The National tribune., 1885-08-27
TESTIMONIAL TO GRANT.

By fhe department. OF Sui0. G-A.k., IN Semi.An-
nual EncampmentAt Springfield, Aug. 1s. 1885.
The Springfield G'otellRcau5sic says of the fol-
lowing:
| The following testimonial to Gen. Grant was
| presented by Judge Cochran, of Toledo, and
| unanimously adopted. Nothing more fitting
or more beautifully expressed, of all that has
| been uttered and written, has found its way
into print: 20 II
Ulysses s. Grant is dead! Nation fingers
at his tomb; the world sends message of condo
! lence, and earth Is filled with requiem. Yet
as patriot, soldier. aud beneiactor he lives, and
will remain while virtue, patience. fortitude,
| and fidelity have place in history or among
men. .it Il
! Calm and modest through life, resigned and
tranquil in death, to US he is not dead-ouly
| transferred from our thinning ranks to that
ever increasing army in the department of i'm
mortality.
In ourselves we note the Iengthening shad-
ows of Eife's evening; we gather on the descend
ing slopes or stand at the rivers brink. In
| memory of yesterday and hope of to morrow,
| we live to-day and think of him who so often
thought for us.
The wealth of meditation, which was so much
his own, seems now the better part for us, and
yet It's fit we essay speech lest silence seem dis
paragement.
How seldom Time hath given one whose
record is beyond all eulogy!
Born untitled, youth of obscurity. reared
in the common school of necessity, he learned
the dignity of toll, the rights of honest labor,
and the wealth of honest worth.
Duty became his guiding star, meath which
he obeyed without murmur, and directed with
out ostentatiOn.
Respecting the rights of ALL from highest to
| humblest his name is a synonym for the SIM
piicity of Democracy and the glory of Rcpub-
licansm.
He so bore distinguished honors won and at
tentions shown, that every adOrnment placed
upon him, at home and abroad, is reflected back
| on his country with added luster.
Unfold the scroll of ages past and scan each
life, TO which antiquity doth lend a charm, and
where find we one so pure in purpose, so fertile
in resource, so ripe in plan. so sure in action,
and who SO little blended human frailty with
exalted worth?
He was silent when SANDER assailed him or
truth needed Withholding, but just in praise of
others and stranger TO falsehood.
When distrusted by those in authority he
added not by plaint to public peril. but. self
poised, calmly awaited the fullness of time and
truth.
If in aught he erred, he did not purpose
wrong; his answer to criticism was potent
silence or the thunder of success.
lie was true to duty, COmrade and cause as
needle to pole, and suffered naught III con-
sciousnesS of wrong to self, compared with fear
that others through him might fall or suffer.
Himself the soul of honor he was slow to
suspect treachery in Others but seldom trusted
unwsely.
In all his struggles with adversely, events
and conditions he exemplifcd true courage,
sublime faith, untarnished manhood and pro-
found forgetfulnesS of self.
He was the central figure in events which
were the elimination of centuries and master
in results which will touch the hope and home
of man while freedom lives; and yet he sur
vived detraction and heard the worlds bene-
diction. IL
In him success as commander was only
equalied by kindness asr ronqueror.
Such were his cause iand conquest that he
conquered most when he made each worthy
foeman fOrgctful of defeat in assuring equal
sharing in broader liberty and better law.
In that supreme hour at AppomattOx he
ecipsed all diplomacy and healed the wounds
of hundred battles by touch of his noble
nature that in niomeat made foemen breth-
rem.
Invincible in sublimest war; he as civil ruler
invited his c0untryhen and kind to the greater
sublimity of amty, ,Innion and arbitration.
He was a center of moral power, a mine Of
moral force, and when the Nation was trembl-
ing in angry debate asa to his successor, his
character assured peaceful solution.
Whether in field. Or cabinet, or among kings
or the common people, he was the incarnation
of strength.
Pen can never gid historic page with full
and rounded record of his manly life.
Brdsh cannot canvas touch with color of his
earnest soul. Bard can never sing the excel
lence of his simplicity. Shaft can never rest so
sure, exalted stand nor long endure as will his
fame in the affection of his cOuntrymen.
This unmatched. chIpfpSt. lUmblCSt man was
our commander servant, comrade, friend. with
us; of US; the product of our time and land ;
the type American model for the world in
field, in State and home.
Close the ranks, comrades; steady! Lift
your eyes, glistening with sacred memories and
manly tears. See! YOnder is written in ever
lasting stars on the clear upper sky of Fame
a new name, pre- eminent, reSplendent in ex-
ample, unequaled in glory-U. S. GRANT.