Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-04-13
[From The Chicago Times. April III
Grant and Lee.

The two greatest men produced respec-
lively by the North and South during this
war met face to face ON Sunday, the one to
yield up his sword, and the other to receive
it. They met as victor and vanquished; the
one grand in this crowning act of his sue
cess, and the other scarcely less grand at
moment i'm which he surrendered forever
his hope of independence for the so-called
Confederacy. Grant is giant at his mo-
ment of triumph; and we do not fail to see
the colossal stature of the other, even
though surrounded by misfortune and fail
ure.
that of any other. No other in the worlds
history has started from the same obscurity,
and within less than four years reached so
great height-obtained renown so wide
spread and glorious. First he appeared as
the Colonel of raw volunteer regiment
from an obscure town in a State remote
from the great centers OF industry, popula-
ton and wealth. About the first heard of
him by the nation was as newly-fedged
Brigadier, who had lost good many men
at Belmont. He rose upon the western
horizon of the country dim light that was
almost hidden by a halo of blood.
A little later, he was heard of at Donel-
son; but the glory that he gathered here
was before long obscured by the darkness
of Shiloh. For a long time he was under a
cloud; cloud of doubt as to his ability and
his sobriety, of misrepresentation and con-
demnation. Months passed, and his light
CLEANED ftfully through the darkness as he
moved through Tennessee and turned south
ward into Mississippi. Again it disap-
peared at Holly Springs, and then alternate
Iy shone out and was invisible during the
weary months that preceded the capture of
Vicksburg. By rare stroke of genius, he
captured that stronghold, and the clouds
over his name rolled away. He was called
to Chattanooga, and as his army climbed
the mountains and wrenched victory from
the rebels among the clouds, his star like
wise ascended and became one of the first
magnitude. From thence he went to Vir-
ginia. Sometimes his light was dimmed,
but it never was wholly Obscured. 1t rose
higher and higher, until to-day, when it Is
at the zenith, and is a full orbed sun with
out rival in size, height and splendor.-
A tallow-dip glimmering family at first,
andoftentimesa almost extinguished In blood,
and as often totally invisible through clouds
of doubt, it has increased until now, when
it is globe oflight in mid-sky, whose rays
reach 10 all parts of the habitable earth.
Lees course has been more uniform. He
rose upon the nation full, steady light
and he has beamed without increase OF
diminution. He rose like full moon, and
has set without being shorn Of any Of his
beams. Two careers more alike than those
of Grant and Lee can scarcely be imagined
The former has left a trail OF splendor from
the Mississippi to the Atlantic; the Other
has reyolved in limited orbit whose apo
gee was Gettysburg, and whose perigee was
Petersburg. aa,s .rs
Despite all the hearty and honest hatred
which animates the people of the North
against both treason and traitors, there are
few men who are disposed to regard Lee
with any such feeling. In face of the fact
that he has cost us more men and treasure
than any other rebel commander, the senti-
ment of the North toward him is one o.
the most thorough respect. When Stone
wall jackson died, we do not think thai
there was newspaper in the North thai
gave utterance to q hargherexpression thar
one Of regret that genius SO great and
soul SO pure had not been given TO wor
thier cause. Precisely the same is the cas-
with Lee. Nobody is uncharitable enough
to do more than condemn the cause II
which he Las been engaged, while all ac
cord to him the utmost purity Of Intention