The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-09

But with General Grants taking off il is differ
ent His measure of life was FULL if not in
years it was overlooking in great achievements
and crowned with honors to repletion During
his long weary months of pain and physical
suffering, with the full consciousness that the
grim monster was slowly but surely making
constant inroads on the citadel of life,
he displayed the same calm, seemingly stoical
courage that had characterized his career
through the most exciting epochs in his eventual
life He never complained, he never mHrmured,
but remained cheerful and complacent to the
enc. And thus General Grant came to the close
of his marvellous life, ripe with age and
crowned with all the honors that il is
possible for mortals to bestow upon their fellow
mortals He had so lived as not to fear death,
and, dying left the partner of his life and home
lowered with the love and affectionate regard of
the Nation which he was so potential in saving
from dissolution, and his children rich in the
patrimony of his illustrious name.
Thus ends the mortal career Of the most
renowned chieftain of ancient or modern times.
Helpless we stand at its cose-wlth feeble and
imperfect word, attempt to tell the story of his
years of labor ambition, success misfortune
joy and sorrow which cbeckered this eventful
career. All that we know certainly, is that 1t
has ended. and at last he has lain down his
burdens. For the rest we have faith and hope.
The Hindoo maiden when her lover or relative
has gone upon long OR dangerous journey, as
the shades of evening fall, places upon the bosom
of the river Ganges an earthen vessel wreathed
with flowers, containing a lighted taper,
and watches its progress down the
typical of that of the absent loved
one. For many long, sad months those who
loved him, and the whole Nation that honored
him. watched the feeble light. now ended as it
hoated away upon the river of time. 1t can be
by mortal eyes no longer but may we not
hope that upon the great ocean of eternity it has
burst into noontde splendor. The Nation thus
reverently closes the last page of the ifes
history of her most illustrious soldier
THE ADDRESS OF CHARLES L. HOLsTEIN.
The address of Charles L. Holstein, which
came fourth, was delivered with very impressive
effect, and it was received with frequent in
terruptions of respectful applause, which was
prolonged at the close. Mr.. Hostein's address
was as follows:
Ladies and Gentemen-Three months ago we
met to commemorate the siXth-third anniver-
sary OF the birth of General Grant. To-day we
come to bury him, not to praise him. 1t is an
honored custom upon occasions where speech
making is especially the order of the day to re-
ceive the name of Washington the father of his
country. in silence, standing the while with
bowed heads, because it is thought such silence
is the highest evidence of the love and venera-
ton IN which he Is held. SO it seems to me that
the name of Grant. the savior of his country,
should be hereafter received in reverent silence,
because speech is inadequate to his proper eu-
logy.
The great captain is dead! How idle all words
The history of his life, even in its de-
tails, is as familiar as his name, and
his name has been a household word for
nearly quarter of century. What can l or
any one say of him, that is not already knownl
Shall | speak of his military servicesl You all
know how promptly he answered his country's
earliest call-asking only to serve and willing to
serve even in the humblest capacity. You all
know that when he drew his sword he flung
away its scabbard, but never flung his sword
away until red war had won a white and stain
less peace-a peace that saved the Nation in it's
integrity and gave it a new birth of freedom
Shall enumerate his battles! From West to
East from the great rivers to the seas, on
line of conflict stretching halfway across our
mighty continent, for four long years, he led our
armies. They were years of battle.
Shall enumerate his victoriesg The mum
Der of his battles is the number of his victories
Dorelson, Shiloh, Vicksburg, Chattanooga the
Wilderness and Petersburg between-his flag
the flag Of our country, was always full high
advanced, and never met foe that did not fall
before it. He was Gods instrument chosen and
inspired, and under his magnificent leadership
battle and victory" were words of one and
the same meaning.
Just before the battle of Ivry, King Henry said
to his gallant troops, my children, if you lose
sight of your colors, rally to nay white plume:
glory Grants sword was sword of fire.
The hilt of it never presented to an
enemy The CLEAN of its blade shone
like the white plume of Henry of Navarro, and in
its light the gallant soldiers of the Union, with
confidence that was never shaken by de-
feat. marched from victory to victory.
His place in history is secure. When the flu
ture historian comes to analyze his great cam
paigns-when he comes to consider that at one
time he commanded more than a million men in
arms; that he was operating upon line from
East to West more than thousand miles long,
and over an area greater than that of all Europe,
and against an enemy, whose courage certainly,
and whose numbers in battle generally were
equal to his own, he can write bat verdict.
The truth of history will compel him to
cay, that Grant was the greatest sol
der the world has ever known
His fame is doubly sure, because it is sanctified
by the great cause for which he battled. 1t was
not war for glory for conquest, for spoils
or hate. Saving only, with due reverence he it
said. the cause for which the Son of Man was
crucifed on Calvary, it was the grandest and
hottest cause for which men ever fought or died
The cause of the Union was the cause of man
kind. 1t was freedoms war. 1t was the supreme
and final test of republican system of government
on earth.
Humanity, with all its hopes and all its fears,
Was hanging GREATNESS fate"
Our success is the evidence that God is tired
of kings" and that men, the sons of God, are
fathers. as to the equality and rights of all men,
stands immutabe as truth, meaning all that
it says, and all that it implies. How the
chains and shackles of slavery melted like snow
in the hot flame of that righteous war Our air,
to day, because OF 1T, is so pure that man can
breathe it and be slave. And the old flag (now
at haf-mast in honor of our dead hero) floats
from sea to sea, from North to South, over every
inch of our vast national domain, the sign and
the symbol of the Nations supremacy and SOW.
field wi so
star for every State and State for every star"
In the achievement Of these grand results.
Grant was the greatest individual factor. AS
long as an armed force confronted the Union
armies he had terms to offer but immediate
and unconditional surrender. He knew what
war meant and the mighty issues that were
involved. He knew his cause was right, and
never doubted the result However gloomy the
situation, he never, at any time, believed the
war a failure. However dark the clouds
-. L. .ox, fLIr orad biz L.