Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-07-30

without ostentation the homage OF
the world.
At various times within the fate
full quarter Of century rounded
into an epoch by his death, Grant
held within his grasp, subject to the
operation of his single will, the
destinies Of this country, of which
he was peculiarly representative. A
lesser man would have made greater
profit from the opportunities. A man
less strong within himself might
have turned the victorious patriots
into a legion of personal adherents;
for Grant came from the murky
night of battle the peace bearing
demigod of the western world, and
adulation swelled to alteration as
he marched his armies home.
Cromwell righted the wrongs of
England to carve for himself pro-
tectorate of imperial tyranny; Grant
was most the patriot when most in
power. The l. w was ever greater
than the temptetion; and there is no
purer luster in the immortal crown
of brilliant deeds chat will grace the
image of his fame than the rare
quality that sustained the balance of
his character, reverence of universal
justice.
That Grant was misunderstood in
much of his life is true. and that he
suffered not little through miscon-
ception is likely. Conscious of the
fact that his course was one of UNI
faltering integrity, aware of the
folly of trying to correct the speech
of deliberate depreciation and
malicious SANDER, and believing
firmly in the ultimate triumph
of truth he maintained a silence
that was never broken through
twenty-five perplexing years with
an offer of self-defense or per-
sonal justification. The people have
been his advocates. The people
have guarded with jealous zeal the
sacred trust reposed in them. And
from the people he inspired to the
last the sweet breath of devotion
that had in it all the tenderness of
affection, all the fondness of love.
Throughout the land to-day tears
flow from eyes that have looked
hardly and fearlessly into the dead
ly flame Of fire belched from batter
les and ranks of hostile foes, with
memories floating before them of
who it was cheered on the victorious
charge; and these veterans of the
Northern armies will feel more pain
at heart in loss of the Old Comman-
der than stirred them when shot and
shell swept from their sides some
close, near tie of blood. These
surviving soldiers will express what
the entire Nation must feel--a pro-
found grief-not merely for a great
man gone, but for the death of one
who embraced in slife the elements
that make greatness dear to the
common people, greatness with
humanity, greatness with humility,
greatness with manhood.
1t was a greatness of that quality
which maintained the respect of
those who suffered to give it dis
tinctness. In the heart of the South,
that knew the smart of his chasten-
ing, Grant has died no more than in
the reverence of the North. His
character lives in the esteem of the
Nation--a character that sprung into
strength and fullness from the OBJ
stuctions of lowly life, bearing with
it an eyer-abiding sympathy with
lowly condition. The man who was
great enough to stand admired in
the presence of kings and potentates,
receiving the homage of nations
that knew him alone in his glory,
was also great enough to hold and
cherish the love of the common
people, from whom he came. Great
as a soldier, great as statesman,
great in heart, great in mind, and
great in character, Grant lived q
noble career possible only with an
American.-Later- ocean.