National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-12-20
THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAVELLER.


A little more than two years and a-half
ago General GRANT sailed from Philadelphia
on n cruise around the world, and on the
10th instant he had concluded his vast jour
ney and returned to the very point and
among the very people who gave him a
God-speed on his departure. During his
sojourn in the East he visited nearly eyery
nation and kingdom Of the Old World.
Everywhere he was met and honored as no
private citizen has been since the creation
of the world. He has been received and
respected as genuine representative of
American character unadorned by public
position. Whether he has visited King
doms, Empires or Republics, it has been all
the same The door Of hospitality has been
thrown widely on its hinges, and he has
been welcomed and received with open
arms aud honored as has not fallen to the
lot of man, no matter what his position or
distinction may have been. The part he
bore in our struggle for National lile--his
acts of heroism and magnanimity as the
conqueror of the rebellon-his career of
eight years as statesman, who discreetly
and wisely guided the ship of state
of his Nation through troubled
political sea-were all remembered and
recognized by the chief nations of the East
with hospitalities and demonstrations of
respect that were without bounds. He re-
turned TO his native land on the Pacific
coast, where he was reminded that the
hOnors conferred upon him by the poten-
tates and peoples of the East had not ex-
hausted the measure of respect that his
marvellous career had treasured up for him.
The Golden Gate opened its portals TO re-
ceive him, and his fellow.citzens bade him
a welcome so full of heart and demonstra-
tive respect that he could not misunder-
stand the depth Of the love that his own
people bear for him. He traversed our own
continent, and every city, town and hamlet
on the track of his journey East rivaled
each other in their spontaneous demon
strations of love and respect until he
reached his starting point, where he left
his native shores to visit, commune with
and study the people and institutions of
nearly every civilized nation of the earth.
This chapter of history is without parallel
since the morning stars first sang together
the anthem Of the earth's creation. With
out days Illness without an accident,
without the slightest interruption of the
continuous enjoyments of prosperous trip,
General GRANT is again among his own
people, whose demonstrations of affection
and respect show to the potentates and
peoples of the Old World that there is
borne for him by his countrymen a degree
OF love that they have no power to emulate.
Whether here or in the East the demon
STATIONS of profound respect showered
upon General GRANT have not been tine
tured by political partisan feeling The
Oyations that have attended his journey
have not been stimulated by the machinery
of politics. Democrats and Republicans at
all points since he landed on the Pacific
coast have We'd with each other in doing
him honor, and thus far no party political
advantage has been derived from these
demonstrations. He has returned among
his people private American citizen, with
an undeyeloped future before him. He
may and he may not again enter public life.