Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-24

Ereceiyed witn> profound sorrow IN TINS
country and with deep regret, Doubtless
throughout The civilized world. Ills SUI
fcrings were such as few have TO bear.
4 He bore the pain, however, withthe iortl-
tudc, silence and un1nchins courage
that characterized him during bis re-
markable career.
Two years ago he looked forward
/ to a comfortable, peaceful life OF
many years. He regarded himself as
/ rich. lie was surrounded by sincere
friends and bis health was good. He lad
every reason 20 expect that his declining
years would be his bappiest years.
He received the first shock TO his health
year ago last Christmas. In attempting
to hand a sum of money 20 his coacnman
as a Christmas present ire slipped on the
icy pavement and Tell. He was hurt 50
badly that ne was compelled TO remain IN
his room many weeks. Even after he was
able to be about he was forced to use
crUtches.
In the spring of 1884 he received another
great shock. His fortune and the fortunes
OF his sons were lost by the failure OF the
firm in which he was interested. The
failure was caused by the rascality of the
manager Of the firm, and there were
misunderstood circumstances connected
with it which caused some very bitter
things to be said about Gen. Grant. Later
developments, however, showed that he
was entirely innocent of any wrong, and
that he was about as ignorant OF the
firms affairs as if he had never known OF
It's existence. He had become member
Of the firm to assist his sons, and had been
duped by "A shrewd rascal. The knowledge,
however, that he had indirectly been the
means of injuring others caused him
great mental distress. In lew days his
appearance changed as much as 1t had
previously in ten years.
In the summer Of 1884, while at Long
Branch he noticed the cancerous growth ia
his mouth. 1t is probable that as soon as be
was informed of the nature of his disease
he knew that he had not long to live. No
complaint, however, escaped him. In his
methodical way he set ABOUT putting his
affairs in order. His chief anxiety was
to complete the history of his campaigns
on which he had for some time been en-
gagged. At intervals, as his strength per
mitted, he prosecuted this work, and
finally completed it.
Gen. Grant was a great soldier. In the
opinion of many he was the greatest sol
der developed by the civil war. Reputa-
tions are made by success, and he was
successful. He started at the bottom OF
the ladder and climbed to the top steadily,
and he remained there. Even if history
should not give him the first place among
the soldiers of the civil war, it will rank
him With the great soldiers of the world.
Gen. Grant achieved nothing in civil
lite that added to his fame. His two
terms as President were not distinguished
for anything that indicated that be
possessed the qualities of statesman.
He lacked the experience that men who
are trained in civil life have, and 1t IS not
strange that he made some mistakes. 1t
must be remembered, also, that he was
President at time when the country
was in very unsettled condition, and
when 1t was much more difficult than
now to avoid making grave errors.
Gen. Grant placed the most implicit
confluence rs NloSC W nblil AG ltf1 uiuNu do
his friends, and they sometimes proved
untrue to the trust reposed in them. His
intentions appear always to have been
good, and if faults were committed by
those for whose conduct he was indirectly
responsible he did not attempt to avoid
responsibility. He suffered for the faults
of others in silence.
Gen. Grant stood by his friends No
one will say, now that he is dead, that he
ever turned away from those who had any
claim upon him. There are those who
were against him in the war to whom he
reached out a helping hand when the war
was over, and when they sadly needed
help.
lie was popular with the soldiers be-
cause he knew how to appreciate sOldierly
qualities. His magnanimity at the Apo
mattox surrender showed that he was as
generous as he was brave.
One by one the great figures of the civil
war are disappearing. A few more years
and they will all be gone. Already men
are beginning to be known in public life
who know nothing from experience of the
great struggle that ended twenty years
ago, and the sears Of that struggle are
passing away with those who directed it..