Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-03-29
Ulysses s. Grant.

sentiment to the hearts of millions of
people who were not sup
porters of the administration of Pres
idsnt Grant. Colonel Mcclure, him.
self, was an uncompromising opponent
of the President. and his tribute to his
greatness on retiring from the chief
of the nation is not over
drawn Ed.
s.Ulysses S. Grant retires from the
presidency of the United States to day,
and becomes the sole surviving expires
ident of the Republic. All who have
filled the high trust before him rest in
the City of the silent. He is yet in
the vigor of life, having been the
youngest of chief magistrates, and the
country in whose most thrilling annals
he is one of the great central figures,
will rejoice to see him long among the
people who have deemed their richest
gifts his merited offerings.
The Ulysses S. Grant of to-day and
the Grant of the future history of the
nation, will present very different por-
traits to- the world. Time mellews the
passions and prejudices of men, and the
grave "covers every defect, buries
every error, extinguishes every resent
ment,' and only the attributes of
greatness, whether developed in good
or evil, survive for the criticism and
example of the generation which fol-
low.-The history of each of the three
presidents whose names are inseparably
interviewer with our civil war, starts
il, obscure birth, and their advance
ment was rough hcwn by their own al
most unaided endeavcrs and the life
of Grant presents the anomalous illus
tration of a gallant young soldier re,
turning to the obscurity whence he came
and to the listless career that repealed
ambition from its dreams. A quite.
unobtrusive, unfelt citizen in humble
employment at Galena, glad to make
his scant livelihood out of the forty
dollars a month he earned. he was
called into notice by local meeting
inspired by the appalling news that
fraternal war had spread its fearful
shawdow over the coutry, and as one
known to be skilled in military affairs,
he was made prominent in the consul
tation Of his community over the ter
rible trial that was at hand for free
government. Regiment after regiment
was organized and sent to the field, and
Grant was yet behind, for he had few
friends to press his promotion and he
knew little of the arts which aid self
advancement One faithful friend,
Mr. E. B. Washburne, made Governor
Yates overcoms his preiudiccs' and
a reluctant colonefs commission made
the hero of Appomattox and the ruler
who has stamped more of his individ-
uality upon the Republic than any of
the long line of presidents Of the past
AS soldier he is of his own school.
Of all the scores of generals, who
frightened and faded during four years
Of battle, none rivaled Grant, in any
measure. in the attributes which finally
won the costly victory over REBELLION.
And his military career was strangely
varied as 1t was grandly successful.
His first battle was mistake and
failure; his next victory; his next a
triumph chat called out the grateful
affection of the nation, and his next
blunder that was esteemed more than
crime. Shiloh ended his command,
and but for generously trusting pres
iient he would have retired TO the OBJ
security Of Galena to fade into forget
tulness. Time softcned the bitter as
perities which crowed upon him, and
the recall of Halleck to Washington to
become commander-in~chief restored
the fallen leader Of Shiloh to the head
of his army. How he won Vicksburg,
after repeated failure had made the
heart Of the country sick with hope
deferred, is story that is fresh in
every memory. 1.-The Father of Wat
ers again goes unvexed to the sea,
was the eloquent tribute to his victory
that came from the pen of Lincoln.
Again at the battle among the clouds
Of Tennessee he sent out the bulletin
of triumph, and with one accord the
country that clammored for his destruc-
ton but few months before, rejoiced
as congress created laurels for him
which had only been woa by Wash
ington and a Scott; and his orders
thenccforth summoned a million men
as reapers in the fearful harvest of
death. In the Wilderness battles he
taught the world how free government
made heroism of its own. 1t was
the tempest of destruction, the hurri-
cane that toyed with the dead, but it
was the way to peace. and only Grant
would have dared and won as he did.
For long, long twelvemonth he held
the Contederacy In its dying agonies,
aud saw it convulse the civilized world
and bereave every home in the land
in its struggling throes. But Apo
mattox came at last, and there was but
one man in all the twenty millions who
oattled on his side, who could have
lived in the trust of the nation and
tempered victory with the generosity
that Grant gave to Lee when the
sword Of the insurgent leader was
surrendered. The great captain Of the
age, who had won his fame on the
field, taught his country that peace and
brotherhood were its priceless jewels.
The warrior retired from the field
with long discovered states reunited
and he was content. He had no love
for the sinuous ways of politics and
IL