed by it into a
lengthy speech. The selection of this day for these exercises--a day
consecrated to the memory of those who died that there might be one
flag of honor and authority in this republic--is most fitting. That
one flag encircles us with its folds to-day, the unrivalled object of
our loyal love.
This monument, so imposing and tasteful, fittingly typifies the
grand and symmetrical character of him in whose honor it has been
builded. His was "the arduous greatness of things done." No friendly
hands constructed and placed for his ambition a ladder upon which
he might climb. His own brave hands framed and nailed the cleats
upon which he climbed to the heights of public usefulness and fame.
He never ceased to be student and instructor. Turning from peaceful
pursuits to army service, he quickly mastered tactics and strategy,
and in a brief army career taught some valuable lessons in military
science. Turning again from the field to the councils of state, he
stood among the great debaters that have made our National Congress
illustrious. What he might have been or done as President of the
United States is chiefly left to friendly augury, based upon a career
that had no incident of failure or inadequacy. The cruel circumstances
attending his death had but one amelioration--that space of life was
given him to teach from his dying bed a great lesson of patience and
forbearance. His mortal part will find honorable rest here, but the
lessons of his life and death will continue to be instructive and
inspiring incidents in American history. [Great applause.]
BOSTON, AUGUST 11, 1890.
_The Guest of Massachusetts._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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