Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1885-07-24

the war what was asserted to be his one
great fault was uppermost in all mems
minds, and they could not con-
ceiye of his ever rising above the
grade and responsibilities of a brigadier-
general. But to the disappointment of
every one but few very intimate friends
who had penetrated his strength of mind,
his tenacity and firmness Of purpose, his
resolution, and knew and undcrst) )od his
abilities, he rose steadily, even in spite of
this asserted weakness, in spite of
tsciturnity that Iepelled familiarity, the
jealous opposition of superior officers and
many serious military blunders. The
fact is the man had confidence
in himself, and he quietly and with
out ostentation assumed succe eding COM
mands, each one more responsible than
the other, until he reached the highest,
and there, as in all the rest, gave ample
evidence that he was well equipped for it,
and wss equal to ifs greater responsible
ties and its wider stretch of authority and
power. The spirit of command, Of real
greatness as a soldier, brooded in the man
iestation 80 advancing years and oppor-
tunities offered. He was always self-con-
tained and self-poised. He was always
ready, end es he once himself said, WIS
prepared to follow or to lead, as the justly
constituted authorities might order or
think best. 1t was in this frame Of mind,
this readiness for duty, that he went on
from one victory to another until the clos
ing one at Appomattox eliminated
his active military career. In that cGm-
paign he met the man we still believe to
be the greatest soldier OF the civil war, and,
while re was successful, his later disposi-
tions being made with view to hurry on
events to the tnd he hoped for, still it is
doubtful, had the ranks Of the opposing
armies been equal, if be would not have
been the vanquished inst21d OF the victor.
But he won. The long, thin line Of half
starved soldiers that, stretching tom Pc
tersburg to Richmond, kept up for meny
months a show of strength, had reached
that point of human endurance when they
could no longer maintain the sham of
strength, and they retreated before over
whelming numbers and at last surren-
dered to magnanimous and an honor
able soldier. 1t is this point in
Grants life, and his later utterances
OF good wish and good will for the South
ern people, that brings them to-day to his
bier as HEARTFELT mourners- The most
illustrious son OF the republic was their
fellow-eitizen, and in time of trial their
friend. Their parole WIS TO MIN bull
wark behind which he sternly forbade the
incenssd authorities, whose commission he
held to 90. When they disturbed the
thrice illustrious Lee it must be at the ex-
pense of his sword, that sword that had
never been drawn save in defense of The
life OF the republic, and had never been
tarnished by dishonor. Beside this act OF
morRl heroism what were sll Grants vic
iories in war? The man here spoke who
had made for himself in the hearts OF his
soldiers ana of his officers an endur-
ing place in which affection struggled
with respect for mastery. We honor the
great sol fier, for great he Was; we coudone
the miserable mistakes that mock at his
claims for civic consideration; We recall
above all these things the greater one OF
his magnanimity, that quality that Iikest
Gods set its seal upon his character and
covered a multitude of sins. We leave
mis- career to the considerate judgment Of
mankind, sure that in the sitting processes
of history the dross will disappear and
only the gold remain behind. lie was our
con ,rtryman, and his greatness is the COM
mon heritage of the Republic. The
wounds of war have long since been
healed, ard though now and then harsh
words crate upon our ears, ss ii we were
still 70 be made to feel thst we had no
right TO place in our fathers house, we
cannot be prevented from paying willing
and honest tribute to the dead at Mount
McGregor, TO the man whose noble pur-
pose of fraternity was never wholly OBJ
scured, and which, st the last, asserted its
supremacy in satisfaction at a completely
restored Union and the widening prospect
of a great future for the land he
loved better than his life. Gen. Grant
was always better thsn miserable
aims that end in self, so long as he
stood aloof from politics, and when a
length defeated of his purpose OF third
term, he became resigned to private sta
tion. he threw himself with bis accustomed
energy and ardor into the work of inter
national comfy and trade, and did more
than all other men and agencies combined
to hasten the wonderful development o
the sister repablic of Mexico. In thi
work he appeared at his best, and also il
the advice he gave the japanese and Chi
nose authorities in the management o
their loreign affairs. He impressed thu
OriepCalists as iair-iealine. truth-tellinl
r,a,. type OF the white race which the,
l,,d sell, ,om encountered before, and h
made for = smerica with them a char
acter for unsell'h friendship that i
sharp contrast with the grsspinI
and cormorant greed Of tbe English
men and the Frenchmeu they hav
dealings with. Freed from the c,ptene
of the politicians at Washington, Gran
thus impressed the people OF the Orient a
he might have done those OF SAnto d.
mingo and OF Cuba. But in these cases b
was prompted by the devil Of greed, lust
ful of gain and power, and wholly reckles
as to the historic position OF the countr
in opposition to entangling alliances. Hi
party overbore him and forced him int
indefensible positions. 1t came into Iii
amid excitement, it grew and fattene
on war, Tapine and pillage. ana it coul
not, il never has adjusted itself TO To
ways Of peace; it never hsss risen abov
Jobs and jobbery, and it hsH never iaile
10 smirch its leaders; all Of them fsy
Iine,olu and his Cabinet Refers Sc
from this power, with its demands an
assertions of obligation, and Grant one
more asserted himself in the utter sin
ylicity of straigls forward, plain, modes
unostentatious ana unsssuming maj
whose heart, above Psrt ssnshlp, WI
atiuned to a cor S'stAs nslve pau
otism that embr ,ced the who
Union, and the people ct u
North and South alike. He lived ior
enough to know that he wits beloved !
all classes of his eountrymen, and that
none was he more respected han by tho'
who by experience were able 10 apprecia
his stubborn tenRcity as a soldier, ar
above all the generosity that dictated Il
fiual terms of peace and the moral coursi
that insisted upon the observance OF the
by the government.