St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-08-03
STILLWATER'S TRIBUTE.
Rev. DIR. Dunn Delivers an Grafton on
Gen. Grant.
The New Steamer. j. K. Graves--Other
City Jotttngs.
DR.. Dunn,s Grafton on Grant.


Grant memorial services were held yes
terday evening in the Methodist Episcopal
church, which was crowded. The only
decoration was the draping of the pulpit in
black, relieved by white bands and rosettes,
with large portrait of the dead hero in
front. Rev. DR.. Dunn, the pastor, deliv
cred lengthy Grafton on Grant, his work
ard services to the republic, Of which the
following is synopsis:
His text was from Isaiah Ill, L, 2, 8: For be-
hold the Lord. the Lord of hosts, doth take
away the mighty man and the man of war,
and the prudent and the honorable man and
the counSellors. BE said:
God is ever reading to us lessons upon
the transformers of earthly things.
We live in an Aceldema amidst SOULS
and collins, epitaphS and worms" Death
SEXES the king and the peasant alike en-
tering the palace of the city and the cottage
on the mountain, shrouding each in its
time in the sable mantel of death. There
the salutary calls of God are given. And
yet the thoughtleSS multitudeS are little
affected by these constant proofs of mans
mortality. But occasionally God speaks
with such startling power that all are
awakened to listen. Such an occasion IS
this, when a whole nation is stunned by the
stroke of His hand, teaching us His
lesson. We call 10 mind the splendid pa
geant exhibited few years ago at the ma
TONS capital. What a scene of joy! How
sublime the spectacle when the patriot
chief lifted his hand to heaven to swear
fidelity to the laws he had helped to frame,
and to the country his sword had saved
1t is often that we learn the most effect
i've lessons by contrasts. The lesson of the
vanity of worldly glory and the failure OF
earthly distinctions to satisfy our hearts, is
impressed upon US still more strongly by
contrasting it with those scenes of his inau-
gurations and the honors he received at the
hand of royalty. a few years have laid
aside his robe of Office and wrapped our
chieftain in a shroud. The eye, fired so
often by the excitement of battle, is now
without luster; the ear, which had heard
the praises Of earth, is now deaf to the APP
plauding multitudeS. Cities and villages,
states and territories, will vie with each
other in publicly demonstrating the pOig-
nancy of this great public sorrow. The
procession to the grave will many
more times outnumber that which
beheld and rejOiced in his inau-
gurals; and many thousands North
and South, who failed to rejoice in his cleo
ton to the presidency, and who did not
sympathize with the worldwide hOnOrs
rendered him, will most heartily sorrow in
his death. The evidences of greatness are
not to be found in the unimpOrtant details
which go to make up ordinary life, and in
only one important sense can Gen. Grant
be regarded great, in that he elevated the
idea of the race as to what common human
ity could do. This man had many excel
lent characteristics, among which spe-
cially mention these: Great inSights, indom
liable energy, an elevated conception of
life and duty and decision of viii. Were it
possible to take from Gen. Grant that which
he received from opportunities and from
fOrtuitOuS circumstances, all the help that
his wise friends and supporters and aSSO-
ciateS rendered him, and all the help which
the failures and weakness of his foes gave
him, we have plain. ordinary man. And
vet il is not altogether the tools which
make the workman. The successful man
must have the skill, the sagacity and energy
To appreciate opportunities and TO seize
them for his use. But Grant
was courageous as patriot and
soldier, invincible as warrior,
and had the elements of mighty man.
His skill in handling troops was wonderful.
He felt that his side was right, and so re-
markable was his foresight and faith in the
THAI uC ICouAlS VI
the war before he gave the troops his COM
mands. Like Moses. he was placed at the
head of a nation that had Just come from
slavery. and was TO reorganize his troops
into peaceful citizens. AS bearer of the
national flag he was trustworthy, and it
was never diShonOred in his hands.
Moreover, his magnanimity was as great
rs his skill. He ever insisted upon placing
upon the brow of his illustriouS associates
their portion of the glory which had sur
rounded his own career. If the civilized
world was bound to recognize his great
ness, the ''siIent man" accredited his sue
cess to his loyal helpers.
You may not class him with Pitt. Fox,
Canning of the old world, or Jefferson
and Madison of the new. But in
his warlike genius and patriotism we unite
his name with Alexander and Cesar of the
ancient and BOnaparte and Wellington of
more modern times. And in the purity of
his motives, and marked elevation above
the warriors of his day. we place him the
third in the famous triumvirate-Was ASKING
ton, Lafayette, Grant. But beyond all
else, this man was a man of principle-the
want of that incapacitates a man for valiant
and successful service for his country.
Grant had principle, believed in the Chris
tian and came to the highest fame. The
true use OF all great lives is in their service
for the world. The greatest must be our
servants. This is the divine rule, and this
is the rule among empires and republics.
The measure OF a great life is not in its con-
Stunning power. but in its service. The hon.
OTIS we too often give to those least deServ-
ing of them. But the glory of such life
as Grants is that it has been useful to his
nation and family, and to all men. He
had faith in God, without which no man is
great.