The Portland daily press., 1877-05-22
Our New York Letter.
The Philadelphia Farewell 10 Gen. Grant
Gen. sherman's speech-aIgnifcance Of
the Ovation-The Ex-President's Great
Public Services.

-UChs 0I
the Ovation-The Ex-Presidenfs Great
Public Services.
NEW YORK, May 10, 1877.
Philadelphia honored itself by giving q
graceful farewell to the departing ex-Presi-
dent on the 18th. The thing was not only done
on an extensive scale and with perfect good
taste, but there was heartiness aDd earnest
ness about it, that expressed with strong en-
phass the depth of the popular esteem for Gen.
Grant The leave taking began, in fact, sever
al days before the sailing of the Indiana. DEM
onstrations of respect took every conceivable
form of public attention and private hospitali-
ty. On the evening of the 18th, there was
grand serenade in front of Mr.. Childs's resi-
dence, corner Walnut and 21st street, There
was an immense concourse of people in atten-
dance and it was a much more orderly and
we'll conducted crowd than one is accustomed
to see in large city. Philadelphia has the
advantage of a greater proportion of native
born citizens than New York, nsequently it
is a much better theatre for a display Of this
kind, growing as it did, purely out of sentiments
of patriotism and national pride. The music
was excellent the enthusiasm intense and the
scene inspiring. 1t was tribute of the intelli-
gent masses to an honored, trusted and faith
ful leader
Two or three scores of guests of whom per-
haps the greater number were ladies, called at
Mr.. Childs's in the course of the evening. Mr..
Fish and Gen. Sherman, who had both come
expressly to participate in the ovation, were Of
the party. Mrs. Grant and her three sons
shared the courtesies extended to the General.
The serenade was over at II o'clock, the adieus
had been spoken and the great multitude, after
a volley of ringing cheers retired as quietly
aud noiselessly as Q congregation leaves
church.
Next morning precisely at nine, the ex-
President and his suite were escorted to the
steamer Twilight" by the Mayor of the city
and a committee of the Council The boat
was already filed with invited guests, and set
out Immediately upon her excursion. The
river presented an imposing picture of boats
and bunting, the wharves we re lined with peo-
pie, the steam-whistles shrieked out their
deafening music and Philadelphia seemed to
have gathered herself up with all her might
and majesty to say goodbye and God bless
you!" to the man,who more than any other of
his day and generation had deserved the graft
tude and praise of his countrymen.
The Twilight steamed up the Delaware for
short distance, receiving as she passed, a sa-
lutte Of nineteen guns from Russian corvette
lying at a ship yard. On her return she was
saluted by the frigate Constitution, and the
receiving ship, st. Louis, each firing twenty
one guns. Besides these formal compliments
there was pretty heavy and continuous pro-
mscuous cannonading all along the line. The
boat detoursd into the Schuylkll and proceeded
. short distance up that river, then turned
and joined the Indiana, which by this time had
left her mooriugs. it being past noon.
At about one o'clock a lunch was served,
seats being provided for Gen. Grant and some
forty others in the ladies' cabin. After the
cloth was removed the Mayor toasted the
guest of the day, who responded with charac.
teristic brevity. Then the Mayor called out
Gen. Sherman, Mr.. Fish, Mr.. Robson, Mr.
Cameron, Sen., Mr.. Chandler and Gov. Hart.
rauft, after which he made few valedictory
remarks in tone so replete with feeling and
sincerity that they produced a profound i'm
preston on his auditors.
The speeches were all unpremeditated and
spontaneous. Gen. Sherman's breathed such
spirit of tenderness and affection that it was
more effective if possible in its manner than in
its matter. 1t was touching to see these two
grand warriors, old in service but still young in
age and physical manhood casping each
others hands with warmth that was more
than fraternal, and recalling the memories of
the great scenes in which they had borne such
conspicuous and honorable parts. Here is
what Gen. Sherman said:
Mr.. Mayor and Gentlemen: 1T is very kind in
you to associate my name with that of Gen.
Grant as you have done. For nearly forty
years Grant and have been together, man and
boy, in spirit as in body, and hope we will die
as we have lived, true friends. He is now
about to leave US for foreign lands, and think
may say the universal sentiment is that the
kindllest feelings of our nature go TO sea with
Grant to night, and we shall hope in a very
few days that the telegraph will announce his
safe arrival on the other side. General Grant
has been President of the United States for
eight years, but it was in the war he won his
greatest glory. love to think of him as
General Grant at Fort Donaldson. Say what
we may, but the strongest and bravest and best
men were afraid for the fate of our country
until Grant came in to its rescue. We may
look upon Washington as the Father of the
Country, but 1 certainly regard Grant as its
saviour. He may sit down in silence, but the
world will do him ample Justice His name is
written in letters of gold, in the history of civ
ilized nations. He has a place so permanent
so lasting, so warm in the hearts of the people
that tonight, all over the continent, many a
prayer will go up for his safety and for his
speedy return. General Grant (turning to
General Grant, God bless you and your fam
lily and friends, and il ever you should need
anything on this earth in the power of man to
give, you have thousands-aye millions-of
friends ready to give it before the asking.
After the salutations were ended and the COM
pany was about leaving the table, Gen. Grant
rose, and with voice full of emotion, closed
with these parting words:
Mr. Mayor and Gentlemen-I feel very much
overcome by what have heard. confess to
being overcome at so many undeserved compli-
ments. AS soldier, they are not due; as Ex-
ecutiye, they are not due. No man could fill
the places have filled without able lieuten.
ants to assist him. l believe 1 selected those
who could have filled my place, maybe, better
than did myself. l never flattered myself
was entitled to credit except for selecting ex-
cellent men, and ] believe that did generally
succeed in finding the best men to aid me- No
doubt Sherman or Sheridan could have filled
the place filled equally well or better. 1 be-
lieve men are born for the emergencies which
require them, and if 1 had failed Sherman
would probably have taken up the work and
succeeded. thank you for all your kindness.
AT this point the time had come to prepare
for the transfer of the General to the steamer.
1t was past three o'clock and the Indiana was
just ahead Of us. The gentlemen on board
formed ranks and exchanged courtesies with
the distinguished guest while the Twilight was
hauling alongside of the greater ship which
was to bear him across the ocean. Presently he
went on board of her, Gen. Sherman and MT
Fish accompanying him. There was large