The Indianapolis journal., 1885-08-10

morally conquered a last cruel fate The world,
In its hero-worship, is discriminating and prac-
tical, If not indeed, selfish. Eminent qualities
and rare achievements do not always insure
lasting fame. A victorious general in war of
mere ambition receives the honors of the multi
tude and the ceremonial honors of the govern
mept, but if he brings no boon to his country
his fame will find no abiding place in the GEN.
turies 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
depc 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 their extirpation Grant was the soldie
who by victory in the ield, gave vitality and
force to the policies and philanthropc measures
which Lincoln defined in the Cabinet for the
regeneration and security of the Republic.
1.-THE monopoly of fame by the few in this
world comes from instinct, perhaps from a
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 aided the great leader
of Israel to conduct the chosen people over the
sands of the desert, and through the waters of
the sea, into the promised lands Who marched
with Alexander from the Bosphorus to Indial
And who commanded the legions of Caesar i'll
the conquest of Gau? Who crossed the Atlantic
with Coumbus2 Who ventured through the
winter passes of the Alps with the conqueror of
Italy2 Who fought with Wellington at Water
loo2 Alas! How soon it may be asked who
marched with Sherman from the mountain to
the sea! Who fought with Meade on the victori-
Gus field of Gettysburga Who shared
with Thomas in the glories of Nashville2
Who went with Sheridan through the trials and
triumphs of the blood stained valleys General
Grants name will survive through the centuries
because it is indssolubly 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 statesman and philanthropist who,
in the cause of umanity, cherished great aims
which he could not realize. and conceived
as an 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. Godin His gracious
mercy had not raised up those men for works
which should come to naught In the expression
of Lincoln: No human counsel devised. nor did
mortal aid in their accomplishments Those
human agents were sustained by more than hu-
man power. and through them great salvation was
wrought for the land. AS long. therefore the
American Union shall abide with its blessings
of 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 associ
atlng Grant In the enduring splendor OF his own
great name.
Grants military supremacy was honestly
earned. without Fictitious 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 ext cpt those whom his victories won to
his support. He rose rapidly
than any military leader in history,
from the command of a single regiment to the
supreme direction of a million of men, divided
into many great armies, and operating over
area as large as the empires OF Germany and Aus
tria combined. He exhibited extraordinary
qualities in the field. Bravery among American
officers is the rule, which has happily had few
exceptions. But as IN eminent general said,
Grant possessed a quality above bravery. He
had lnsens1bility to danger-was apparently un-
conscious of fear. Besides that, he possessed
an evenness of Judgment to be depended in
sunshine and storm Napoleon said the rarest
attribute among generals is two o'clock in the
morning courage. mean,' he added,
'unprepared courage; that which is necessary on
unexpected occasions, and which. in spite
Of most unforeseen events. leaves full freedom,
judgment and promptuess of decision No bet
ter description could be given of the type of
courage which distinguished General Grant
His constant readiness to fight was another
quality which, according to the same great
authority, established his right commander
Generals, said the exile at st. Helena, are rare
ly found eager to give battle They choose their
positions. consider their com binatons and then
their indecison begins Nothing added this
greatest warrior of modern times, moth
ing difficult as to decide General
Grant, in has services in the field, never
once exhibited indecsion and it was this quail
ity that gave him his crowniug characteristic
as military leader. He inspired his men with
a sense OF their invlncibility and they were
thenceforth invincible
when A' he pas.ed Of from General r er'ss es
civil administration was marked by his sterling
qualities. His presidency of eight years was
filled with events OF magnitude in which, if
his judgment was sometimes questioned, his
patriotism was always conceded He entered
upon his Office after angry disturbances caused
by the singular conduct of Lincons successor,
and quietly enforced a policy which had been the
| cause of four years of bitter dsputaton. His
election to the presidency proved in one import
ant aspect n landmark in the history of the
country. For nearly fifty years preceding that
! event there had been few presidential elections
| in which the fate of the Union had not been in
some degree agitated, either by threats of political
malcOntentS or in apprehension of timid patriots.
The Union was saved by the victory of the army
commanded by General Grant. No menace of
| its destruction has ever been heard since GEN
eral Grants victory before the people
Death always holds flag of truce over its
| own. Under that flag friend and foe sit peace
fully together; passions stilled, benevolence
| restored, wrongs repaired, justice done 1t is
Impossible that career so long prominent.
so positive that of General Grant should not
have provoked strife and engendered enmity.
For more than twenty years, from the death
of Lincoln to the close of his own life,
General Grant the most conspicuous
man in America; one to whom leaders looked
for leadership, upon whom partisans built their
hopes of victory. to whom personal friends by
tens of thousands offered their sincere
devotion 1t was according to the
weakness and strength of human nature that
counte movements should ensue; that General
! Grants prmacy should be challenged; that his
party should be resisted; that his devoted friends
ranks. and by bitter enemies in the ranks of his
| opponents. But all these passions and all these
| resentments are buried in the grave which to-
| day receives his remains. Contention respect
| ing his rank q commander ceases, and