The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-07-28
The GREATNESS OF GRANT.

THE GREATNESS OF GRANT.
No name has appeared oftener in the
public press during the last twenty years
than the name of Grant The character
and acts of no one, not even Lincoln,
since 1864, have been more discussed. As
a result of this prolonged and exhaustive
discussion there is substantial agreement
as to what Grant was and what he did.
He was the Unions most successful SOL
der and he did WORK of greater magni-
tude in the field than any American gem
eral has ever done To be placed before
Washington, Lee and Scott as soldier in
the popular estimation is fame indeed.
To be ranked above these great generals
and above Thomas. Meade, Sherman,
Sheridan, the two Jscksons and the two
Johnstons, by military critics, is an honor
that the worthiest only could win.
But military greatness is a relative
thing What is General Grants rank
among the great soldiers Of modern times:
Conditions differ, modes and implements
of warfare change. discipline varies and
fields Of operation are vast or narrow. so
that comparisons are impossible except
as to results. Measured by the standard
of success the formost modern soldiers are
Won Moltke, Marlborough, Grant Napo>
icon ard Wellington. History tells Us
that England greatest soldier, the Duke
of Marlborough, and Germany's first sol
der Field Marsha Won Moitke. never
fought a battle that they did not win.
The latter broke down Austria in one
month and prostIaied France IN four
months. Never have such q serious OF vic
tories been recorded as those that were
gained upon French soil By this marvel
lous strategist II We cannot accord to
Grant quite equal success, it is because
Shiloh and the wilderness have been
claimed as drawn or indecisiye battles
not unlike in result those fought by Wei
lington in the Peninsular war. But as the
First Napoleon was disastrously defeated
in two pitched battles and one great cam
paign, it is impossible TO call him so sue
cessful in the art of war as either Won
Moltke, Marlborough or Grant, The Hero
Of Vicksburg and Appomattox never ven
tured upon any undertaking so utterly
reckless as the midwinteI Moscow Cam
paign, nor did the worst Of his subor1in-
Rtes ever suffer defeat 50 Incidentally
disastrous As the meteoric Frenchmgn
never added foot Of territory perman
emily to France, arrayed all Europe
against his OWL country and died help
less, despairiBg prisoner Of war in the
hands Of his most detested enemy, 1t may
be wise TO accept the later rather than tEt
earlier historical estimates Of bis genius
1t is well known that Grant despised hin
as man and did not accept the popuIa
estimate Of his military achievements. Ii
oil AlbhOl Va NIaiaItNl IA
own dead soldier was infinitely above
him. The fame Of Wellington rests chief
ly on Waterloo, where there were scarce
ly more than $4,000 English troops en-
gagged, being smaller number than Gran
twice captured as prisoners What par
of this lauded victory was due to Bluche
and his reserves is too unsettled a cues
ton to here discuss. 1t is enough tt
know that close comparison Of the civi
and military career of Wellington an,
Grant would prove most favorable to tn
latter, as the American hero was a broad
er, more magnanimous and letter poset
man.
In a general way Grants claims II
greatness rest upon the enduring founds
ton of having gained the first, the las
and the most inspiring victories of th
war. Fort Donelson first brought hop
out of despair Vioksburg was unpar
alleled in prisoners and arms, and Apo
mattox crowned all Yet We must begli
with his modesty and simplicity Of char
acter when We attempt to enumerate tn
element of Grants greatness. AN uu
yielding persistence or perseverance
marks the whole Of his military and ciyi
life. Power Of will and tenacity of pur
pose characterize his entire career 4
self reliant faith in his own powers ha
followed him through life Directuess 0
speech and action has led him by shortes
routes to results An unchanging faith IL
justice honesty and right inspired him t.
declare that the public debt should b
paid in coin when every demagogue il
the land said it should be paid in broker
paper promises TO pay. And that extra
ordinary magnanimity, SO rare IN con
querors, exhibited not only towards Tia
hconquered Lee and bis brave men. bu
Exhibited towards foes, rivals aud friend