The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-10-24
The Great Captain.
A Pulpit Tribute to the Guest of San Fran
CISCO.

AT the close of his remarks ON the Sunday
evening after Gen. Grants arrival in San
Francisco, the Rev. DR.. Stebbins of the First
Unitarian Church spoke as follows of the city's
guest: Yesterday our city put on her robes
and went out to meet the distinguished Cap
tain and private citizen of the Republic. At
ter an absence of nearly three years from the
country, making a tonr of the nations and
races of the earth, with the doors of the world
open to receive him, and displaying modesty
and retcence appropriate alike to his reputa-
ton and to republican simplicity, he returns
to his native land by this Western Gate, which
to the early navigators the setting sun suffused
with golden splendor, perhaps the most Oh
served and popular man in the world. Doubt
less there are others, who if they would 60 forth
among the nations and be the guests of princes,
would be received with equal favor, and
with all the honors and delights of public
manners. But our Captains appearance
abroad as a cosmopolitan traveller after the
renowned services that he had rendered to his
native country, has been an appropriate and
becoming change from public duty, propi-
tious opportunity to observe mankind in their
native Places and alike honorable to himself
and to us.
Travel, like exercise should not be taken on
an empty stomach. His great home experience
enabled him to translate travel into wisdom.
The place he holds in the minds of his coun-
trymen is an interesting matter to contem-
plate. Nations are made by war. They are,
in times of great emergency, saved by war.
In the dire extremity of nation, when there
if no decision but in battles, the mind of the
country idealizes the military leader. The es-
sence of war is violence, blow after blow in
swift succession. Success must be had The
State, the grandeur of moral order, the power
of justice, the bloom and beauty of all human
charities there. Deliverance must be got
A million lives plunged into the chasm are
not too much for a nations ransom and the
welfare of mankind! The idea of so ldier.
however feebly he may comprehend it himself,
is to die for the good of others. 1t is self-sacri-
fee for honor and native land. Thus it is that
the words of dying heroes in the high hour of
triumphant joy have been sigh that they
have not hundred lives to give for their
country, and dulce ct dec0rus est pro pdtri0
mort is an immortal phrase. War is indeed
dire calamity! Before it is garden behind it
is desert; before it are towns and hamlets
and thick peopled cities; behind it are the
ashes and Smouldering ruins, and namelesS
graves, and aged men, and mothers. and
daughters weeping for their beloved. 1t is a
time for burying the face in the hands and
bowling the head upon the knees, because of
the woe of the land. But dreadful as war is
there is something that is more dreadful. 1t
is to have nothing that is worth fighting for.
Where all this dire necessity dreadful woe
and moral grandeur are concentrated and i'm
personated, there is the figure of the nations
power and glory and peace, the
great Captain! Not the greatest figure of his
tory but a great figure, although historic i'm
port far exceeds its personal significance. The
career of our soldier, indeed. the man himself
is a kind of elimination of events and circum-
stances such attends the rising star of a
name that will always stand, with light more
or less conspicuous in famous galaxy. 1t is
not time to assign to it the place which the
Judgment of history alone will finally choose.
Among military leaders of the past, who have
gained high and permanent place in the
minds of the world, Washington perhaps,
stands least conspicuous for military genius.
Yet it may be doubted if any name written
upon the heavens will shine with so serene
eternal light. His steadiness of judgment and
mountainous integrity more than made good
his want of powerful conception and rapid
combination. There are two schools OF mil
itary heroes - Hannibal, Caesar, Napo
leon, Washington, Wellington and =
history may add another. The distinguished
citizen and soldier of the country whom we
honor, has by a succession OF remarkable
events, such as mark an epoch of history, in
which he has been equal to events risen to
great contemporary fame. As a leader of ar
mics he has advanced by regular and swift
steps to the first place. His course has been
characterized by no mean jealousies, but by a
generous acknowledgment and appreciation of
all good ability wherever he found it. 1t does
not appear that he ever suspected any rival, or
that anybody was his rival He has displayed
that large comprehension of things as they are,
NAI, cf IF tJoo1
and which sees order in the midst of noise and
confusion. And to this he has united the in
domitable will and imperturbable judgment
that reduces the battlefield to chess-board
AS in battle he has been relentless, in victory
he has been magnanimous, and compelled his
enemies not only to respect him for his terri
bleness but to admire him for his clemency.
Though clothed with power like garment, he
has had no enemies to punish and no injuries
to revenge, and like true soldier that has
seen war, he is the friend Of peace. When
called by the country to the more
responsible and wider task of states
manship, he confessed his ineXperience
and his mistakes in the manifold aspects and
directions of that great activity. A man of
war, he is no worshipper of violence, but a
teacher of moderation and peace and civil |
duty. If / were permitted to stand in his pres |
ence and salute him. I would bid him, Hail, |
citizen of the Republic! Child of Providence! |
Fact of history If there is one spectacle more
grateful to heaven than good man in adver- |
sity, it is good man successful in a great
cause. May it be yours to look back upon a |
life of arduous command, held without sell |
fish thought and laid down without stain.