The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1885-08-20
GEN. GRANTS GREAT QUALITIES.
As Set Forth by Mr.. Blaine In HIS Memorta!
Speech at Ahgust0.


Speech at AUGUSTA.
At the Grant memorial services held in
Augusta, Maine, the following eulogy was
delivered by Hon. James G. Blaine: Pub
lie s%ensibility and personal sorrow over
the death OF Gen. Grant are not confined
to one continent. A profound admiration
for his great qualities and a still more pro-
found gratitude for his great services have
touched the heart Of the people with true
sympathy, increased even to tender emo
.ions by the agony Of his closing days, and
the undoubted heroism with which he
morally conquered a last cruel fate. The
world in its hero worship is discriminating
and practical if not, indeed, selfish. Emil
lent qualities and rare achievements do
not always insure lasting fame. A brilliant
oE>tor enchains his hearers with inspired
and inspiring gifts; and if his speech be not
successfully used to some popular recollec'
ton, his only reward will be in the
ftful applause OF his forgotten audi
ence. Avictorious general in a war OF mere
ambition, receives the cheers OF the multi
tude and ceremonial honors of the govern
ment; but if he brings no boon to his coun-
try his fame will find no abiding place in
the centuries that follows. The hero Tor
the ages is he who has been chief and lore
most in contributing to the moral and
meterial progress, to the grandeur and glory
OF the succeeding generation. Washington
secured the freedom OF the colonies and
founded a new nation. Lincoln was the
prophet who warned the people of the evils
that we're undermining our free government,
and the statesman who was called to the
to4lonoI.. -, %ro xv0-ly - fhair ovfJrpa fInn
Grant was the soldier, who by victory in
the field gave vitality and force to the poll
cies and philanthropic measures which Lin
coin defended in the cabinet for a genera
tion and tine security Of the republic.
Monopoly of fame by the few, in this world,
comes from an instinct, perhaps from a
deep-seated necessity OF human nature.
Heroes can't be multiplied. The gods OF
mythology lost their s~acredness and their
powers by their numbers. The millions
pass into oblivion, the units only survive.
Who asked the great leader OF Israeli to con.
duct the chosen people over the sands OF
the desert and through the waters OF the
sea into the promised land? Who marched
with Alexander from the Bosphorus to In
dia, and who commanded the legions OF
Caesar in his conquest OF Gaul? Who
crossed the Atlantic with Columbus? Who
ventured through the wintery passes OF the
Alps with the conqueror OF Italy? Who
fought with Wellington at Waterloo? Alas,
nov soon it may be asked who marched
with Sherman from the mountain to the
sea? Who with Meade on the victorious
field OF Gettysburg? Who shared with
Thomas in the glories OF Nashville? Who
went with Sheridan through the trials and
triumphs OF the blood-stained valley? Gen.
Grants name will survive through centu-
ries because it is i~ndissolubly connected
with the greatest military n moral tri-
umph in the history of the United States.
If the armies OF the union had ultimately
failed, the vast and beneficent destinies OF
Lincoln would have been frustrated, and he
would have been known in history as a
statesman and philanthropist who, in the
cause OF humanity, cherished great aims
which he could not realize, and conceived
great ends which he could not attain; as
an unsuccessful ruler whose policies
distracted n discovered his country;
while Gen. Grant would have taken his
place with that long, and always increasing
array OF great men who were found want
ing in the supreme hour OF trial. But q
higher power controlled the result. God in
his gracious mercy had not raised those
men for works which should come to
naught. The expression of Lincoln, no
human counsel devised, nor did mortal in
their accomplishments. Those human
agents were sustained by something more
than human power and through them great
salvation was wrought Of the land. AS
long, therefore, as the American union
shall abide with it's blessings of law and
liberty, Grants name shall be remembered
with honor. As long as the slavery OF hui
man beings is abhorred, and the freedom
OF man assured, Grant shall be recalled
with gratitude, and in the cycles OF the
future the story OF Lincoln's life cannot be
told without associating Grant i'll the en-
during splendor of his own great name.
Gen. Grants military supremacy was hon
estly earned, without ~factious praise and
without extraneous help. He had no in
f1uence to earn his promotion, ex-
cept such as was attracted by his achieve
ments. He had no potentialfriends except
those his victories won to his support. He
rose more rapidly than ever military leader
in his day, from the command OF a single
regiment to the supreme direction OF q
million of men, divided into great armies,
and operating over an area as large as the
empires of Germany and Austria combined.
He exhibited extraordinary qualities in the
field. Bravery among army officers is a
rule which happily has had few exceptions.
A general said, "Grant possessed a quality
above bravery, he had an insensibility to
danger, an apparent Inconsistencies Of
fear, and besides that hepossessed an even
ness of Judgment to be depended upon in
sunshine and storm" Napoleon said,
''The rarest attribute among generals is 2
o'clock in the morning courage. l mean,"
he added, "unprepared courage, that
which is necessary on unexpected occa-
sions, and which, in spite OF the most un-
forseen events, leaves full freedom of iudg-
ment and promptness OF decision" No
better description could be given of the
type of courage which distinguished
General Grant. His constant readi-
ness to fight was another quality
which, according to the same great
authority, established his right as q COM
mander. Generals" said the exile at st.
Helena, 'are rarely found in the eager din
of battle; they choose their position, con-
slider their combinations, and their indeci-
sion begins" Nothing" adds this great
est warrior OF modern times, lis SO difficult
as to decide" Gen. Grant, in his services
in the field, never once exhibited indecision,
and it was this quality that gave him his
GROWING characteristic as a military
leader. Heinspired his men with a sense of
their invincibility Inc they were thencefor-
ward invincible. The career of Gen. Grant,
when he passed from military to civil adj
ministration was marked by his strong
qualities. His presidency OF eight years
was filled with events OF magnitude, in
which, il his Judgment was sometimes uues-