New-York tribune., 1885-07-25
LET HIM LIE IN NEW-YORh.

II WAS inevitable that contention sioui" "'''o
as to the burial place Of General Grant, oucn
contention has arisen with regard TO many
GREAT men. and it is part of the contemporary
ev;darce of the estimation in which they are
held. But in this case the choice OF resting
place was not left altogether to the SURVIVORS, ior
the dead hero had himself intimated wishes re-
specting the dispOsi of his remains. Ihree
nlaces seemed to him to have special claims !;
C,lepa. Illinois, where he received his hrst
Generals commission West Point, where he
received his military education; and New-York'
whose people, as he put it, befriended him in
his mead. The objections to the two hrst
named places are obvious and insurmountaoie.
Galena is too remote. West Point would
separate him from his beloved wife. 1t is sig
nificant that General Grant manifested no de-
sire to be laid at Washington. though naturally
the thoughts of many turned toward the National
capital when seeking fit depository for these
honored remains. But Washington is the politl-
cal capital above all else 1t is not the heart OF
tn. Union. 1t is not thence that the voice OF
the American people speaks most tellingly. Ii
is not there that the great arteries OF American
population are seen to beat.
II ia here, in New York. the greatest city of
the continent, the true centre OF National exist
| epce the focus of National energy and enter
prise. that the tomb of the cOuntry's savior
| ,hould be placed 1t is here, in the vernal
beauty of Central Park, surrounded by the
most peaceful and tender woodland scenery,
vet lapt in the arms of this great population ;
here, where every holy day and holiday the
| workingmen and women, in scores OF thou
sands. will bring their children to gaze upon his
monument, and will teach them the lesson OF
duty it imparts that the great soldier should
rest at last. Not in the seclusiOn OF the
| Soldiers Hcme at Washington can he most fifty
lie. bat amid the myriad sounds of metropol-
tan life and work. amid the swarmlng evil
dences of the progress and prosperity which
his sword rendered possible. 1t is here, where
all the pulses of American life beat most
audibly and strongly, that the grave OF Generai
| Grant should be. And it is hardly necessary
| To point out the obvious fact that when, with
the Shadow of Death already falling upon him
he pondered the place OF his sepuchre. and
| wrote the suggestions referred to, his tenderes
feeling was for New York, where. as he touch
| iugly put it, he had been befriended in his
need.
II was here that he sustained the heayies
blow of his life -how s0rcy felt the retIcent sou
permitted few indeed to perceive. Ii was here,
too, moreover, that his waning faith III human
ity WAS reinforced at the most critical juncture
by acts of unselfsh kindness which touched
him to the quick. and whose memory remained
T., the last among the most vivid OF his impress
sions 1t was his heart that dictated that
choice of New-York as a final resting place
and his selection is assuredly the best that
could be made for all reasons conceivable. W.
can give here grave unsurpassable for beauty
of situation, and uuapproachablc for facility o
access His tomb will be National in the bes
sense. 1t will be seen by hundreds for every
unit that would be able to visit it at Washing
ton. 1t will be, as he was living, ever open t.
the approach of the humblest citizen. Genera
Grant belongs to the American people. ant
New York is their greatest centre OF popula
ton. 1t is therefore here before all places tha
he should lie, anl here, before all places. tina
he can lie as in the very heart and bosom OF tn
Nation on whose behalf he wrought SO greatly.
1t will crafty our citizens to know that hi
family have recognized the cOgcncy OF tn
claims set forth by New-YOrk. 1t is not
merely local honor that the city sought but tn
appropriate closing Of great public career b.
the most fitting interment of our noble an
| ga liant dead.