Huntsville gazette., 1885-07-25


can continent was one continuous ovation,
all the great cities apparently vying with
each other in their efforts to do honor to
the distinguished traveller
Soon after his return from his tour around
the world it became evident that. while he
had renounced third consecutive term as
President, he would not be adverse to a re-
election now that four years had inter-
yened 1t was thought by his friends that
this fact would also, in a measure, dispel
the objections so generally entertained to
the violation of the unwritten law of the
Republic, which had been observed since
the days of Washington. The opposition
to Grant personally was also very bitter,
and it became evident that be could not
secure the nomination without desperate
struggle. This his friends, headed by Sem
ators Conkling, Cameron and Logan, were
prepared to make. After many intensely
exciting contests in the various State Con-
yentions, it was thought that more than
majority of the delegates to the National
Convention were in favor OF Grant, Dat
many of them refused to obey their ms truc-
tions, and others were led OH by the Dlan-
dshments of other candidates. The result
was that neither Grant nor Blaine, his po-
litical opponent, had quite enough strength
to secure the nomination, and the dele
gates holding the balance of power were
not disposed to give their support to either.
After long and exceedingly animated
contest, the Blaine delegates went with the
scattering ones and nominated James "A.
Garfield, the ballot on which this was
achieved having shown 306 for Grant. In
commemoration of the fidelity of the "Old
Guard' as the third termers loved to style
themselves medals were struck and dellv-
cred one year later to all who had sup
ported the General. During the campaign
that followed Grant took an active interest
in politics. and on two or three occasions
IaH
In the interest of Garfield. After the as
sassination of the latter, however, he took
no part in politics.
The death of General Ulysses S. Grant
closes one of the most remarkable careers
recorded in history. So intimately have
the name and achievements of the great
soldier been identified with our national
life that to a large part of the American
people the news brings sense OF personal
bereavement, recalling the anguish which
rent the popular heart when Washington,
that other grand commander, was called to
his reward just at the close or the last CEN
turv. General Grant has been held III pc
cuiar esteem and affection by the people of
the whole Union of late years, and nothing
more touching or beautiful has ever been
witnessed than the universal sympathy and
tenderness with which they watched over
his last hours of WEAKNESS, weakness and
suffering. The fatal end has been seen APP
~
lentless steps, and the brave old hero fac
ing death with imperturbable and undls-
mayed demeanor made an intensely pa
thetic and impressive picture, but one ex-
quisitely in keeping with the dying mans
character. He showed no fear of death,
which he had seen in close proximity and
terrible form scores of times before, but
the battlefield never subjected him to
more awful strain than the slow sapping of
his vitality by the dread and insidious dis
ease which had seized him in its remorse-
less grasp. To this stricken man, caught
iron will was hopeless, the popular
heart went out, and it is not too
much to say that could others
have assumed the burden of his woe, hum
dreds of chvalric souls would have been
ready to take upon themselves the pain
and weakness and death, even, to relieve
the ilustrious sufferer and spare him to
the country. But it could not t@, and the
dauntless leader on many bloody battle
fields was left perforce to meet the dark
angel in a struggle that must have but one
sad ending.
1t is not easy within the narrow confines
of a newspaper article, TO do full justice
to the extraordinary character of General
Grant. Doubtless the eminence he will
occupy in history will be due chiefly to his
military achievements, and this will be
natural and just. But to the generation
contemporaneous with him he has pre-
sented in his personal attributes many
claims upon the popular regard dissociated
from his purely military career-or
rather, he was seen to COM
bine in that career the quail
ties which most strongly appeal to Ameri
cans for recognition and approval He
was grounded in simple principles of man
illness and probity which distinguished him
all through his marvellous course, and ne
rose from obscurity to greatness and sue
cess by sheer force of merit and innate
ability. 1t is folly to talk of such men
coming to the front by accident.
theologian has said that when the Al
mighty wants great men He makes them.
The life of General Grant would seem to
verify this. From infancy to the break
ing out of the war his training had been
of the kind to fit him for the place destiny
had prepared for him, and his appearance
upon the stage of war was but the natural
and simple working out of events which
made him necessity and brought his ca
pacity into play He came to the front as
the leader of our armies because it was seen
he had the ability to command, and
no higher proof of Lincoln's craftsmanship
and sagacity was given than when the
great war President discerned Grants un-
assuming merit and placed him in undis-
puted control of the operations against the
Confederacy. How well Grant indicated
the trust reposed in him, the triumph of the
Union cause following plans mapped out
by him remains to testify for all time. 1t
was not of his own seeking that he became
President. 1t was in obedience to the
peoples will, and there can not be the
least doubt that his own preference would
have been to remain at the head of the
army in the high and congenial office
created for him by Congress. But
the same simple principle which always
dominated his life made Difference to the
popular wish a duty, and he cheerfully
accepted it. His Presidential term Of
service fell upon the troublous reconstruc-
ton period, and some of his acts awoke
bitter personal, factional and partisan hos
tility; but through every executive step
taken by him can be traced the desire to
do strict and impartial justice and to serve
the best interests of all the people of every
section. This has become so apparent that
the most malevolent political criticism
long since spent its force, and the value of
Grants services as President has been con-
ceded without question or reservation
In his private life General Grant has
been model of uprig ightness and propriety,
his devotion to his family being one Of his
distinguishing characteristics. So, from
whatever point we view him, he stands
-four square to every wind that blows"
The errors he made and the misfortunes
that overlook him We're due not to weak
moral lancac I, Inf