The Osceola times., 1885-08-01
WASHINGTON LETTER
(From Our Regular Correspondent.


WAsnINGToS, d. c., July ~, 1885.
The public buildings in Washing
ton are draped in mourning; literal
miles of black cambric are wound
around the marble columns and fes-
tooned from the windows of public
edifces. a small number of private
residences and large number of sa-
looms are also hung in black. Per-
functory sorrow is lavish in express
sion, and the Department presided
over by the Secretary of the Interi-
or, the "Rebel Lamar" excels all
others in tastefulness and elabora-
ton of funereal decoration.
There is hackneyed Latin Max
i'm, Nil mortuis nisi bonus" Ifthc
last word were 'veritas' instead OF
'bonus', the maxim would be good
indeed. A life is good only for its
lesson and its beniticence. Death
can NOT change the account. Gush-
ing journalism is not history. AS q
General, Grant was successful. Oh
the simple truth that two bayonets
are stronger than one, aud that a
powerful, well equipped, and con
>tantly y recruited army will overcome
a weak, starving, and diminishing
army, he availed himself to great
er extent than did any other genera
of the late war. He was at the for,
front when the wearisome, ghastl,
struggle closed, and he bore himsel
magnanimously toward the fallen
lie will ever have the praise of mil
tary success, and he deserves, more
oyer, su9h admiration as is given t,
the not uncommon phenomenon o
u kind heart.
Gen. Grants faults, failures ant
m,sfortunes were not Of the heart
but on account of his weak head
OF all greatness, military greatnes,
is gained with least expense of in
tellect. The glory of the warrio
is the most vulgar of ali elories, th'
most accidental, the easiest won an,
lost. Military success Is In overcom
ing physical obstacles, and in it nei
ther genius nora high order of intel
lect is required, but simply a sensi
BILE application of dynamic forces
That military greatness is the great
ness which has always had the loud
est vulgar acclaim proves nothing
The author Of the Poisoned Gun
Drop, or the Candy Woman's Re
venge," has more readers than Ba
con or Shakespeare.
4 Gen. Grants mental weakness be
came more apparent when the smok
of battle no longer obscured an,
idealized HIM. Af'cr the war h.
became the tool Of n corrupted ar,
debauched party, and later, as Pres
ident, he allowed clique of selfish
vulgar, and even dishonest men t
use him for the furthorance of thei
ambition aud their greed. The Pres
idency of Grant was the most dis
graceful in our National annals, on
of his last official act was to smoot
the way for the conspiracy and tn
usurpation which deprived popula
suffrage ofthe greatest victory it ha'
ever achieved in the election of Til
den. Later, Gen. Grant she wed
desire to be elected for a third tern
to the presidency, and, finally, h
became the easy dupe aud tool, tn
partner, | will not say the accomplic
of charlatan aud swindler who i
now in Jail. The grave closes hi
earthly account, but it can no NOR,
obscure his failihgs than his fame
Grant be was brave, stubborn fight
er, firm friend, an indulgent father
it must also be conceded that he wa
a weak, unconstitutional, blunderin.
statesman, so poor a manager of tn
National household that he handle,
it over, corrupted and debauched, t
one who had no right to receive it
Admit also, that he displayed so lit
tie energy and intelligence in tn
management of his private affair
that he could scarcely make n livin:
before the war, and that later h
squanderei and wrecked the splen
did fortune given him by adniirin,
friends.
4 Doubtless these criticisms vii
CRATE harshly on super-sensiIive ear
, at this time, bat really some autidot
to the Niagara of elegiac newspape
, rhapsody seems not out Of place, an
!. ! will conclude with my tex, revis
, cd edition, Mi moituis nisi Yerilas.