The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-07-24

Ana so, ike him, and SOCRATES, and
SENECA, the great GRANT has "wrapped
the drapery of his couch about him
and lain down to peaceful dreams,''
and so has inspired us to understand
how "death may DO swallowed up in
victory"
| Fortunate man in life and death
The greatest Of earth have waited
for the centuries to do them justice
in works Of history, bronze, OF
marble, while many of them havo had
their consecrating coronation through
crowns OF thorns, or at the blazing
faggot; GRANT received the full meas
ure before his hairs were gray. Idol
lied by his people and surfeited with
adulation al the hands Of citizen and
foreigner, he saw llfo in its sweetest
and fame at its highest. Few men
have won and retained such q hold
on the general admiration, or tho
gratitude of those especially served.
And that for this he possessed great
force of character and many clements
of excellence, let his remarkable ca
reor attest. But that he was what his
enthusiastic admirers urge, and what
JEFFERSON called HAMILTON, the
COLOSSUS Of the times," is not 20 be-
admitted. lie founded no system, nor
introduced or elaborated any accos.
soTios to any existing one, but merely
executed, thoroughly, it is true, what
was set for him TO do. Hence, with
but little originality he was u mighty
factor for practical administration.
The battlefield was his most lustrous
record; and there he struck for success
without counting the cost, for his
sword was never wreaJhed with ivy,
and he was as minister of the un.
priestly Mars. II no was tGciturn
then, or even brutal, Us many have
charged, lot the complainant show
first, that war itself is not worse than
brutality. In his manner and make
up he was much akin to CATO, as dos.
cribed by PLUTARcH; "his counten.
ance in childhood disclosed
an inhoxible temper, resoluto in
his purposes TO so clear through what.
soever he undertook, II was difficult
to excite him TO laughter, and his face
rarely relaxed to smile. Ho was
slow 10 learn, but what he did learn
was az though burned and branded
on his mind" lie had ballast rather
than canvas, stolidity rather than
brightness or keenness. Chance had
much to do with his good fortunes, and
II 30 often dropped in on him at the
right moment, and, thus no seemed
like child Of destiny. 10 was one of
those fayorites that "havo greatness
thrust upon them," or who achieve it
in the lucky lottery of times whirli-
gig. And even this applies by prefer
ence to his military life. Outside of
that sphere his career was curlously
cheokered, aud frequently q failure.
Ho was a soldier by education as we'll
~ inclination, and a statesman by &C.
cideui; q Democrat in belief as he once
confessed TO DENT anu For.
My, he became Republican
through circumstance. A Western
man by birth, no was an Eastern
man from interest. As tanner in IL
linois, no was not the equal of ANDREW
JACKSON, tho saddler, in North G arc
lima. Asa hauler ofwood in 81. Louis
he was more OF q failure than ANDREW
JOHNSON, the tailor, in Tennessee. As
a farmer ho know rs much OF lucerne
and potatoes as TALLYRAND did of in
togrity. As commercial character
the country has had cause TO deplorc
his unfortunate fissco. As politician
he was wholly without sagaclty, and
permitted blundor and slaughter
In tho "third term" effort that the
merest syIo ought TO have foreseen
and prohibited.
But no had many qualities that
20 TO mako up greatness, when
tho age and conditions require
them. He had pertinacity and pluck
perseverance, staying qualities. Like
GENERAL TAYLOR, no would flght on,
although he was really whipped. Ho
was moro of tho bsttering ram than
tho flashing sclmetar. Tho same inn
pulses that kept him at his
post OF duty through all maize
him unfaltcringly true 70
h:a ffieada forever Aus liYs