The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-07-30

fnl and confidlng nature. He was de-
voted In his attachment to his friends.
He was, as is known to the public, con-
vivial in his habits. This inflrmity threw
him into association with many who were
unworthy OF the trust he reposed in them,
and abused his confidence to advance their
personal and selfish ends.
have reason to believe that his candi-
dacy for third presidential term was NOT
the dictate Of his own judgment. but the
suggestion of so-called friends, who hoped
through him to gain or retain office and
power and influence. Most of his other
errors may be traced to similar causes.
This will explain why he made so many
unfortunate political appointments and
why he adhered so tenaciously to them
when their unwOrthiness was patent to
every one but himself.
That General Grant will ALWAYS Occupv
a conspicuous position In the history of
our civil war will not be questioned byany
fair-minded man. No one could have ac-
complished what he achieved unless he
possessed merit of high order. Circum-
stances may have aided and favored him
in an unusual degree, but when we remem-
Der that ne volunteered as private in the
army OF the United States in time of
extreme peril, and that by diligence and
talent he won his way through all the in
termediate grades, and over the heads of
able and jealous rivals. to the position of
Commander Chief of the Armies of the
United States during the war, and when
peace was restored, to the presidency of
the United States, we are forced to the
conclusion that he must have possessed
wonderful powers of intellect and will thus
to have brought this most powerful and
intelligent nation of the world under the
almost magical spell of his influence!
But cOnceding all this to be true, if
were to venture to anticipate the judy
ment of posterity, would say that do
not think that General Grant as a soldier
will be assigned position with the Caesars
or Hannibals of the ancients, nor with the
MarlbOrOughS, WaShingtOnS, or NapOleOns
Of modern times.
AS statesman. his rank will be still
lower, and the Muse of History, as she
records the annals of his administration,
while she may defend the integrity of
motives, will feel constrained to throw the
mantle Of charity over many of his deeds
But with all his errors and shortcomings
Virginia will ever cherish kind remem-
brance of General Grant. He was kind to
her in time Of her. greatest need, and she
can never forget the courage and constancy
with which he maintained the inviolability
of the parole which he had granted to
General Robert E. Lee and his army.
THE LAST RESTING PLACE.
AS stated Friday it has been decided to
bury General Grant in Central Park. New
York. The invitation from the city of
Springfield, ILL.,, was not seriously consid-
cred, although before his death General
Grant mentioned Illinois as one of the
three States in which he would desire to
be buried. He indicated that Illinois
having given him his first army commits
si0r. he would be willing to be buried
there, but there were two other spots
which he designated, one of which was
Washington. The third place that the
General indicated was West Point, but he
recognized at the time of his suggestion
that West Point was spot where his
wife could not rest beside him that fact
removed any possibility in the General 3
mind of his being buried there. 1t was
afterward the General delegated the entire
matter of the burial spot and funeral ar
after conference with the family on all
points, is now carrying forward the volu-
minous arrangements for his fathers |
funeral. At 800 Friday afternoon, Mr.. |
Turner, Mayor Grace's chief clerk, re-
ceived message which determined the |
question of Gen. Grants burial place in |
favor Of Central Park, New York.
The programme of the funeral arrange |
mentS will be as follows: The remains will |
lie quietly at the cottage in the room |
where the General died until week from |
Tuesday afternoon next, when the funeral |
cortege will be placed upon special train |
and conveyed directly and without dem
onstratlon to Albany, reaching there in the
evening. The remains will be borne to |
the Capitol building, where they will lie in
state until Wednesday noon. Then and |
thence the dead General will be conveyed !
by the funeral train to New York, arriv- |
ing there Wednesday evening. The body |
will then be conveyed to the City Hall, |
where it will remain in state until Satur- |
day, when it will be borne to its last rest. !
ing place in Central Park.
An order has been issued from the Sec |
Rotary of War directing General Hancock |
to take entire charge OF the military ar |
engagements Of General Grants fune1 ri
from the present to the day of burial, and |
all military of any kind will be under his |
direction.
kilograms of coincidence have been re-
celyed by the Generals family from Queen |
Victoria and the Prince and Princess of |
Wales.
DR.. Douglas, in an interview, told re- |
porter Friday that the General had ex-
pressed desire that death would soon re- |
!ieve him of his suffering. He dreaded |
during the remainder of the sum- |
mer. The last time he signed his name |
was few days before his death, when he |
put it on the back of a check for 81 900, |
which he had received from the Century
Publishing Company four or five days
ago.