A nation never can endure unless it has respect for its heroes. Its end is near when its citizenship becomes iconoclastic or carping critics. Whatever, therefore, serves to awaken inquiry, to make our patriotism more intense, is or should be the object of every man who has the future of our country at heart.

One should be impressed by the story of the battles as recounted by General Keifer, an active participant with Sheridan in his campaign, as well as by the facts of history that the devotion of Sheridan and his followers was an unselfish devotion with little thought of future glory, but intense ambition for present success. This it was that made victory certain; that has enshrined Sheridan along with Grant and Sherman among the heroes of the dark days of 1861 to 1865.

The people of Albany should be proud of the fact that from her purlieus there should have come so distinguished a participant in that great struggle; that among the directory of famous men one of her citizens should occupy so foremost a place.

Standing as it does, this statue will always be a reminder of those great sacrifices that were necessary in order not only to reconstruct, but to read into our constitution and into our laws the fact that liberty in our country is not a misnomer, but means the enjoyment by all, without reference to creed or color, of freedom to the fullest extent.

This is the result of Sheridan's devotion. To us comes the duty of maintaining and upholding that which was made possible by the sacrifice of the men who live today by their deeds, and whose force is manifested by the patriotism of the American people devoted to all that is necessary to perpetuate our Republic.

INCIDENTS OF THE UNVEILING

B

CEREMONIES

RIG.-GEN. MICHAEL V. SHERIDAN, brother of

Philip H. Sheridan, who resides in Carlisle, Pa., was

unable to attend the ceremonies. In reply to the invitation sent by the committee General Sheridan wrote:

Brig.-Gen. Michael V. Sheridan regrets that because of advanced years and failing health he is unable to accept the kind invitation of the Sheridan monument commission of the State of New York to be present at the unveiling of the statue of Gen. Philip H. Sheridan, on October 7, 1916, in Albany, N. Y.

Carlisle, Pa., October 2, 1916.

General Sheridan, when he wrote, was 76 years old. He was with his distinguished brother throughout the Civil War, and was on his personal staff in the Shenandoah Valley campaign.

One of the eminent soldiers who attended the unveiling was Gen. Nelson A. Miles, major-general retired, who resides at Washington. He won distinction in the Civil War at Reams Station, Va., for which he was promoted to brigadier-general, and for service at Chancellorsville, where he was severely wounded. He also was famous as an Indian fighter against Chiefs Sitting Bull and Geronimo in the west.