Omaha daily bee., 1885-04-15

mands, Grant was content to move quiet
ly along, doing his be%stwherever he hap
pened to be placed, and saying as little
about 1t IS possible. IL would be curl
Gus to contrast his plain, practical re-
ports of battles he fought and gained
with the picturesque, jubilant and self
celebrating documents prepared by other
noted commanders under such circum.
stances. If he was ever known to cell
the attention of the government or the
people to any particular service Of his
own in boastful way or with any sug.
g%estion that It deserved special notice,
we have not heard of It. He was moro
likely to ignore points of that kind en-.
tirely, or to dispsrage his personal skill
and bravery by generous commentator
of those engaged under him in bringing
about profitable and splendid results.
The concurrent testimony Of all bis per-
sonal friends and associates, during the
war and afterwards, is TO the effect that
he seldom spoke of his achievements In the
frat person, or by comparison with those
of anybody else, and never without obyi-
Gus embarrassment. Hetslked frequently
and with e nphatlc praise of things done by
Others; but there is only che instance re-
ported where he ever took direct credit
to himself, and hat was When he said
with regard to the criticism that his
successes were mainly due to the fact
that he had so many soldiers and somuoh
power, and that any man of ordinary
capacity would have succeeded with the
same opportunities: There is only OF c
answer to make to that. Gen. Lee sur
rendered to me. He didn't surrender to
any other Union general, though l be-
lieve there were several efforts made in
that direction before l assumed com
mand Of the army. And the same
answer In substance may be made to all
the criticisms of his military operations.
His victories are his indications; he
could not have won them over the able
adversaries with whom he commended
If he had not known his business thor
oughly.
There was no lack of envy among the
officers of the Union army, and NO lack
of personal achemlng and misrepresenta-
ton; but Grant never permitted himself
to stoop to anything of that sort. He
suffered from it more than once,
but it was not In his nature to
retsliate In kind. If chicauery
and falsehood could have arrested
his triumphant progress, his career would
have ended at Shiloh, If not before. The
wonder now, when all the facts are
known, is that his traducers did not sue
coed In putting him down and depriving
the country of his invaluable services at
a time of sorest need. Perhaps they
would have done so but for the discern.
Ing judgement and saving confidence and
friendship of Mr.. Lincoln. Certainly
Grant could not have circumvented those
who were working to accomplish his re-
movsl If he had been obliged to rely up.
on his own talent for that order of con-
troversy. 1t is doubtful if he would
have tried to defend himself according to
the ordinary methods. He was there to
do his duty simply, and not to scramble
for place and power; sld that continued
to be his attitude throuhnout the war.
The same signal modesty characterized
him after peace came, and a trusting and
grateful nation insisted upon adding to
his superior military reputation the high
est political honor in it's gift. He did not
seek the presidency; the presidency
sought bin as 1t sought
Washington. If ne could have
had his own way, he would not have &C
copied 1t. When notified of his nomina-
tion-a nomination that was a spontsne'
GUS tribute from the people-he said can
didily that he would prefer to remain
with the army, not only because his posi-
ton was agreeable, but also because he
distrusted hls capacity to perform sue
cessfuly the duties of a president.
1t was only in view of the fact
that the country seemed to ask
1t of him In q way that left
him no choice that he consented to take
the place. There was probably never a
time In the next succeeding eight years
that he did not feel the same way about
the matter. He had no political ambi.
tlon, and his honors In that line, like
those 10 his military life, were in a sense
thrust upon him. 1t can be said CT him
more truly than of any other man in the
whole list of renowned soldiers and rulers
that fame came to him, not because he
longed for 1t or planned for 1t, but be-
cause he went straight ahead serving his
country, unmindful of himself. POSI-
bly, that is the only way after all In which
fame really worth having is to be SO.
cured.