The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-17

and he kept the trust with fdel-
ity to the people. The war being
over, he sincerely and earnestly desired a
peace which would conserve the Just results of
the war. While he was President he lent his
best endeavors to secure the equality of all men
before the law, and in the enjoyment of the
rights and privileges of citizenship; and the
country did not settle down to indifference con-
corning the fate of the freedmen, and it was
thought necessary in some quarters to deny the
existence of conditions in regard to which they
whose sensibilities are not benumbed are anxious.
but concerning which few have strong hopes
for Improvement
So far as intrigue and demagogy may be
thought to characterize public life, he has not
been a politician His taciturnty has never
been cover for craft Plain, simple
and direct in mind and conduct. no man was
ever more sincerely devoted to duty He con-
spicuously illustrated the truth that glory, like
happiness, comes to those who forget her, instead
of those who desire:her alone.
No one can become an object of permanent
popular regard without absorbing love for his
country. Such hero worship is return of afec-
ton. One of the most manifest characteristics
Of Grant is his patriotism When, after Donei-
son, he was unjustly censured and Inundated,
he showed by his correspondence how subordi-
nate to his own welfare and advancement he
held the cause of his country. It was then that
he thought that getting back to the troops would
cure him of his sickness. When, after Shiloh, he
was mercilessly assailed by a storm or
SANDER, superseded, ignored and virtually
deprived of command his situation being re-
garded in the army one of disgrace, his great,
sensitive heart must have been sorely tried, but
he did not strike at anyone, or make public
complaint or skulk home to join the opposition
to the war With soldierly fortitude he sat ST.
lent in his tent awaiting the call of duty and the
opportunity for usefulness.
He has always manifested strong attach
ment for our excellent form of government, a
great pride in our free Institutions. He neg
lected no proper occasion to encourage his
soldiers by predicting the gratitude of future
generations, ''who," he said, will enjoy the
blessings of the best government the sun ever
shone upon, preserved by their valor." When he
received the personal congratulations of for
e!gn princes and peoples he accepted them
in behalf of his country, rather than as due to
himself He has had the happy fortune of at
taching to himself by the closest and most en-
during bonds all earnest minded men intimately
associated with him III arms or in government
The friendships existing between him and Sher-
man. Mcpherson and Sheridan were and are as
unselfsh as if they were his brothers in the
flesh as well as in arms. He has been called a
great patron of his friends. His benefactions of
this sort were the kindnesses of friendship, and
not partisan brides. | do not believe he ever
sought to buy any mans good will. 1t is not in
his nature to do so. That he is capable of graf
itude and lasting attachment is part of his true
greatness That his confidence has sometimes
been misplaced is not wonderful or discredit-
He has not been at any time seeker for that
satisfaction which affords no qualification TO a
noble mind revenge. In the high and difficult
path which he has trod many obstacles have been
purposely thrown. but he has never comprised
any mans downfall. He left those in the army
who coveted his place or envied his success to
sink by their own weight into oblivion, He left
those who in civil life intrigued to disturb the
public confidence in him, task always of too
easy temporary success to struggle among
robe of office and
rend it in pieces between them.
No great commander ever pushed his armed
foe with sterner determination than Grant, none
ever treated his beaten enemy with more
chivalrous magnanlmity. He compelled
Buckner to surrender Internationally
and then went in and breakfasted with him, and
manifested such kind consideration, that Gen
eral Buokner, reminding his fellow prisoners
that their captor had behaved with kindness
and magnanlmity, exhorted them to remember
this, if the fortunes of war should allow them to
sho w such treatment as they had received to
him or his soldiers. When the struggle ended
at Appomattox, he exhibited generosity which
illustrated his patriotism, and was well calcu-
lated to conciliate the misguided men who had
sought the destruction of the Union. And when
President johnson would have violated the wise
terms Of the surrender by the punishment
Of General Lee, Grant interposed, and by
his threat to resign vindicated his own
right and prevented the betrayal of national
honor. Along with high moral courage
Grant possesses full share of that sodierly viz
tue, personal bravery. At Belmont, the COM
mander was the last man to leave the shore, 60
ing aboard the transport as the gang plank was
drawn in. When i'll front Of an army to which
he expected to deliver battle, his usual purpose
he often made personal observations on the pick
ct line. On one such occasion he talked with
some soldiers of Longstreet's corps across Chat
tanooga creek. In the midst of danger he pre-
served his mental equipose and undsturbed ap-
pearance. l have seen him, when shells were
flying over him, quietly observing and calmly
giving orders.
He never sought to shirk, or even to share with
others his responsibility. And he rarely sought
the opinions of others as to his contemplated
operations He allowed no personal considera-
tons to stand in the way and impede national
success. Without harshness, he eXacted I'M
questioning obedience and prompt performance
A division commander whom he ordered to
make an important movement, part of combi-
nation not disclosed in the order, wrote back
that obedience to the order according to it's
terms would involve the total destruction of his
division; and he asked whether, in this view,
General Grant still required the execution of
the maneuver. Grant simply answered: II am
glad to know that you understand the order"
lie held but one consultation which could be
called council of war; that in relation to the
terms of the surrender of VichSburg. He
had rare combination of modesty
and that calm self reliance which
admits of no hesitancy vacillation of purpose.
He always seemed to expect success. He was a
man from whom Others desiring the same results
that he aimed at and knowing him personally
gained strength through submissive reliance
upon him.
He carried on the war by fighting. While he
relied on no maXims or rules of war; when he
could prudently do so, he began the attack, and
he gained more than one great victory by being
the first to renew the contest when both sides
seemed exhausted at Donelson and Shiloh.
His indomitable will made him take no ac-
count of the severest physical strains, for which
he is now, perhaps paying the penalty. A man
of less equanimity could scarcely have endured
with sustained powers the ordeal through which
he passed in the last year of the war.
If may indulge in comparison, can it be sup
posed of Grant that after such victory as
Gamma he would have gone like Hannibal into
luxurious winter quarters9 He certainly would
have felt of Rome without unnecessary delay
Great Caesar gained his glory and his power by
subiugating with Roman legions undiscpined
poorly armed and not long enduring barbarians;