The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1885-08-15
Mr.. BIAINE'S TRIBUTE.


The Statesman OF Augusta at His Own
Home Enin;,!Ars the Dead Soldier.
Hon. James G.. Blaine delivered the
following Grafton on General Grant at a
memorial meeting .Ic!d ia Augusta, Me-,
on Saturday:
Public senaibiilty and personal sorrow
over the dealll of General Grant are not
confined to one continent \ profound
admiration for great qualities, aud still
more profound gratitude FOR great ser
vices have toachc! :hc heart of tue PEG,
pie with true sympathy, increased even
to tender emotions by the agony of his
closing Gays and The umloubtcd heroism
with which lie morally corqncr,d a last
cruel fate.
The world in its hero worship is dis
eliminating and practical, if not, indeed,
selfish. Eminent qualities and rare
achievements do not always insure last
ing fame. a brilliant orator enchains
his hearers with his inspired ana inspir-
ing gifts, but if his speech be not sue
ce 'stully used to some popular recollec-
ton his only reward will be in the iitful
applause of his forgotten audience. A
victorious general Ill war of mere am
bition receives the cheers of the multi
tude and the ceremonial honors of the
Government, but if he brings no boon to
his country his fame will find no abiding
place in the centuries 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 genera.
ton. Washington secured the freedom
of tine colonies and founded rev ma
ton, Lincoln was the prophet who
warned the people of the evils, that were
undermining our free Government, and
the statesman who was called to leader
ship in the work of their extirpation.
Grant was the soldier who by victory in
the field gave vitality and force to the
policies aud philanthropic measures
which Lincoln defined in the Cabinet for
the regeneration and security of the Re
public.
The monopoly of fame by the few in
this world comes from an instinct, per-
human nature. Heroes cannot be multi |
piled. The gods of mythology lost their |
SacrclneSs and their power by their mum |
bcrs. The millions pass into oblivion;
the units only survive. Who asked 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 promise land? Who marched |
with Alexander from the Bosphorus to
lndiao And who commanded the lcgiOns
of Caesar i'll tie conquest of Gaul? Who
cio.s,d the Atlantic with ColumbuSo
Who ventured through the Winter
passes of the Alps with the conqueror of
Italy? Who fought with Wellington at
Waterloo? Alas, how soon it may be
asked, Who marched with Sherman
FROM the mountain to the sea? Who with
Meade Oh The victorious field of Gettys-
bur? Who shared with Thomas in the
glo!cs of Nashville? Who went with
Sac. Ian through the trials and trium pl!s
of he bloodstaineu valley?
General Grants name will survive
through The centuries, because it is in
dissuiiiaiy connected with the greatest
militia; and moral triumph in the his
toy ,,l ,hr Unlt,d States. If the armies
OF H., Uhinn had ultimately faiel, the
vasr and b' nciicent designs of Lincoln
wut.ll h"ve been frustrated, and he
wvnld nave loen known in history as a
statesman nd phl!;nthropist. who, in
tn" cause of humanity, cherished great
aims wLich lie cnt.!I not realize, and
conceived ygc.t ends winch he could not
attain; as All Unsuccessful ruler whose
policies distracted and di. severed his
country; wI;la General Grant would have
taken his place With that long and Away
increasing array Of great meu who were
found waiting in the supreme hour OF
trial. But a higher power controlled the
result. God Ill MS gracious mercy had
not raised those men for works which
should come to Eaught. In the express
sion of Lincoln, mo human counsel de-
yised, nor did mortal hand work out
those great things" In their accom-
plishmcnt those human agents were sus
taiued by more than human power, and
through them great salvation was
wrought for the land.
As long. therefore, as the American
Union shall abide. with its blessings of
law and liberty, Grants name shall be
with honor AS long as the
slavery of human beings shall be alb.
horred and the freedom of man assured
General Grant shall be recalled with
and in the cycles of the future
the story of L,ncoln's lie can never be
told without associating Grant in the
splendor of his own great name.
General Grant $ 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
He had no potential
friend except those whom his victories
won to his support. lie rose more rap
idly than any military leader in history
from the command of a single regiment
to the supreme direction of Il million of
men, divided into many great armies,
and operating over an area as large as
the Empires of Germany and Austria
combined.