The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-09
MEMORIAL SERVICE AT AUGUSTA.
Eulogy by Hon. James G.. Blaine-A Beauti
ful Tribute.

Eulogy by Hon. James G.. Blaine-A Beauti-
ful Tribute.
AUGUSTA, Me- Aug. 8-Appropriate Grant
memorial services were held here to-day At
the exercises held in Granite Church, this after
noon. the following eulogy was delivered by the
Hon. James G. Blaine:
Public sensbity and personal sorrow over
the death of General Grant not confined to
one continent A profound admiration for his
great qualities and still more profound graft
tude for his great services, have touched the
thy, increased even to tender emotions
by the agony of his closing days
and the undaunted heroism with which he
morally conquered a last cruel fate The world,
in its hero worship, is discriminating and prac-
tica If not, indeed, selfish. Eminent qualities
and rare achievements do not always insure
lasting fame victorious general in war of
mere ambition receives the honors of the multi
tude and the ceremonial honorS of the govern
ment, but if he brings no boon to his country
mis- fame will find abiding place in the CEN
turtles that follow The hero for the ages is he
who has been chief and foremost in contributing
to the moral and material progress, to the gran
deur and glory of the succeeding generations.
Washington secured the freedom of the colonies,
and founded new nation. Lincoln was the
prophet who warned the people of the evils that
were undermining our free government, and the
statesman who was called to leadership in the
work of its extirpation. Grant was the soldier
who. by victory in the field. gave vitality and
force to the policies and philanthropic measures
which Lincoln defined in the Cabinet for the
regeneration and security of the Republic.
Tho monopoly of fame by the few in this
world comes from an instinct, perhaps from
deep-seated necessity of human nature Heroes
cannot be multiplied. The gods of mythology
lost their sacredness and their power by their
numbers. The millions pass into oblivion; the
units only survive. Who asked the great leader
al ,1,.oA nla
sands of the desert, and through the waters of
the sea- into the promised land? Who marched
with Alexander from the Bosphorus to India?
And who commanded the legons of Caesar in
the conquest of Gaul? Who crossed the Atlantic
with Columbus? Who ventured through the
winter passes Of the Alps with the conqueror of
Italy! Who fought with Wellington at Water
loo! Alas! How soon it may be asked who
marched with Sherman from the mountain to
the seat Who fought with Meade on the victori-
Gus field of Gettysburg! Who shared
with Thomas in the glories of Nashvillel
Who went with Sheridan through the trials and
triumphs of the blood stained Valley General
Grants name will survive through the centuries,
because it is indissolubly connected with the
greatest military and moral triumph in the
history OF the United States. If the armies of
the Union had ultimately failed, the vast and
benefcient designs of Lincoln would have been
frustrated and he would have been known in
history as a statesman and phlanthropist who.
=
which he could not realize, and conceived
great ends which he could not attain;
unsuccessful ruler. whose
policies distracted and discovered his
country; while General Grant would have taken
his place with that long and always increasing
array of great men who were found wanting in
the supreme hour of the trial But higher
power controlled the result God in His gracious
mercy had not raised those men for works which
should come to naught In the expression OF
Lincoln: No human counsel devised nor did
mortal ana In their plishment. Those
human agents were sustained by more than hui
man power and through them great salvation was
wrought for the land. AS long therefore as the
American Union shall abide with its blessings
or life and liberty, Grant shall be remembered
with honor AS long as the slavery of human
beings shall be abhorred and the freedom of man
be assured Grant shall be remembered with
gratitude, and in the cycles of the future the
story of Lincoln can never be told without assoei-
ating Grant in the enduring splendor Of his own
great name.
Grants military supremacy was honestly
earned, without factious praise and without
extraneous help. He had no influence to urge
his promotion. except such as was attracted by
his own achievements. He had no potential
friends except those whom his victories won 10
his support He rose more rapidly
than any military leader in history
from the command of a single regiment to the
supreme direction of million of men, divided
into many great armies. and operating over an
area as large as the empires Of Germany and Aus
tria combined He exhibited extraordinary
Qualities ia the field. Bravery among American
oLncers Is the rule. which has happily had few