Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-08-03

up as III Dy magic Wnen caileu IOf,
General Grant, by his indomitable
courage and persistence, by his abili-
ties developed on a score of hard
fought fields, went forward to victo-
ry final and complete. For this the
nation honors him and will grandly
honor his memory SO long as the
stars and stripes float over united
America.
1t would be easy to recall the mis-
takes, we may say failures of admin
istration, when discharging for eight
years the chief executive of the new
nation In civil life he was easily
deceived in men, where in military
life his Judgment was all but unerr-
ing. But there were mistakes, sad
ones at times it must be confessed
yet there was never premeditated
wrong; his integrity was never ques-
toned. And if General Grant was
not great on all sides, if he did not
shine with equal resplendence in ev-
cry department of public service, we
have only to recall the fact that the
men who like Caesar and Napoleon
could equally well fight great armies
and establish governments, prescrib-
ing the fundamental principles of
whole codes of law,-we have but to
recall that such geniuses are rare;
counting from the morning twilight
of history, they can all be numbered
by the fingers of two hands. From
all deficiencies and shortcomings we
gladly turn to contemplate the true
greatness of the general and the
man. And viewing him in this
light, who is there, north and south,
that will refuse to admit his virtues,
where is the hand that will decline
to place wreath on the dead hero's
coffin? 1t is such men as Grant who
are an honor to their age and an in
spiration to those who shall follow.
Twenty years have passed since the
last reveille was heard, and the last
bugle's note called to arms. Already
the scars of war are healed, while
tender flowers nodding in the summer
breeze cover up the ugly wounds
made by the trench and the rampant
and the breastworks on the face of
Nature. Of those who participated
in those stirring and bloody scenes
fully one-half are where General
Grant is now-with the dead. A
few years more and the armies of
861-1865-those of the blue and
the gray which once met in deadly
conflict-will be silent host. Rath-
er let us say they are a silent host
| now; for
No answer of the foes advance now swells upon the
wind;
| No troubled thought at midnight haunts of loved
ones left behind;
No vision of the morrows strife the warriors dream
| alarms
No braying horn nor screaming fife again shall call
to arms.
New armies, not belllgerent let us
hope, but guardians of the peace
rather, will have supplanted the vet
Grams. Or it may be that some for
eign invasion-let us hope no inter-
nicine feud-may call forth the du-
ties of valor and patriotism, and the
awful cannonade again shake the
hills. But be it peace or war the
name and fame of our dead General
will not be forgot so long as tried
and lofty patriotism and unsullied
integrity are the inheritance and
the pride of America. Rather will
they serve anew to stir all hearts and
keep alive the altar fires of patriot
ism. Next to the Divine gift of a
worlds Saviour no nobler benefcence
can fall to any people than the life
services and illustrious examples OF
noble men.-Chyistian at Work.
|