Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-06-13
Honor to Whom Honor is Due.

NO man could be received abroad with
more distinguished honors than Gen.
Grant. The display in honor of Louis
Napoleon, when ne visited London as the
Empe or Of the French, may have been
more elaborate and gorgeous, but for sub
stantial, earnest and unmislakable eyi.
nence of good will and high esteem, the
welcome extended to our distinguished
countryman could not have been improved
upon.
This result is not due to the accident of
position. He is private citizen now.
True, the glamor of official greatness en-
circles his brow, and the glories of past
achievements clothe him with honor: but
it is evident that the British people and
Government do not see in him mere ac-
cident. Everybody knows that his Ca
reer would have been very humble had
the opportunity of war been denied him.
But they also know that mere opportunity
could not explain his record,
Ulysses 5. Grant has faults and defects,
but he has this great merit: He never
once forgot that genuine success must be
fairly earned. With an unerring instinct,
he steered clear of the rock of trickery.
Whether in camp or court, he recognized
the fact that the conditions of success
must be complied with in reality, and not
merely in seeming. One might suppose
this an easy lesson to learn, and
rule readily followed but facts are
against it. All along the path Of
life are wrecks which speak elo-
quently of this very danger, tesifying
to the exceeding difficulty of escaping the
rocl1-of sham. AS soldier, Gen. Grant
u. rnln ipHi tfnr,nt N tbn ~, n in1ia
tons at Washington, and never SO much
as turned his hand over in the way OF I'M
trigue. He kept steadily to the line of
battle, content to discharge well every
duty assigned him. Very early in the war
he developed the traits of great soldier,
and long before he had fairly begun TO
climb the ladder, a cavalry officer who has
since gained "A matchless reputation as
speaker, wrote the prophetic words: " In
my judgment this war will never close
until Grant, of Galena, closes it," That
prediction was not based upon personal
friendship-the two men have not been
personal friends-but simply on clear
perception OF the fact that he had the
kind of genius required. The military
and civil positions held by him came be-
cause each duty as it came to hand was
performed SO we'll that promotion followed
as matter of course.
Gen. Grant is not likely ever again to
serve his country in any capacity. But
some emergency may arise. 1t is pleasant
to reflect that he is far from being an ola
man yet. The Nation which has such
citizen in the vigor of unimpared man
hood has citadel of strength. strong
wall of protection. Foreign nations mus.
respect our prowess, and traitors feel
awed into Inaction.
The political influence of such lie Is
eminently wholesome The Republican
party has elected only three men to the
Presidency during its long lease OF power
Each Of the three reached the goal OF SUI
preme political ambition through the door
of merit. The general public early learned
that the secret of Illinois devotion 70
Abraham Lincoln was his actual WORTH
When the Nation came to know him, tne
mystery of his nomination was solved.
The Nation AT large is fast learning 70 pun
the same high estimate upon Mr.. hay .
that the State of Ohio did, and 1t IS saie
to say that in due time he will be recoS-
nized as the result of merit as truly a.
Lincoln was. Gen. Grant had TINS au
vantage of them both, at the beglnnlh4o,,
his Presidential career, that he belongtu
to no State. The whole land shared III
the knowledge of his character ana rec
ord. But aside from that, the three os,
long IN the imc category, and with tfliNo
voice say 10 the American politicians
The way to attain honor is 10 merit IT, y
Republic which makes plain proposl-
ZION 50 wholesome as this is boune "
prosper and grow better in everything,
And il is no small thing that Europe Is 70
be more tamiliari2ed with the charEcleI-
iSucS of the man who is the central hsulo
in this group. The influence Is sure u
be WAGES me. The more he $ henoieu
abroad, therefore, the better will II oe I'i
those who honor him.-ChIcsgo JoHr''o''