Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1885-08-28

excite great expectation by the hrillIaney
OF their preparation bdt this quiet, me-
ditative, undemons'rative man exceeded
all expectations by doing more than he
had promised, and bv doing what all 9TH
ers had failed to do Others had done
their best with . consciontiousnsss worthy
OF oil praise; they had worked up to their,
maximum strength and accomplished
much; they had contributed largely to the
hnal victory, and shall receive we'll OF
their country. It was no fault Of theirs II
nature had not endowed them with the
ultimate achievement. But this man, pre-
eminent by the happy combination OF both
nature and Providence, rose superior in
the supreme moment, forced all things to
do his bidding. Was Fort D1nelson es-
teemed impregnabl,f 1t yielded to his
command for an immediate and "uucondi.
tional surrender" Did Vicksburg defy
his sixth plan OF capture1 His seventh
plan was q success. DID Richmond hurl
defiance at all previous attemptsi His
hnal effort was q triumph, and over tho
doomed capital Of the Confederacy triSm.
phSntly hoabed the dag Of the Union.
To-day, you are filled with the glory of
his military triumphs. You are recalling
Belmont, and Henry, and Donelson, and
Shiloh, and Vicksburg, and Chattanooga
and Richmond. You are calling him the
greatest OF soldiers, and you do well But
do not DEGRADED him to the level Of those
famous heroes who fought for empire and
for glory. Lift him up 10 higher pedes-
tai, around which shall forever stand JUS
tiee, and Liberty, and Peace, and Law,
and Order, and Civilizatio IN and Religion,
with chaplets in their hands wnerewith to
crown him. He fought for the right; to
end the war; he conquered a peace.
Away with your A'exanders, Cesars
and Tamerlanes! Let them be to our
Christian civilization what the gigantic
monsters of a departed period are in
geological history-types Of an inferior
aga In the oncoming centuries mankind
will honor only those who drew the sword
In defense Of human rights, and in sup
port OF the Constitutional authority.
Then, allIhail Mount Vermont Then, all
hall Mount McGregorI
From this better nature and higher
mission as q warrior sprang his conduct
toward the vanquished. He had no
hatred In his heart. His heart was as
tender as a woman's. He was not vim
dictive. His holy evangel to the Nation
was: "Let us have peace" Hence, to-
ward the close OF the war those who had
fought agains him saw that there was no
safety but In the arms Of their conQue:er.
In his dying chamber, he grasned the
hand OF him whose sword was the first
he had won, a d said: al have witnessed
since my sickness just what l wishel to
sec ever since the war-larmony and
good feeling between the sections" On
Holy Easter he sent forth this tender
message: "I desire the good will o. all,
whether hitherto my friends or not" His
was the song of the angels: 'Ol earth
peace, good will toward mea."
Doubtless, he will bS best known In
coming ages as the foremost soldier OF the
republic. Unknown generations will read
his battles with wonder and admiration.
In every hamlet, in every metropolis, his
martial form will be cast in bronze and
srulptured in marble. Historians will
vie with each other IN paying homage &c
his genius; but the time will come when
men everywhere will recognize the great
ness and beneflcence of his admipistrati ion
as President OF the United States.
And whether In camp or Cabinet, in
private or public, at home or abroad, how
| pure and commendable his moral charac-
| ter. Life in camp has proved runous &c
the morals of the greatest OF warriors
The excite ment Of life devoted to arms
the scenes OF excess and plumber to which
q soldier is exposed, the absence of the
restraints Of home and Church, tend tC
the worst Of pass ions and the corruption
| OF the best morals. But here In the pres
| ence of the dead, whose ears are forever
deaf to our praise or censure, let it be oul
| gra eful duty to record that after fivC
| years In camp and field, he returned L
his home without stain upon his charac
ter.
His sense of justice was equaled only
by bis love Of truth. He preferred hon u
to wealth, and poverty to riches not hi,
own o, Americans think Of the price o
your nation, the glory OF your age, anC
tho object OF the worlds admiration
having nothing to bsqueath to those b,
loved, save his good name, and tha
heaven admitted to probate without tn,
whisper OF contention.
He followed the divine maxim: "Befor
honor Is humility" 1t is difficult to bt
victorious and not to be proud. Military
success leaves In the mind an exq1isit.
pleasure, which fills and absorbs tn,
thoughts. The conQueror ascribes to him
self superiority Of capacity and force. HI
crowns hims ,lf with his own ha nds; b,
DEGREES to himself secret triumph; b,
regards as his own the laure.s Others
helped to gather; and when he renders :,
God public thanks hs mingles his vanity
with his devotious. But, read his orders
read the reports of his victories;- read tn
memoirs OF his life, aud he praises hi
great subordInates and the army and nav
that did the fighting. Beholdi tbs con
trast inithe general orders and reports o
battle by the frst Napoleon, and those by
this unpretentious conqueror. Wha
pride and boldness In the one; wha
humility and mOdesty In the other.
"In honor preferring ono another" wa
the inspired maxim of his life. Hlw evi
dent his delight In announcing the triumph
Of those great Generals who fought unde
him. And here In the presence of tn
illuStrious dead, let US recall the tende
and constant friendship of Grant, an,
Sherman, and Sheridan. They acte,
without anxiety. There was in them
concurrence OF thought, motive and aim
born of mutual confidence.
Was be silent under reproachy He pre-
ferred the greater satisfaction OF the re
version Of pull opinion. Only thos
permitted to hear the whispers o; his sen
sitive heart knew the grief and anguiSl
he ezperiencei when maligned by igno
rance, prejudice and disappointed aspi
rants. He had meekness, but it was no
the base surrender of sels-respect- Hi
indignation could burn like q mountain o
fire, bat he never permitted himself to
consumed by its volcanic eruptIonS H
knew his enemies. and treated them wit
a withering silence that has passed into
proverh He knew his friends, and, tru
TO his knightly soul, supported them 4
good report and evil" But he was neve
the companion o; bad men; an I when Ia
discovered In . pretended friend decsp
lion, or Dishonesty, orr imm0rality, b