River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-11-27

WHICH ID HTS HiStOIy has Wfltten me
proud legend Of the army Of the Ten
nessee, which never Stunned and never
lost battle with its foes.
Joined TO it by such a story,
and especially when so assem-.
b ed, his Old associates and soldiers
IN war, We may rightfully, without
censure and without adulation. claim
and speak the just measure Of his merit
and renown. Nor shall his presence de-
ny that satisfaction to US. His reputa.
ton Is not his, not even his country's,
alone. 1t IL, in part, our peculiar pos
session. We, who fought 10 aid its ris-
ing, may well rejoice in its meridian
6)lendor.
The foundations of his title are deen-
laid and safe. There was reaction in
the minds of our people after the in
tense strain OF war; and many distract
ing subjects for attention. But with re
gained composure and reflection, his
reputation augments; and its founda
tons more and more plainly appear ir.
remogably fixed for lasting duration
Tney spring not from merely having
enjoyed possession of the honors OF
place and power. which his countrymen
have bestowed: others have had
them too. They lie NJ. specially
on his shining courage and per
sonal conduct befors the enemy
who was never outdone IN calm intreDid
ity; nor in the splendid daring with
which he ever urged the battle he i'm
medlately ordered; though long these
will live IN song and story. Beyond the
warriors distinction, which was his
earlier glory-hls IS the true genins OF
the general. The strategic learning OF
the military art was TO him a simpls
implement, like colors and brush to
Raphael, not letters to the mind. He
like q weapon in giants hand, did he
WELD the vast aggregations of soldie J,
whose immensely oppressed SO man.
mindsl How easily moved his dlvis-
ions, yet now firm the place of all
How every soldier came TO feel his par
ticipation direct contribution to the
general success! And when, at length
his merit won the government of the
entire military power Of the north, how
perfect became, -,.
WITHOUT NOISE OR FRICTION,
the cooperation of every array,
Of every strength, throughout the
vile t9 ritory of the war, towsr )
the common endl Subordinate every
will and jealous soul, the pro.
found military wisdom of the cap.
ital, even, to the clear purpose and
comprehensive grasp of the one COM
manding mindl Then how rapidly
crumbled on every side the crushed
revolt! Where shall we find, in past
records, the tale of such struggle, so
enormous in extent, SO nearly matched
at the outset, so desperately contested,
so effectively decided Through what
course of uninterrupted victory did
be proceed from the earliest engage
mtnts TO complete dominion of the
vast catastrophe
Spare, in pity, the poor brain which
cannot see, in this career, more than q
logged pertinacity.l Out upon the I'M
! just prejudice which will consciously
disparage the true need of genius !
Leave it where his reliant silence
leaves it Leave it to history Leave
it TO the world
But in the great cause, 30 we'll under
stood, and the great results to men, SO
well accomplished, the basis of his re-
nown is justly broadened. For the
talvation of this government of
freedom for mankind, we took
up arms. When liberty was safe,
they were laid again down.
Risen to the highest seat of power, be
has descended as a citizen, of equal
rank with all. This goes to the soul of
American liberty, ennobling individual
citizenship above all servants in office.
His 10 indeed the noblest grandeur
of manhood, who can rise from the
grasp of overlapping power above the
ambition of self, TO exalt the ambition
of humanity; denying the spoils of he
brief time to the lasting guerdon of inn
mortal honor.
The judgment of immediate contem-
poraries has been apt to rise too high
or fall too low. But let not detrac-
ton or calumny mislead. They have
ever been the temporal
AcCoMPANIMENTs OF HUMAN GREATNESS.
Tnst glory cannot rise beyond the clouds
leu passes not through the clouds.
We may confidently accept the judg-
ment OF the world. 1t has been unmis-
takably delivered. But lately, as he
has pressed his wandering course about
the round earth, mankind have every
where bowed in homage at bis coming,
as the ancient devotees of the east fell
before the sun at his rising. These hon.
ors were net paid'to his person. which
was unknown; they were not paid to his
country, for which he went on no er-
rand, and whose representative never
had the like before; they were not paid
to him rs TO some potentate OF people,
for he iourneyed not as a man In pow e..
They have been the willing prostratloD
of mortality before glory imperisha-
BILE!
His memory shall, indeed. be in
the line of the heroes of wsr. but dis
tinctive, and part from the greater num-
Der. Not with the kind of Alexander,
who ravaged the earth to add
to mere dominion; nor of Bel
isarius, who but fed the greedy craving
of an imperial beast OF prey; not with
Marlborough, Eugene, Wellington, who
played the parts set them by the craft
of diplomacy; not with the Napoleons,
who chose "to wade through slaughter
W kDIOilCy 6klliI ehC S5ae'7o va AhAOA ~
on mankind;" not with Cesar, who
would have put the ambitious hand OF
arms on the delicate fabric Of constitu'
tional freedom;
AMERICA HOLDS A HIGHER PLACE
in the congregation Of glory for her he.
roes of liberty, where sits, in expecta-
ton, her majestic Washington. In no
bier ambition than the gaming Of en-
pire, they have borne their puis-
SAINT arms for the Kingdom Of
Man, where liberty reignetn for
ever. From the blood poured out in
their warfare sweet incense rose TO
heaven, and angels soothed, with hon
orable pride, the tears which sorrow
started for the dead.
Home again, now, our first command
er, after the journey of the world.
Here, here again, we greet him, at our
social board, where, with recurring
years, we regale on the deeper-ripen.
ing memories of our soldiership Tor
freedom. P2rtakers of the labors, the
perils, the triumphs, which were the be.
ginnings of his glory, we JOIN now, with
exultation, in the welcoming honors by
which his grateful countrymen tell their
foreknowlege Of the immortality OF his
renoNn.
Long and many be tho years, illustri-
GUS leader, before your hour of depart