The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-08-14

rade of the Grand Army lay dying at
Mount McGregor, it was not of his
triumphs we were thinking, but of the
warm-hearted, generous friend.
Mr.. J. NJ Horner, in few we'll
chosen words, eulogized General Grant
CONSUL GENERAL PUTNAM.
Consul General Putnam said: On the
18th of April, 1861, the information of
great gun burst upon the air in Charles
ton Harbor. 1t was borne over the waves,
flashed upon the wires, and hurried upon
the bounding train, until it's echoes re-
sounded throughout the world. Its
mighty voice proclaimed to christendom
that the disputes of half century, in the
greatest of Republics, which had defied
craftsmanship and patriotism, was now
to be settled. by the arbitrament of arms :;
that the greatest civil war in history had
burst forth in fury, and that the millen-
ium of arbitration must await a settle
ment by force All about me | see the
veterans of that contest, and by the fire
which still burns in their eyes, dimmed as
they may be by the gentle touch of time,
| read the remembrance of those stirring
times. Soon the fierce contest, like a
prairie fire, consuming all within its
reach, burst forth The men who fired
the gun at Sumpter marched their bat
talions upon Washington, the first battle
of the war, and would have reached their
goal had their knowledge been equal to
their valor. Battle after battle came,
each followed by a cry OF distress and
rage from those who loved the Union,
for in each contest the stars and bars
were triumphant. The Confederates had
prepared for the strife and the Republic
had not. But soon a cheer came to us
from the beautiful Cumberland Fort
Donaldson, the key to the stronghold of
the rebellion, had surrendered, and the
world was introduced to the young man
who was to carve the road to victory and
achieve a place in history by the side of
the military colossus of the world
ULYSSES S. Grant Vicksburg, Mission
Ridge, and the innumerable triumphs
which contributed to the chaplet which
encircled his brow, followed, and then he
led the children of the Union through the
Wilderness, into the promised land,
where the eagles perched upon their
banners, and the emblems Of rebellion
lay abjectly at their feet. 1t is a trite
saying that circumstances make men. !"
The history of the world has furnished
verifcation. From Joshua to him whose
memory we to-day embalm, events have
developed merit. But nowhere has there
been SO marked an instance as in the
career of the late General of our armies.
Who, in the early months of 1861, would
have looked upon the worn and disap-
pointed middle-aged man officiating as
clerk in a Galena leather store, and by
the most exhaustive stretch of fancy de-
pict him as a victorious General of
armies, as President of the Republic,
which in this instance was at least CRATE
ful as the honored guest of all the civil
hero and idol of free people? If arbi-
tration had settled the questions of the
war, Grant would probably have gone to
his grave as thousands of waiting men
have gone. But events presented his
opportunity and he was equal to If.
Providence had reserved him for his
nations emergency. But the lesson has
still further value, as evidence of the adj
Vancement OF the age This unknown
man of Galena became the hero of his
time because the opportunities OF de-
velopment were given him. The cranped
spirit OF the past is obsolete, and the
Tunes demand the recognition of merit
rather than dependence upon class or
race. Remarks to-day should be too
brief to allow an analysis of the charac- |
ter OF the great General whom our nation
mourns. Neither is it necessary, as he
was as open as an open book. If too
much frankness is fault he possessed it,
and every trait of his character was az
transparent as crystal His patriotism
was the absorbing element of his char
acter The perpetuity of the Union and
honor OF his Government were the ruling |
motives in his action. The grandest
human virtue was his chief weakness
IN attachment to friends, So fervent as to
bind him to their faults. To this. more
han all else, may be attributed such lust
grounds of criticism as attached to his
But the nobleness of
he act OF placing himself as shield be-
ween his friends, whom he believed to
e pure, and calunany, is one which true
nen must always admire. It would
ave been impossible for him to conduct
~o administrations through those troub-
JUS times without mourning the penalty
abuse and criticism. The purest char
Dters are often obscured by calumny.
he beautiful evening star which sparkles
ke a diamond in the gorgeous afterglow
your setting sun is sometimes hidden
Y passing cloud. But the mist dis
lives and the star remains with its
ster undimmed. The greatness of this