 |
| Gen. Oliver Otis Howard. |
Cortland Standard, Thursday, September
19, 1895.
FORMALLY
DEDICATED.
Chickamauga
Today Became a National Park.
EXERCISES
AT THE BATTLEFIELD.
Thousands
of Veterans From North and South Trod Again the Historic Ground—Oration by General Howard and Palmer.
Other Ceremonies.
CHATTANOOGA, Sept. 19.—If one may judge by
the events of the last 10 days the Mason and Dixon line has been wiped off the
map. The friendly, brotherly feeling that has been displayed here this week and
that was shown at Louisville last week by the boys of the gray toward the boys
of the blue, the bitter sectionalism that has so long divided the Union no
longer exists.
For nearly a fortnight now the doors of the
South have been open for those who came here 33 years ago, bearing arms of
slaughter and destruction. Not a single incident that would indicate a feeling
of hatred on either side has been recorded.
"Yankees" and "Johnny
Rebs," grown gray with years, have gone over the great battlefield
together, discussed the events of those awful days, drank together and even in
some instances slept together without stirring up anything like an angry
thought.
Generals who commanded armies for the Union
have been the guests of the generals of the Confederacy and each has solemnly declared
that there is "no North and no South."
The people of Chattanooga have done as much
for the entertainment of their Northern visitors as anyone could wish. At early
dawn the town and the surrounding country awoke. In less than two hours there
was a general exodus from town to the battlefield.
There were bands of music followed by regiments
of militia. There were thousands upon thousands of battle-scarred veterans and
there were thousands upon thousands of men, women and children who personally
never knew what war was. Then there were carriages, wagons and vehicles of
every description in which the people rode. The cars, electric and steam, were
loaded to the guard rails.
Many of the vast throng looked over the
field of Chickamauga, sadly remembering the awful scenes in carnage and death
they had witnessed there 30 years ago, but all felt a thrill of joy to know
that old wounds had healed and the hatred was no more.
Today was the most important of the week,
the battlefield being formally opened by the announcement of Secretary of War Lamont,
representing the government.
The crowd which today stood upon the famous
battleground and witnessed the peaceful scene and cheered the sentiments of
patriotism and brotherly love uttered by the speakers was probably greater than
that which met in the shock of battle on the same spot years ago.
The great platform erected on the field was
literally loaded down with state and federal officials and was surrounded by a
mass of humanity which extended in a wide circle for many feet. On the
platform, besides Secretary Lamont, who acted as master of ceremonies, were
representatives of every department of the national government, the governors,
or their representatives, of every state and territory, together with a host of
senators, congressmen and other officials and distinguished persons.
The scene was enlivened by appropriate
musical recitations by some of the most famous military bands of the country.
The principal speaker of the day was General O. O. Howard, whose oration preceded the formal declaration of the opening of
the national park.
The general said in substance that the very
thought of this occasion brings to his recollection visions of the spectacular
welcome that Longstreet gave him in October, '63; the inhospitable disturbing
of his slumbers by Stevenson; the removal of Longstreet and his troops from the
scene by General Bragg, rendering it possible for the speaker to cross two long
bridges and stand beside Grant and Thomas on Nov. 28; his first meeting with
John A. Logan, Frank Blair, Jeff C. Davis and a host of others, and to
participate in all the operations clustering around Missionary Ridge.
General Howard then recalled historic names
from both armies, saying that a singular respect attaches to the names of
Hardee, Cleburn, Hindman, Cheatham, Breckinridge, Stewart, Walker, Bate,
Stevenson and others who met them at Lookout Mountain, hemmed them in at
Chattanooga, defended Tunnel Hill and covered the slope and summit of
Missionary Ridge with hostile arms.
He then reviewed the American volunteer,
choosing as his type one whom the war summoned from the theological seminary,
the farm, the school, and who passed through all grades, from that of private
soldier to brigadier general, engaged in 20 big battles.
The young volunteers then went to discipline
the black troops, who came like a thunder cloud, full of lightning flashes,
with their wild cheers and jubilee songs, stilled, alas, by the terrible
tidings of the assassination of Lincoln.
Then the young volunteer marched homeward
with Sherman, to be forever relieved at Washington. "The Union had been
saved, slavery was dead and liberty athroned [sic] forever by the young
volunteer and his comrades."
General Howard then invited his hearers to
look at the volunteer, now that he had been mustered out over 30 years—rather
thin in flesh, a little stooping, his gait halting, his hair sprinkled with
gray, suffering greatly from wretched old wounds, poor, obliged to ask for a
pension, which he did without as long as he could, but when the weakness and
suffering came he felt that he deserved just a little help.
General Howard next described the meeting of
Grant and the Confederate generals in Philadelphia, sealing anew the peace and
union of this land. The next day the mighty Union and Confederate generals traversed
the historic field of Gettysburg, the battle which, while the strain was on, was
felt, it was said, by Abraham Lincoln's soul more deeply than if he had been
present, so that it worked a spiritual change in him. General Howard added:
"My last visit to Gettysburg, taken in
connection with the friendly intercourse with representative men opposed to us
on that ground, changed my attitude, if not my conviction of right, toward the
Confederates who fought us. I was looking into Longstreet's face, while Sickles
was leaning, supported by crutches, against a rock. When I said something
concerning the commands of duty General Longstreet answered me reflectively:
"'We
must be guided by the light within us. I have tried all along to stand firm to
my conviction of duty, according to the light I have had.'"
General Howard said that he had compared
notes with a prominent Confederate leader and that they had come together,
unconsciously, no doubt, and now were agreed that the war was a necessity to
completely root out slavery.
"There yet remain," continued
General Howard, "many evils to eradicate, but there will be no more
rebellions, but genuine comradeship for us all."
General John M. Palmer told the story of the
Battle of Chickamauga, saying that but few of the names of the fallen were
known, but the courage and gallantry of all could be remembered. In conclusion
he said:
"The civil war was caused by the
sectional challenge to American manhood, and that challenge was accepted and
followed by years of bloody and desolate war. In that war the American people
learned to properly estimate each other, which is the only foundation for
harmonious national unity. By that war the theory of the right of the states to
secede from the Union was forever eradicated from our system of national
constitutional government. By that war African slavery, which was the root of
sectional bitterness and was one of the causes or pretexts for national controversy,
was forever overthrown, and the flag of our country became at once the emblem
of freedom and the symbol of national power. As the result of that war, the
constitution was maintained and not subverted; and the union of the American
people made perpetual.
"My comrades, we who survive to this day
may well be grateful to the Divine Being who guides the destiny of nations that
we are permitted to see an established Union, a republic extending from the
Atlantic to the Pacific and from the lakes to the gulf and liberty and law the all
pervading rule of our national life.
"We are here today with malice toward
none and charity for all, we meet as citizens of a common country, devoted to
its interests and alike ready to maintain its honor wherever or however
assailed."
Brief remarks were made by other
distinguished men and then Secretary Lamont, in an eloquent and patriotic
address, formally dedicated to the people of the United States the battle
ground of Chickamauga, together with its thousands of dead heroes and the
monuments which mark their last resting place, as a national military park. A
roar of big guns and the rattle of musketry greeted the closing remarks of the
secretary, mingled with the cheers of the vast throng around him, and as the
bands struck up the national anthem, the ceremonies for the day closed and the
crowds melted away toward the city or wandered in groups over the battle field.
Threatened With a Riot.
ITHACA, N. Y., Sept. 19.—Italians employed
on the sewer construction in this city have struck and threaten a riot. A
special force of police have been sworn in. This morning the Italians held a
procession carrying an American flag. The ringleaders were promptly arrested.
The most trouble is feared to-night when the Italians who refused to strike
meet those that have struck and have not worked to-day.
THE
[CORTLAND] SEWER MATTER.
Prospects
of a Speedy Continuance of the Work.
Sewer Contractor Charles Doe returned this
morning from Port Huron, Mich., and has been in consultation to-day with the
sewer board. Mr. Arthur F. Schermerhorn, representing the American Surety Co.
of New York, who are the bondsmen for the sewer contractors, is also here.
There is every indication that the difficulties, which have led to the
interruption of the work, will be settled up at once and that the sewer
building will be continued without delay.
ABOUT
THOSE CARS.
Six
passengers for the North—Hundreds for the South.
The Homer Republican complains because more
cars were not run to Homer after the Wild West show Monday to accommodate the
people of that village, while so many cars came south to Cortland. Whether the
complaint is well founded for the afternoon exhibition we know not, but after
the evening show a representative of the STANDARD who was coming off the
grounds personally saw this state of affairs. Four cars each with a single
trailer were filled up at once and started for Cortland. One car with two
trailers were loaded for Homer. They waited for five minutes or so on the
switch for a car to come from Homer. When this car arrived they started at
once. This car was to return to Homer. Six people got in. The bell sounded
again and again, the conductor shouted "All aboard for Homer" and
after a few minutes wait the car started with those six passengers while
hundreds stood about waiting for the return of the cars from Cortland for a
second trip. It was a subject of remark at the time how just and accommodating
the Traction company were to start off north with six passengers when they
might have taken all they could crowd in if they had come south. And it was not
a regular trip either which they were bound to run on schedule time, but it was
a special extra car.
It seems to us that the Traction company are
doing their best to treat the three villages served with the utmost fairness
and do not discriminate in favor of the larger crowds where it might mean
dollars in their pockets.
BREVITIES.
—To-day is the Jewish new year.
—The King's Daughters will meet with Mrs. A.
M. Johnson, 64 N. Main-st., Friday, Sept. 20, at 2:30 P. M.
—The Democratic town caucus will be held at
Fireman's hall at 7:30 o'clock to-night. Delegates will be elected to the
county convention on Saturday.
—It is expected that James Smith, one of the
newly appointed policemen will go on duty to-morrow morning. S. G. Brower began
his duties last night.
—The annual reunion of the 157th
Regt. N. Y. Vols., is being held at Chittenango to-day. Twenty excursion
tickets were sold this morning from Cortland.
—A little girl four years old in Chautauqua
county on Tuesday fell into a dairy can of milk while attempting to drink from
it and was drowned. No one saw the accident and the child was dead when found.
—This year when people arrive in town to
attend our fair they will be surprised to find the great improvement brought
about by a little paint and a new fence. We have now the neatest looking and
most attractive fair grounds and buildings of any in this section, and our
fair—-well, our fair is always good. In fact, 'tis the banner town fair of the state
of New York.—Dryden Herald.
Surrogate's
Proceedings.
Sept 11.—In the matter of the estate of Levi
Schellinger, late of the town of Truxton, N. Y., petition for letters of administration
filed. Bond approved and filed. Letters issued to Julia Schellinger.
In the matter of the estate of C. C. Cass, late
of the town of Freetown, N. Y., proof of service of citation made and filed,
will offered for probate, will admitted. Letters testamentary issued to Melissa
R. Wilcox and William Haskins.
In the matter of the estate of William S.
Santus, late of the town of Homer, N. Y.,
petition for final account filed, account filed, accounting had and
administrator discharged.
Sept. 12.—In the matter of proving the will
of Happy Bronson, late of Virgil, N. Y.,
petition for probate of will filed, citation issued returnable Sept. 20, 1895.
In the estate of Nathan Spencer of Virgil,
N. Y., proceedings adjourned to Sept. 24, 1895.
Sept. 13.—In the matter of proving the will
of Darius Boyden, late of Marathon, N. Y., will admitted to probate and letters
testamentary issued to Delia Boyden. Order granted to publish notice to
creditors.
In the matter of the estate of Lewis Underwood,
late of Freetown, N. Y., letters of administration issued to Florence Wright
and Rufus T. Peck. Aaron Gardner
and Dewitt Turner appointed appraisers.
Sept. 14.—In the matter of the estate of Judson
C. Nelson, late of Truxton, N. Y., inventory filed.
Sept. 16.—In the matter of the estate of E.
DeForest Baker, late of Marathon, N. Y., final account filed, accounting had
and executor discharged.
In the matter of the estate of C. C. Cass,
late of Freetown, N. Y., order granted to publish notice to creditors.
Sept. 17.—In the estate of Ranson J. Brooks,
late of Cortland, N. Y., estate settled and administrator discharged.
In the matter of the estate of Ruth French,
late of Cincinnatus, N. Y., petition for probate of will filed, citation issued
returnable Nov. 23, 1895.
Sept. 18.—In the matter of the estate of
Olivia Chittenden, late of Homer, N. Y.,
inventory of appraisers filed.
Charles
T Ellis.
"The Alsation," a new Irish-German
comedy-drama, filled with picturesque scenes and a vivid lot of Irish comedy, will
be presented at the Opera House on Friday night by the sweet singer and talented
comedian, Charles T. Ellis, and a company of first-class artists. The play was
written for Mr. Ellis by Charles Erin Verner and in it Mr. Ellis sustains the
title role, that of a chivalrous lighthearted German.
In the course of the play, Mr. Ellis will
render some of his latest and most beautiful songs. The piece is an excellent
one, full of wit and humor, with just enough pathos to make the scenes
interesting. The scenic effects are magnificent, being exact reproductions of
famous places in "Old Ireland."
FINE MUSICAL.
Tioughnioga
Club Rooms Well Filled on Ladies' Night.
There was a very large attendance of members
and lady friends at the Tioughnioga club rooms last night on the occasion of
the September ladies' night. The house committee, consisting of Messrs. W. H.
Newton, W. G. McKinney and G. T. Maxson, had arranged additional decorations
for the rooms in the form of flowers, pictures and ornaments which added to
their attractiveness. The musical program which was published yesterday was one
of the finest ever given there upon a similar occasion. Miss Terry was at her
best and her magnificent voice, so soft and so strong and powerful by turns,
and always so smooth and sweet and full of expression, delighted every one. She
was most enthusiastically applauded. Her duet with Mr. C. F. Brown was one of
the choice numbers on the program.
Mr. Graham is always well received with his
flute and Mr. Kingsley's piano solo was a pleasant feature of the program. An
enjoyable hour was spent socially after the music was over.
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