National Republican., 1885-08-08
GRANTS grandest monument is and
ever will be the unity of the republic.
BREAKFAST TABLE LETTER TO TIE
nnt,CrnDNyfn

PRESIDENT.
Mr.. President: At Riverside Park. in the
city of New York, the remains of the most IL
lustrious citizen of earth will be entombcd
to-day. The virtues and the faults of our
dead hero are as an open book to the civil
ized world. No other character in American
history has a parallel with Washington like
Grant. The one was the founder and father of
the republic, the other was its savior; each
was commander-in.chie Of the forces in the
field; each served eight years as the Chief
MAGISTRATE of the natinn' ~~"h So his .i"--'
was the best product of American manhood;
each suffered the pain and the anguish incl
dent to exalted position, When the final
change came it was to each
Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch
About him. and lies down to pleasant dreams.
In doing honor and in giving expression to
tho sympathy and grief of the nation. your
acts as President have been both appropriate
and tender to the wishes Of the family and to
the memory Of Grant. On this day of mourn
ing, while the tramp of hundreds of Thousands
ofmen keeps step to the music Of his funeral
dirge, within whose lines are gathered tho rep
resentatives Of every station-all this and more
is but the surface expression of the swelling
hearts and prayers of millions to Almighty
God that such man was vouchsafed to us in
the dark hours Of our history to shape our des-
tiny. Why should we wonder, then. that any
state should claim his ashes for final resting
place; why should we wonder that the people
of every state should select the national capi-
tai for his sepulchre and the erection of
monument by the. government he saved, in
homage and in honor Of his mighty deeds?
The simple story Of his humble birth. his
ambition for military education. his strug-
giles with poverty. yet enjoying the bles sings
and benediction of a devoted wife and mother.
only equaled by his own love and consecra-
an inspiration and noble example to this and
coming time.
As n graduate Of West Point and captain in
the regular army. he served in the war with
Mexico and Indian wars. which furnished him
with the needed preparation to instruct his
fellow countrymen in the military art. APP
pointed by the governor of Illinois colonel of
volunteer regiment he demonstrated in an
eminent degroo his ability to manage and
control soldiers. From this. his first COM
mand. he passed in rapid succession from grade
to grade, through the shock of victorious bat
tic and the many stern realities Of war, to be
general Of armies comprehending more than u
million of men. At this juncture the mar
capital for counsel. and upon Grants solid
judgment the President ,and the people rested
with implicit faith. while the blood and the
treasure of the land flowed out in equal meas
ure to support the mighty struggle with some
of the greatest generals and bravest men
known to this time or ancient ages. When the
contest Of arms closed in victory for the cause
Of the Union. his great heart comprehended
and embraced all the people as brethren Of
common origin and common destiny under
one government and one flag.
With feelings of patriotic pride and un-
bounded gratitude q grateful people called
him to the Presidency of the republic. From
this time forward his ways were ways of peace;
to establish law and order out Of the chaos of
war. the revolution of society. and maintain
and cherish public credit, was ever his guiding
star.
Ills military and civil labors closed, our OK
altod citizen made the circuit Of the globe, re-
ceived tho welcome and the homage of the
rulers of Kingdoms and empires, and Of the in
habitants Of every cline. Returning to his
native shores all the people gathered round
him and gave him welcome as a plain citi-
zen unprecedented in the history of the world.
His efforts to benefit his family, and the fnan-
cial mislortunes that ensued nearly broke his
heart. The national Congress lightened the
load. and cheered and comforted him in his
last days by placing him on the retired list as
general of the armies. But disease had taken
its firm hold upon his constitution. He clearly
saw that he was treGding the narrow pathway
to the grave, Under such circumstances he