New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-14
GRANT TWENTY-FoUR YEARS AGO

Twenty-fo four years ago yesterday, April IL,
Fort Sumter surrendered, and the great Civli
War began. Six days later, and four days alter
Presidents Lncoln's proclamation calling for
troops, U. S. Grant wrote a letter from Galena
to his father-in-law Mr.. Dent, of st. Louis, the
publication of which on the anniversary OF the
fall of Fort Sumter is q peculiarly important
and timely contribution to history. 1T was
written by Democrat to Democrat, at time
when Democratic Governors in border States
were insultngly replying to the Presidents
proclamation, and refusing troops for what they
called an abolition war; or Il" the coercion OF
sister States.r The language of the Mugwumps
of that day may be proftably contrasted with
tho private letter of the true patriot, who little
dreamed then how large was to be his part in
the suppression of the rebellion.
Other men were Democrats first, and after
ward more or less loyal. U. 5. Grant was loyal
first and afterward more or less Democrat.
:. know it is hard he said, for men to APP
parcnty work with the Republican party and
it was easy for him to find excuses; he and his
wife had been, and their relatives were, resi-
dents of border slave State. But even at this
early day he declared, Now is the time, par
ticulary in the border slave States, for men to
prove their love of country" He saw, rs few
then did, that the war involved the doom of
slavery and that it had previously existed and
could continue To exist only by virtue OF such
protection rs the Union gave it. Great states
men of that day were laboring in peace confer
cnces and in untirins negotiations to save the
Union with slavery, but this plain soldier anu
business man saw instantly that slavery must
I...l.. Il,
his perception of the popular feeling. At
time when many statesmen were doubling
whether the North would bear the burdens OF
war, and hold out to the end, General Grant
wrote: " 1t is all mistake about tho Northern
"pOckct being sensitive. In times like the
present, no people are more ready to give their
own time, or of their abundant means" That
the Southorncrs had been the aggressOrs he saw
clcar V, and also that Virginia had richly de
served the terrible scourging which it finally re-
ceivod before an army led by Grant terminated
the rebellion on Virginia battlc-ields.
This letter comes in time to correct many I'M
prcss,ons IA 10 the career of the great soldier
and ex-Prcsidcnt. 1t has been commonly
thought that he entered the service rs II soldier
rather than as n patriot with not very clearly
defined political opinions, but with clear idea
that it was his duty rs soldier to defend the
flag of his country. and that his political convlc-
tons were mainly fOr:led by intercourse with
others and by the progress Of events Ill later
hfe His letter of 1861, on the contrary, proves
that he had most clearly defined convictions, In
regard to the question of slavery, the right ana
wrong of the struggle, ana the aggressive spirit
of tho slave power, even before he had offered
his services to his country. He was mentally II
larger and broader man, prior to the war, than
the Nation has been prone to suppose, and 1t Is
easy to see how, beginning to "work with the
Republican party" only as IA matter OF duty, he
soon found its convictions wholly in accord with
his own. Shortly after this letter was written,
he began that active life which has resulted so
grandly for his coaDrty and so gloriously for