The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1866-05-09
TRUE RECOGNITION OF GREAT

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The bill establishing the grade Of General
for the armies Of the United States materially
differs from the proposition originally sub
mitted, and obviates every objection which
we urged at the time TO the crude and faulty
condition in which the matter was early in
the session introduced 10 the House. No
stronger proof Of the perfected character Of
the measure could be given than the fact
that the accomplished member Of the Mill
tary Committee who reported it and whose
unrivalled championship Of the great leader
Of our hosts held the halls Of Congress SPELL
bound by his finished oratory, conceded with
us heartily in condemning the bill which was
at first suggested. The alterations are such
as TO make the proposition entirely accepta-
BILE TO the country. The great honor con
ferred by the bill will without question fall
to the distinguished officer whose deeds are
too mighty and marvellous for recapitula.
ton; who, possessing within himself all the
elements and the loftiest instincts Of the sol.
der, has mastered every department Of war.
fare, and, tried by every diversity and meas
ured by all the emergencies Of battle, has SO
deported himself that he stands without
rival among living generals, while history
will proudly rank him foremost among the
chief captains and conquerors Of earth,
The presentation Of the measure was rare
opportunity for an intellectual and oratorical
display. It did not pass without being i'm.
proved. II could hardly have fallen into
ADLER hands to extol the virtues, recount the
catalogue Of heroic feats, or paint in vivid
colors the eventful scenes and sum up the
radiant glories Of the illustrious hero of the
late war, than to the honorable Mr.. DENISG,
of Connecticut. His acquittal on the occa-
sion will add another laurel to 4 reputation
for eloquence already luminous. It is not our
intention at this time to rehearse the start
ling periods Of the gifted orator, or call at
tention to the pure English and graceful con-
struction Of Mr.. DEMSG's notable effort. We
say that his peroration was q masterpiece Of
composition. In his felicitous conclusion it
is announced that when our nation is OBJ
liberated" when "our grandest achievements"
(which embellish the walls Of the historic
refunds" shall drop from the memory Of
man." when the "liberty and arts" now
"sculptured on the pediments ofthe Capitol"
shall be "ingulphed;" and when that mas
sive structure" with its expanded wings"
towering columns" and clubbing dome"
shall abe buried in a common grave" with
our Constitution and Government" that
"the name Of him who founded, the name Of
him who disenthralled, the name Of him who
saved the Republic" shall "soar immortal
and survive oblivion" We regard that as
the highest fight Of the gilded style Of decla-
nation. We remember nothing finer in the
language, unless it be Macauley's celebrated
canonization Of Athens, where the great
essayist foretells that the seat Of classic lore
and Grecian culture, when the barbarian shall
"in vain labor to decipher the Wondering
pedestals" that marks the decadence of Eng
land; and long after savage hymns are
chanted" over "the ruined dome Of her proud
est temple" and the solitary nude fisherman
"shall" wash his net in the river Of the ten
thousand masts, Athens will still be fresh
in eternal youth" and exempt from muta-
bility and decay"
Admitting what Mr.. DEMISG said in his
panegyric was most brilliantly and worthily
delivered; and admiring, as must every per-
son Of taste, the glittering grouping Of WASH
ISGroN, LINCOLN, and GRANT, we also aver
that there is q nobler method Of exaltation
for our heroes than to crown them with titles
or bestow them with gold, or to build for
them enduring memorials, or promise them
imperishable renown; and that is to emulate
their example and initiate their virtues.
While to embalm the character Of WASHING
TON and LINCOLN and GRANT in choice Ian
guage and the most perfect style, is a pleas
ing task, it is a juster tribute and loftier
recognition Of their acknowledged greatness
to embalm their counsel in our hearts, and
embody their spirit into the customs, laws, and
policy of the republic. This great nation
the palladium Of constitutional liberty-the
theatre Of the vast problem Of popular
govenment-the arena Of free and demo
cratic institutions-ha been founded in vain
its enslaved race has been unfettered in vain
its naughty and defiant enemies were routed
and vanquished in vain, if its glories are to
be denied, and its blessings unshared by
millions Of its inhabitants. Its structure is
incomplete, its disenthrallment Of the bond
men momentary exultation, and its saliva.
ton from treason valueless, If it is not to be
a nation Of brethren, dwelling under one flag
and marching together towards one peerless
destiny. That this is not the case now is
the misfortune Of the present and the
danger Of the future. The commissions
Of civil war, which broke the chains of the
slave, arrayed the children Of common an
cestry into the deadliest of foes; divided the
land into two contending sections and lib
erty, once periled in the clash Of conflict is
now periled in the hours Of peace by the
suggestions of passion and the temptations OIL
power. Until brotherhood returns, until hate
is forever buried, until harmony prevails, and
until the light Of every star reillumes oul
lustrous galaxy, American nationality and
American institutions are an uncertain ex
pertinent. Restoration is the problem ant
duty of the present moment Whoever lead