The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-10-23

uas II ever occurred TO any child throughout
tue ianu, ABOVE the age of six years, to ask this
summer, Who is General Grant?
Ihere are but few among the sons OF men
whose history is identical with tue history OF
their country But the record Of this Repub-
lie during the most eventful years of its exis-
tence, is the record of the candidate whom we
hope to see elected.
But suppose the question had been asked
ten years agn. HAPPY some swain from the
far West might have told US OF a retired cap
tain of infantry, some thirty-six years of age
who had served through the Mexican war. aft.
or graduating at West Point, had subsequent
~ retired to farm near st. Louis, but who
Just before the outbreak of the rebellion, had
gone INTO the leather business at Galena-a
plaln naa In his manner, who was sometimes
seen ufNlng an ox-team. but never "a balky
one, into the streets of ST. Louis, but who
never told his neighbors that he had been IN
every battle of the Mexican war, save Buena
vista, and that he had been promoted twice
on the field for gallantry. These things being
ms tiers of course in our brave little army, the
leather dealer saw small cause for taking airs
theFeupon, and if he nourished any ambition,
as he seems to have let cut in moment OF
weakness, he had visions of a sidewalk, to be
built from his own modest mansion to the rail-
way station at Galena.
suppose the question asked a century hence
WIN there be many persons so ignorant OF his
tory as to falter in their reply?
1t Is doubtful whether he has even yet been
thoroughly appreciated. When the living
man becomes suddenly before our eyes an
historic parsonage, it is difficult perhaps, to
Judge him as carefully as perhaps we may the
heroes of the past l am no hero-worshipper
and il has always seemed TO me that the true
hero Of this most important epoch in our his.
tory is the Americon people. Whatever was
greatest and best throughout the war, was
done by the people. And it is exactly because
Gen. Grant is a singular embodiment of many
OF the most prominent characteristics and best
virtues of that people, that he seems the fittest
man to be chosen our Chief Magistrate.
believe that from the time our generalissi-
mo received the surrender OF the rebel armies
up to the period when he became the candi-
rare enough to find any disposition to detract
from his tame. For one, L confess that tn e
sentiment l find most necessary to guard
against when contemplating his wondrous ca
reer, and the strange simplicity and repose of
his character is tendency to over enthusiasm.
Through the misty atmosphere which belongs
to the past, conspicuous persOnages are apt to
dilate into more than mortal proportions,
while we are, not unreasonably inclined to
scan very closely the defects and the preten-
sions of contemporary greatness. In truth, the
very simplicity of Gen. Grants character
makes. the great things which he did seem sim
pie too. There can be no surer test of power
than the ease with which it accomplishes her
cuean tasks; yet the spectator, deceived by
symmetry itself, often mistakes the colossal for
the commonplace.
We all seem afraid of uttering that one word
in regard to this shy, tranquil, unobtrusive
man, which really characterizes him-the
word gepius. The very modesly of the man
seems to rebuke all tendency TO exag-
geration. Yet, after all, this is exactly what
General Sherman says in his famous and
beautiful letter, while avoiding the phrase.
My only point of doubt was in your knowl-
edge of grand strategy and of books OF science
and history; but l confess your common
sense seems to have supplied all these" Aud
what is that common sense which supplies
strategy, science, history, but genius.
In the little affair of Belmont, where he first
showed his incapacity TO accept defeat; at
Donelsou, where he converted impending rout
into victory, by oredring the famous charge of
Smith; on the dark and bloody April after
noon, when he told Sherman at Pittsburg
Landing how DonelsOn was won, ard organic
ed out of apparent panic and ruin that magni-
tlcent triumph of the following morning; from
Vicksburg to Chattanooga, from the Wilder
ness to Richmond, he pursued the rebellion to
lCs doom-neyer a footstep backward-untir-
ing, unimpassioned, tranquil, relentless az
destiny.
THE CAMPAIGN OF GRANT.
l have no pretension to be judge of militia
y affairs, but to my humble apprehension, the
of General Grant, especially those
If Vlcksburg, of Chattanooga and of Rich
nond, wiil-the more closely they are studied
the more decidedly reveal a capacity of the
highest order in the man who conducted them.
That they prove perfect irmness, tenacity and
elf.devotiOu, is beyond dispute To be a great
soldier necessarily implies many of the highest
Intellectual faculties. No man can be great
soldier without being thinker, and this is the
very reason why successful soldiers are apt to
be dangerous in republic:
''They think too much, such men are dangerous
GEN. GRANTS CIVIC VIRTUES
Not because he is great soldier-deep as
the debt of gratitude is which the nation owes
because during the whole his ca
reer he has manifested those civic virtues
which inspire confidence, do we wish him for
our Chief Magistrate. Cheerfulness and pro-
pbetic hope when danger and disaster were
thickest; self command in the hour of i'm
mense success; patience and seif-forgetfulness
under unmerited obloquy-these qualities are
as striking in him IS his utter indifference to
a fame which might well dazzle and lead away
the strongest intellect. He seems utterly
without ambition, and this is the reason why
he is one of the few successful soldiers of his
tory whom it will seem safe for the people to
have trusted. From the hour when he was
surprised TO find in the newspapers that he
had been appointed brigadier-general of vol
un5eers, down to the moment when higher
grade than ever known in our arm es was ere
ated for him, he never felt the least anxiety for
promotion But self-control under unmerited
aud preposterous disgrace, however Temporal
ry, seems to prove more than any of his deeds,
the greatness of his character.
Remember that Immediately after the IA
nous victory of Fort Donelson, in which he
had presented $1,000 prisoners, 1860 small
arms and IS cannon to the United States he
was most unjustly and causelessly threatened
with arrest and deprived of his command, and
that he did his best, while claiming Justice
from his commanding officer before he would
withdraw his resignation, to further that ex-
pedition in the command Of which he had
veteran Smith, "can feel more pleasure than
myself at your richly-deserved promotion
Anything you may require, send back trans
ports for, and if within my power you shall
have it,"
And at Milliken's Bend, when preparing
that last magnificent movement against Vicks-
burg, through which he saw his final triumph
assured; when the country, weary OF delays
and aghast at his boldness, was clamorng for
his removal; when our enemies all over the
world were shouting, AS well pluck the stars
from The sky as attempt the capture of VIcks-
burg; when even his friends turned from him;
but when one plain man, who sat in the White
House, said, II rather like the man; I think
we'll try him little longer" how could SOL
dler prove greater claims upon the confidence
of the country than he did at that moment of
almost universal dependency?
Seeing already in his minds eye what no
other eye could see, that quickly-coming pro-
cession of victories, that twenty days cam
paign, the passage of the great river, the five
battles in which, throwing himself between
Johnson and Pemberton, he destroyed one ar
my and drove the other into the citadel soon
TO surrender to him thirty-two thousand
strong; even when at that moment of antici-
naf tri1 nh ha tha
removal, he was incapable of any thought save
for the good Of the country. -
GRANT AS PRESIDENT.
As long as the republic breeds such citizens,
her destiny is safe. Such soldiers are not dam
gerous. Certainly, he did his part towards
putting down the rebellion, but the approval
If his course has been little less quiet than
he desired.
But forbear. His career is a history in it's
ELI, and has already engaged the labor of
brilliant and able writers; sorae of the part
hers OF his toll and of his tame;. but L have
bought it not amiss to call your attention to-
hose manifestations of his qualities as citi-
ZEN which entitle him to the post of our chief
magistrate.
With our kindly, high-minded, experienced,
patriotic and sagacious Speaker of the House,
schuyler Colfax, whose very name is so sug-
FESTIVE of revolutionary memories-a man
gho, placed tour years long on pedestal
where defects as well as virtues are closely
scanned, has never made an enemy or lost a
riend-with such a genuine Republican for
,he vice.presidency, it is impossible to admit a
toubt of our success.
We have only to remember the device of the
clan OF Grant, to which-whether belonging
W IL or not-he has himself ever been faithful:
stand fast and stand sure. Craig Ellachie."
The Schools of Maine.
Only Wty per cent. of the boys and girls of
Maine between the ages of four and twenty at
tending school! Only thirty-eight per cent. of
the children of Portland receiving Instruction.
only t'oenty-tco per cent. of the children in