The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-08
A sTIRRING APPEAL.
Letter from General James 8. Brisbin in
Behalf of the Old Hero.


Behalf of the Old Hero.
To the Editor of the st. Louis Globe Democrat.
The year just closed has been sad year to
many an old soldier, and to none more sad than
our old commander, General Grant. Aged,
broken in health and spirits, with the sheriff at
his door, what sadder picture could be pre-
sented than that of this old man writing like a
common penny -a-liner for his daily bread. Twice
President of the United States, for many years
at the head of the armies Of the greatest nation
the earth, the first soldier of his age, working
while sick to get food for himself and his family.
If the Nation is not ashamed of itself, the men
who saved it from utter ruin are ashamed of it.
Praise others as we may, honor them as we
may, still General Grant stands before the world
to-day the first soldier of his country-unique,
remarkable, peculiar-the study of all nations.
In him we behold a man SILENT modest un-
ambitious; by his great talents in times of
public danger heaping benefactions on his
country until his countrymen-proud CRATE
ful-unanimously create Office that it may
be worthy of the man. What an example for
the youth of the nation! He, the son of a poor
farmer, without friends, influence or wealth. ris-
lng not suddenly, but step by step, in spite Of
the jealousies of lesser men, TO the head of the
armies, and then the head of the Nation where,
exhibits new talents and maintains himself for
eight years, to the great credit of his fellowcti
zens, himself and the Nation
How much have we forgotten Before Grant
was forty three years old he had engaged in two
wars, captured 500 cannons, more than 100 600
prisoners, quarter of million of small arms.
redeemed over 81, 900 square miles of territory
from hostile rule, reopened the Mississippi river
TO the commerce of the world and freed twenty
seven cities. Before he was fifty he had crushed
A1na nhA1InY IVf fhn GoN{ y -1014 Al.
thority of the Union over a territory larger than
France, taken 200 battle-flagS, scores of cannon.
thousands upon thousands of prisoners, and hun
dreds of thousands of small arms. AT the close
of the war he might have been anything he
pleased, but he modestlv returned to the capital
of the Nation, disbands his army and lays his
sword at the feet of Congress to become private
citizen. The history of the whole world far
nishes but one other example of such humility
and greatness, and he, too, was an American
George Washington.
Whether we consider Grants tribulations at
Shiloh, his tolls at Vicksburg, his battles in the
Wilderness, his seige of Petersburg his capture
of Lees army, his conduct in the difficult Cab
met position whic b the President forced upon
him, or his measures during the impeachment
trial, still we see him a great great man. | re-
member seeing him when the President was
bursting with rage, when the war minister was
hedged about with bayonets, when the country
was trembling from center to circumference
with excitement, when the executive and the
Congress each seemed about to call out under
arms their respective partisans and once more
plunge the people into civil war, and amidst all
that terrific excitement the people looked only
with hope and confidence to General Grant
Unmoved by the tempest of passion raging
around him and spreading over the land, con-
scious of his own strength and ability to con-
troll the storm and quiet the elements, he sat
with his cigar in his mouth quietly and serenely
in his headquarters, now receiving anxious in
quiries from the Presidents friends and anon
receiving a delegation of grave but excited SEN
ators, assuring all, nay convincing all, that the
Republic was SAFE
Some people have assumed to say that Grant
was merely fortunate man; that at but few
times in his life has he exhibited marked ability
but this is not true. If it were true, why did not
some one of our hundred generals capture Vcks-
burg2 Why did not some one of the dozen COM
manders of the Army Of the Potomac drive Lee
out of RichmOndl Why did not some other man
of the hundred great men at the capital, at the
impeachment trial. calm the storms of human
passion, and give confidence and stability to the
country3 Ma, Grant was great man, really, a
very great Llan, and saved his country, that
Washington establshed-Grant with his mighty
sword, preserved it TO us and our ehildren--and
when he is dead, the names Of Washington and