National Republican., 1884-08-02

were ready TO die for their country and
the old mon ready to contribute their
savings, and somebody said: Capt. Grant
I is with us; 1 move that he preside at this
meeting" Grant was then about 39
years Of age. He had been in the Mexican
war, had been through West Point had
married d sister of fellow-cadet and
officer, had been in various posts Of tho
union from st. Louis around TO Oregon,
and when his name was mentioned no.
body in town knew thoro was Capt.
Grant.
There stepped up on tho platform q
quiet, passive, plain-faced man, with
hardly any fne-fowing lines In his figure,
and he proceeded to tell that littlo moet-
ing what q company was. He said com
pany was composed of perhaps hundred
mon or less; that IL was divided into
platoons; that 1t required to have cap
tain and two lieufonants, and some nom
commissioned officers. The people in
Galena, though thcy were assembled from
all parts of the country, had considered
1t almost preposterous to know anything
about war. They listened, however, to
these remarks with satisfaction, and the
plain man in the blue overcoat loomed up
in their minds as person Of some con-
sequence.
They inquired who ho was, and 1t was
said that he was son Of old Grant who
kept branch leather store In Galena.
One or two remembered that his son had
never had much luck, although he en-
joysd some opportunities. At that time
1t was said that his wife was assisting to
wash the clothes of her husband and her
boys. She had taken up her lot with the
man she married, and IL was as sweet for
her to labor for him as for jacob to work
many years for Rachels favor. Some
people think that she was un-
happy in those days think
not. Weare never unhappy when We are
dutifully occupied. We are always miser-
able whom we are doing something un-
necessary, or having spare time on our
hands. There began Gen. Grant as we
know him. His past had only been unfor-
tunete. 1t had never been vicious. The
man has never had anything vicious
about him. His countrymen understand
him completely, and will not believe
coarse things, whoever may say them,
concerning this plain person.
He is defective in many of Inequalities
which mako popular hero. He is
neither poet nor usurper, nor rheto-
rician, and, we may add, hardly fnan-
cier. But what there is Of him is just as
clear to be known and felt as persimmon
tree or small oak.
He stepped out into that war. perhaps,
feeling that 1t was to be no holiday for
him. The military service was associated
with all the disappointments in life He
had been In the Mexican war, had been
in the posts, know nearly all the leading
officers of the army, was acquainted with
the roster of the army as much as an
offioe-seeker knows congressman. He felt
that q great contest might be impending,
and that he had another chance in life,
and that chance was patriotic duty. His
personal affairs were no greater certainly
In his mind than his patriotic ambition.
If a man is entirely unselfsh he IL no
good to anybody. An upright selfishness
Is the presorvative quality Of the patriot.
You will fnd humbugs who have been
balancing u steel pen for thirty years to
tell you that man should think OF
nothing when he goes into the service of
his country but her, meaning the afore-
said country. This Is humbug, and the
nl.n who writes 1t was never in the
service of his country. Opportunities
Justify man in using all his energies for
his family, certainly war should ennoble
: that same selfishness.
Grant had congressman living in the
same town by the namo Of Washburne, O
man with some good points OF character
and some mean ones. He is capable of O
virtuous indignation againsta false public
steward. and yet will fight man who
questions his public proprieties. Wash.
ku vva nc mn a. n IN
rs Grant. In the midst Of His public
spirit there was always predatory some
thing that at last got him down and los
him Grants confidence. He will b.
known to fame chiefly as man who, fol
time, was true to Grant
Grant was true to everybody whom h'
know. He was true to his wife, true Il
his passing friends, true to his new &c
quaintances, true to his own errors. HI
was masculine spirit, fond Of mem
pursuits. II he wanted to take {
little relief at the card table he did 4
with all his might. Unsuspecting ever
of gambling, his joys and sorrows wer'
such as only an upright spirit can appre
ciate. Now, while he is temporarily. dc
pressed from the stupidity Of his son ant
the rascality of his sons friend, it Is du,
to him to say that those who understand
him have never for one moment doubted
him. Errors of taste he has committed
1t was unquestionably q mistake for hin
to have gone Into Wall street after beini
president.
Yet are all our ex-presidents to follow
each other like sheep in example ant
give us no relief In their successive biog
raphies? You take the children born o
your body, and one is reliable, another !
passionate, third has genius, fourth |
loving, fifth Is mean and deceitful.
they were all alike what pleasure woul,
You have in themP So with oil ex-presi
dents. Only weak, cheap, picayune mel
same stick, and that stick the critic him
self. Let ut arise to the joy Of humal
life and variety.
Grant and the congressman went dow
to Springfield, the capital Of Illinois, Il
order that Grant should get commiasio
and have q command. If it had bee
George William Curtis going down ther
for q commission he would have commit
ted suicide on tho first or second day
Human life was at play everywhere. Th
governor was weak, sensual, yet patri
otic man. 1t occurred to him at that tim
that tho great war had come for tho pui
pose of re-olocting him governor. IL
was giving out his commissions nobl
with the object of re-clecting himsel
Washburne he considered selfish oil
Yankee, who was measurably true to HI
party, but would have no hesitation l
kicking tho governor out OF his oiiic
and taking it If ho could; but us I
Grant, he looked at him, observed hi
clothes, talked to him little, aud said
Certainly there is nothing in this ma
to achieve the great endof the war, whic
10 TO ro-elect me governor, or put me |
the United States senate" But Gran
neither believing nor disbelieying in an.
willing to be disappointed, not partic,
larly thin-skipned, not very thioi
skinned, just hung around, supposin
that the governor would fulfill his woi