The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-16

GENERAL SHERMAN.
The retirement OF General Sherman from
the command of the army is a source of re-
greet to all admirers of soldierly qualities and
unquestioned probity. In accordance with
the rule that requires the retirement of Off
GERS at certain age, General Sherman is
about to give way to another, although the
title he bears will not continue to his sue
cessor. In the full enjoyment of every fac
ulty and of vigorous manhood, there can
but be universal regret that an exception
could not be made in this instance,
and that he might be permitted
to wear his honors to his grave.
In the better and prouder sense
he will wear every honor while life shall
last No law. or order, or change can affect
his record as a soldier. Justly ranking
among the foremost of the leading command
ers in the federal army, he bore his honors
with dignity that we'll became him. His
ambition seemed ever to be to win in all he
undertook and to accomplish all that was
required of him, than to personally rise
in rank. AS cam paigner he proved him
self the equal of any of his contempt
raries. His triumphal march to the
sea, planned in every detail before
it was undertaken, will ever remain mag
nificent memorial in history to his ability as
a military commander. His fame issassured
tba On
by. writer in an Eastern paper has ex-
pressed generous but just appreciation of
Sherman's status when he ranks him near
in character and achievement to Washing
ton. The same soldierly bearing, united
with the sincerest honesty and dignifed
generosity, characterize both men. But while
General Sherman was bluff and unambitious,
he was ever mindful of his station and I'M
compromising in his demands that he should
be awarded all the consideration attaching
to the office. This evidently not as a matter
of personal vanity, but as a military rule
that cannot be despised or sighted without
working harm to the service.
The incident-for, after all, it is nothing
more than an incident-of the retirement of
the head of the army to civil life is
another evidence of our demo-
cratic simplicity and national greatness.
The head of the army to-day goes back to the
ranks tomorrow. There is no break, nor
ripple nor sensation. The great republic is
equal to great events. We wage fierce war
among ourselves, and in ten years meet in
perfect equality upon the floor OF Congress.
The country elects a chief magistrate, and at
the end of his term of service-it is but serv-
ice-he again joins the people who honored
him with their confidence and support In
peace our armies melt away, and the industrial
force of the land is reinforced by just so
many thousands. Honors depend upon
heredity. Neither does man lose by being
private citizen. The ablest and best the
land has produced have not been above going
back to whence they came. The general,
the man, now about to relinquish his we'll
earned place at the head of the army, goes
out with the highest honors thckly upon
him. He goes without ostentation and with
out any of the tricks to elicit special
applause or admiration. In consonance with
his nature, he has quietly declined banquets
in his honor, and accepted alone modest
reception by the soldiers of ST. Louis his
new home. 1t is an event in American mill
tary history, and new evidence that an
American citizen never forgets the dignity OF
his citizenship in this great republic. A
grateful people will follow General Sherman
into his retirement with their best wishes for
his welfare, and will always rejoice to honor
him in a manner fitting to his deserts.