The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-10-30
IA. Scholar. rrts... to IA. Soldier.

rAs Scholars Trtssts to tie se,dier.
JOHN LorHaor MorLEr's ErLoor on GRANT
No political address during the presen,
campaign has attracted moro general at.
ten,ion Than tho speech Of the historian
Motley in Boston, Tuesday evening. It Is
all worthy Of the historian ofthe Neither.
lands and tho victim Of McCucken, but on
that pan which analyses the character OF
Grant Is OF especial interest. Mr.. Motley
said: ...... .,.....- .,4...,..
My friends there have been times IN our
history when II was necessary for men to
ask each other, who Is Mr.. So-and.so. Just
nominated by this or that party as u candi.
daio for the Presidency ofihe United S,atcs' ,
But has IL ever occurred to any child
throughout the land, above the age oi ak
years, to ask this summer, Who Is General
Grant?
There ore bur few among tho sons Of
men whose history Is identical will, the
history OF their country. But the record
OF this Republic during the most eventiul
years Of its existence, is the record Of
the candidate whom we hope to SEQ elect
oil. .
Bun suppose the question had been ask.
ell ten years ago. llaply some swain from
the fhr West might have told us Of a retired
captain Of infantry, some ihirty-six years
Of age, who had served tl'ro,Hh,hs -Mexi.
can war, after graduating at West Point,
had subsequently retired to farm near
81. Louis, but who Just before tho outbreak
Of The rebellion, had gone into tho leather
business at Galena-a plain man in his
manner, who was sometimes seen driving
an ox.team, but never N balky one" Into
the streets ofSt. Louis, but who never told
his neighbors that he had been In every
battle Of the Mexican war, save Buena Wis.
In, and that he had been promoted twice on
the field for galantry. These things being
matters Of course la our brave little army,
the leather dealer saw small cause for TAX
ing Mrs ihereupon, und if he nourishcd any
ambition, rs he seems to have let out In a
moment Of weakness, he had visions Of a
sidewalk. to be built from his own modest |
mansion to tho railway station ut Galena.
Supposethe question asked century |
hence. VIII there be many persons so ig.
norant OF history as to falter in their reply /?
il Is doubtful whether he has even yet |
been throughly appreciated. When the
living man becomes suddenly before our
eyes an historic parsonage, Is difficult
perhaps, to Judge him rs carefully rs per-
haps we may the heroes Of the past.
] arm no hero-worshipper, and Il has al.
ways seemed to me tllut tho true hero Of
this most important epoch in our history 10
tho American people. Whatever was
greatest and best througl,out the war, was
done by the people. And It Is exactly i'e
cause Gen. Grant Is singular embodiment
Of many Of the most prominent characters.
tics aud best virtues Of tha. people, that he
seems the fitiess man to bs chosen our
Chief Magistrate.
lbelieve that from the timo our general.
isssiino received the surrender of the rebel
armies up to the period when he became
the candidate Of distinct party organiza.
ton, Il was rare enough to find any dispo-
siiion to detract from his fraIne. For ono,
I confess that the sentiment ] find most
necessary to guard against when contem-
plating his wonlrous career, and the strange
simplicity and rcpose Of his character Is
tendency to over enthusiasm. Through
the misty atmosphere which belongs TO the
past. conspicuous pcrsonagrs arc apt to di-
late into moro than mortal proportions,
while wc are, not unreasonably, inclined to
scan very closely tho defects and the pro.
tcntions ofcotemporary greatness. In truth,
the very simplicity Of Gen. Grant's cliarac.
ter makes the great things which he did
seem simple too. There Gun be no surer
test Of power than the ease with which II
accomplishes herculean tasks yet the
spectator. deceived by symmetry itself. OF.
zen mistakes the colossal for the common
place.
We all seem afraid Of uttering that ono
word in regard to this shy, tranquil, unob
tr,isive man, which really characterizes
him-the word genius. The very modes:
~ Of the man himself seems to rel'uke all
tendency to exaggerntion. Yet, after ALL
this Is exactly what Gen. Sherman says In
his famous and beautiful letter. whi:e avoid.
ing the phrase. my only point Of doubt
wns In your knowledge Of grand strategy
and Of books Of science and history hut !
supplied all these" And whit is that
common sense which supplies strategy,
science, history, but genius.
In tho little affair Of Belmont, where he
first showed his incapacity to accept dc.
feut at Done!son, where he converted
impending rout into victory, hy ordering
the famous charge Of Smith; on tho dark
and bloody April afternoon, when he told
Sherman OF Pittsb,irg Lanling how Donel-
son was won, and organized out Of appar.
enl panic and ruin thar magnificent triumph
Of the following morning; from Vicks.
brs TO Chattanooga, from the Wilderness
to Richmond, he pursued the rebellion to
its doom-nevcr footstep backwnnl-un.
firing, unimpussionsd, tranquil. relentless
rs destiny.
TnE cAMrAIGN or GRANT.