The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-05
GENERAL GRANT.

The formal tender OF General Grants SOU
venirs to the government recalls the fact that
the most illustrious soldier of his time is with
out due recognition. 1t will be admitted that
General Grant did as much or more than any
other man to put down the rebellion, preserve
the government and restore the Union. With
out invidious comparison he stands at the
head of the great commanders who won fame
between the firing on. Sumter and the surren
der at Appomattox But while in the enjoy
ment of this proud distinction General Grant
has ever borne himself with that dignity and
modesty indicative Of true greatness. At the
close of the struggle when the honors of war
were thickly upon him. he was content to re-
tire to such privacy as he might find; but the
people would not have it So They called him
to the presidency of the Republic. There, as
when in command of the armies in the field,
he distinguished himself in such way as to put
him in the foremost rank Of chief executives.
For eight years, and during a
time when the most important business
was up for settlement, be discharged
every duty with signal sincerity and impair
tiality, leaving the Office as he had entered it,
a man respected and honored, and whose fame
as civil administrator will increase as i'm
partial history records the facts of the times
during which he held Office.
For twelve years now he has walked before
the people as a''private citizen, wearing no title
and enjoying not one cent of emolumerts-11,,s--.
cause of his prodigious seSv,ces TO the conn.
try. DI ssine this time other generals have
<been enjoying pensions or drawing pay on the
retired list. He has received nothing, and has
asked nothing. Nor does he make any de-
mand now. But it would seem obligatory
upon the honor of the country that some adj
equate expression of the nations gratitude be
given. The President has very properly in
Dictated what seems to be the only method by
which the countrys duty can be discharged.
If ever a soldier won place on the retired
list that soldier is Ulysses S. Grant. The
peer of the worlds greatest chieftains as good
citizen as soldier, he has, by his example in
all conditions of life, won imperishable fame.
AT this time-twenty years after the
Nation felt that it owed its integrity
to him above all other men, he is in receipt of
not one dollar as evidence of the peoples graft
tude 1t is case without parallel in the his
tory of nations.
1t is said that partisan reasons will prevent
the passage by this Congress of any bill plac-
ing Grant on the retired list that the only
possible way this could be accomplished would
be by coupling Fitz John Porter with General
Grant, and allowing him the same advantage.
Without entering into the merits of General
Porter's claim at all, it is a monstrous Unjust
ice that anything should keep the American
people from testifying their admiration for
and obligations to the hero of Appommattox.
The Nations gratitude to him should compel
instant justice, so far as justice can be done,
without regard to the merits or dement's of
any other man. The Democratic party can
hope for nothing but everlasting shame in
meanly refusing to discharge so palpable a
duty to the great military chieftain.
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