Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-08-29
Gift Taking.

Since general Grant became President
he has not received a dollars worth Of
gifts. Before he was thought Of for
the Presidency he did receive from a
greatful people the sum of 500, 900.
The rich and the poor contributed TO
this amount. 1t was the patriots offer
ing to the soldier who had saved the iife
of the nation. There was no exception
taken to the gifts at the time: there
could be none. Ii was the simple trib-
ute of the nations affection TO her fore
most general. Mcclellan, though must
cred out before the close Of the war.
received a like amount Sherman. Sher-
idan, and Farrigut received large sums.
The family Of Secretary Stanton receiv-
ed more than 100000, and to the wild
ow Of General Rawlins was given over
$4,000. No one objected to these gifts.
They We're not taken from the Treasury
Of the nation; they came direct from
the hearts of those who appreciated the
services of the recipients.
The same substantial method Of eX-
pressing gratitude may Ire found in the
history of every nation. If we 90 back
to the days of Greece and Rome we
find that every victorious general was
made the recipient Of costly gifts. But
we have no desire to rake over ancient
history to find a precedent for acts which
are common with modern nations.
Wellington received more than thre mil
lion dollars from his Government after
his brilliant victory at Waterloo Brit
ish citizens OF Calcutta gave him costly
presents: the officers of the army gave
him $4,000; the Hhuse of Commons
voted him 81 900, 600: a magnificent
estate was purchased by private sub
scriDti@n at a cost Of 81. 300, 600, and
the highest honOrs that England could
confer wer freely bestowed upon him.
Cromwell. for his military services. re
ceived $50. 800 a year and gifts. Mari
borough received a palace and pTinccly
fortune. Nelson received the highest
honOrs and $4,000. and Fairfax and a
host Of others were recipients OF ike
gifts from a grateful country.
In civil life we have notable examples
of large gifts to public benef2ctors.
Richard Golden for political services
alone received by private subscription
| $3.50. 600, and John Bright has but Re
Gently been the recipient Of costly gifts.
In Germany we see tie same express
ion of public gratitude. Bismark, for
his services during the late war. has
lust received a landed estate worth more
| than all the Gifts presented to our pub
| lie men. Won MOltke. the foremost Of
/ Prussian generals. was presented with
$500. GOO. and ont Of the French idem-
nitv fund 800. 600 have been set apart
for distribution among the leading he
r0es Of Germany. Does any one think
! that General Grants services to his
| country were less w0rthy-of recognition
| than the public men we have mentioned:
/ The trivial gifts which were given al
/ the close 81 the war are unworthy Oh
mention when the deeds of the soldier
are remembered For the credit of our
nation we trust that no man Of charac-
/ ter will impugn the purity Of the patri-
otto motives which prompted the friend,
of General Grant to bestow upon him
! a suitable Gift at the close of the Rebel
| lion.
The. General who led cur armie, 10
! triumph when others failed: who was
the central figure around which the
! h0pes of the nation rallied in the dark
! est hours: who never uttered a COM
! plant or expressed a doubt, or sought
! personal comfort while there work was 20
be done: who was true from first TO last,
! and who is as true and noble to-day as
when he came ont Of that terrible COL
| fiict. the idol of the nation. ought 10 t
entitled TO the love and respect of t1o-.
| who enjoy the fruits of his labOrs a. a
| soldier and hisswisdOm as a Statesman
-ErchEnge.