Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-04-11
70. b. Loring in Old and New.
General Grant.

FluSlOn 10 enter upon MS Dl-u CdICCl-
The ordinary affairs Of peace, even the
occurrences of a preceding war, had
furnished him no opportunity.
We are told that he was but an lndIf-
ferent business man. ] can easily i'm
agine that the details of a small
Western farm or Of lanyard might be
somewhat untitled to develop his pecu-
liar powers. But those who knew him
best knew that his faculties were adapt
ed to service which would appall ordina-
" men And so they pressed him for
ward as he entered upon the work Of
the war. he himself asking only subor-
dfnate place and expecting nothing more.
As great events arose, he rose equal to
them. Amidst the disasters Of the first
dav at Shiloh. when Sherman earned his
first laurels. il was Grant who was not
taken by surprise. After the exhaust
ing weeks at Nicksburg. his only reply
to a request for negotiations WIS. Ny
terms are unconditional surrender Up
on his appointment as Lieutenant Cen
eral and cOmmander-iR-chiefO Of all the
armies Of the United States. being asked
by President Lincoln. What Is next TO
to be done?" he quietly replied. ''Des-
troy Lees army and take Richmond. l."
And when the trials Of that long and
weary and bloody campaign through the
Wilderness. pressed upon him, he sturd-
/ ilv remarked, i shall fight it out on this
line if it takes all summer" An men
are created equal, said Jefferson. The
Union must and shall be preserved.
said jackson. Il shall fight it ont on
this line if it takes all summer, said
/ Grant. and ION that line" the equality
of all men was established and the Tn
ion was preserved
Let it never again be said Of him that
he has made no utterance worth re-
memberiBg. as was done by jefferson
and Jackson" when he has given force
and value TO their words g well as TO
his own.
As the great thought Of the hour be-
gan to shine through the gloom he &C
. cepted IL He led his armies with the
courage and sagacity Of Washington.
And as Washington hailed the Declare
ton Of independence as new inspira-
ton to his army, and proclaimed the
meaning Of the new government just
coming into existence. 50 Grant received
the Proclamation Of Emancipation, and
planted himself on the doctrine Of lu-
man equality. in his civil service Of Re
storing and recOnstructing the Cover
ment
When the war ended. his motto seems
to have been, Peace. the protection Of
the rights Of all men. the excise Of fed
eral power TO protect the loyal and the
oppressed and unwaveTing allegiance to
the flag" He knew no master but the
loyal American people: lie knew no
terms but unconditional surrender:
1t knew no law but the equality Of a..
men. Old theories Of government did
not becloud his mind; the offer Of posi-
ton did not warp his judgment; the
temptation Of politics did not lead him
into crooked paths. His eyes We're not
blinded by the light Of the MONDAY sun,
as it rose into our heavens. He never
questioned the importance Of al meas
ures designed 10 give the American pee
pie all the fruits Of victory. The
Freedmen's Bureau" disturbed others,
but not him. The fourteenth article Of
amendment TO the Constitution. confer
ring citizenship on all men born or
naturalized in the United States. and the
fifteenth article. securing suffrage to all.
had no terr0rs for him. Doubted still
by the reformer and the philanlhropist,
he is elevated to the Presidency; and in
his inaugural be declares that the
greatest good Of the greatest number i
the object to be attained. This requires
security Of persons and property. and
free religious and political opinion in
every part Of our common country,
without regard TO our local prejudices
AL laws to secure these ends will re
ceive my best efforts for their enforce
ment." Could the most ardent philaD-
thropist have said more:
4 people suffering under the wrongs
inflicted by foreign powers during orr
civil war. turn their eyes ~ General
Grants administration for relief and he
declares in his inaugural that he would
deal with nations as equitable as the
law requires individuals 70 deal with
each other" Could the Wisest diploma
fist say more:
The oppressed in other lands turn their
ewes hither for comfort, and their stems
for relief; and he procIains that be viii
protect the Jaw abiding citizen. Nhpth-
er Of native OF foreign birth. wherever
his rights are ieopardizet. or the flag Of
oar country floats" Could the friends
Of freedom ask for more than this:
To Us who live In the light of passing
events, the position assumed lav General
Grant seems natural and easy. But +
ing hv MANY who thought themselves
wiser than he-n0t even bV all who have
the good Of the country and the welfare
of man most at heart. When. however.
the future historian shall look hack unan
the conflict Of this age. and have before
him all the difficulties which surround
it, he viii find the record Of General
Grant one more instance Of a military
reformer who. baving carved with his
sword perhaps uncOnsci0uslv. the wav
for establishing great principle. az
ceptcd the truth with instructive wis
dom, and ingrafted If upon fhe policy Of .
the government he was called upon 10
administer.
Passing now from the hero to the
statesman, 10 the man. we find in Gener-
al Grant those characteristics uDOn which
mankind rely for safety and support.
Without the gift Of brilliant speech. biz
expressions serve his purpose with ar
mirab]e effect. and are adaptcd 10 the
occasion. where the great deedovershad-
owns any words which man coul3 utter.
And when We reflect what a difficult
thing the arr Of public speaking IS We
cannot he surprised that the man Of &C
ton should not be master Of IL
Public speaking Is artificial but the
right word in the right place is an el0-
quence no man can resist. You 20 upon /.
the battle field, and there Won are aston /
ished at the greatness of that command
er. who, rising with the greatness Of the
hour, possesses his soul in peace. and il .
spires his men with words which come .
burning hot from his brave spirit. Why.
1t is the same man whom you met yes
terday, vainlY endeavoring to express
his gratitude in public assembly for the
compliments bestowed upon him. STAN
mering and abashed before the gazing
multitude He is eloquent enough now.
for the occasion Is his own. Much a
we value the inspired word which car