Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1868-06-09
A Lesson From History.

The history Of General Grant IL
Illustrates forcibly the tendency Of
Republican institutions. All men
cannot be Generals or Presidents of
the United States, or even prominent
candidates for that office Yet ali
men, to the extent of the ability that
God has given them, can do their
whole dpty to themselves and 10
others. and that is all that General
Grant has done Colonel Baieau, in
his Military History" says Of him
with remarkable comprehensivenees:
"W hen the war broke out, it found
General Grant a private citizen in
GaIena. He was Of simple habits
and tastes. without influence and un-
ambitious. Having never been
brought into contact with men of
emlnence, he had no personal knowI,
edge of great affairs. He had never
commanded more than a company OF
soldiers, and although he had served
under both Scott and Taylor, it was
as a subaltern, and without any op-
pOrtunity of intercourse with those
commanders He bad never voted
for President but once be knew no
politicians, for his acquaintance was
limited 10 army officers and Yves
tern traders even in the town where
be lived, be had not met the member
of Cong ess who represented the dis
trict for nine successive years, and
who afterwards became one # his
most intimate personal friends. Of
his four children, the eldest was eley
en- years old He lived in little
house at the top Of one Of the pictur
esque hills on which GaIena is bui,.
and went daily to the warehouse OF
his father and brother where leather
was sold by Wholesale and retail. He
was thirty nine years of age before
the people was acquainted with his
name.
This picture applies with equal
force 10 ten thousand of others. at
that time and at all times, with slight
variations of circumstances. The
foundation that underlie Gen. Grants
character were just as firm and strong
then as they are now. He had built
upon them partially, to be sure He
had acquired substantial scientific
education, such as all are compelled
tn acquire who graduate with honor
at West Point. He had seen hard
service in the Mexican war, and had
shared the inactivity of Western
stockades on the Pacific coast, in
command, perhaps, of q company, or
it may be half company, of men
with whom he could have little ia
miliar intercourse and all afflicted
with the lassitude, like himself, that
comes of watching fndilns. ALI men
who have shaped the great events of
the world, almost without exception,
have had such seasons of loneliness.
when they could only lean upon
themselves, do their duty, and trust
in God, General Grant lived here
quiet citizen, amid a strong but un-
demonstrative people. He had time
to see, to think, to gather strength
by rest, so that when the right time
came, be bad nothing to do but to
put on the armor that he had lain
down for a while, and to 60 forward
disciplined for victory in the service
of his country. He took command,
first, of regiment. He did his duty
in that Office, and it occupied all his
time. He rose to be Major Gener>
al, a Lieutenant General, and finally
as now, a General. The same rule
is followed in this, as in all the rest
He discharges every duty to his
country with honest and sincere fl
deity, and that is all he promises to
do if be comes to be President of
the United States Galeaa Gazette.