St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-07-28
GRANT AND NAPOLEON.

In an article in yesterdays GLOBE Gen.
LEE was quoted as drawing comparison
between GRANT and NAPOLEON which
was favorable to the former. The difference
between the two great military leaders was
strongly presented by Gen. LEE when he
said: ''NAPoLEoN's chief object was
glory. mere glory. GRANTS action is dis
tingulhed by his simplicity and strong
sense of duty" The contrasts between
GRANT and the only great European soldier
of the last hundred years who commanded
armies comparable in numbers with those
GRANT led to victory will only enhance
the sober admiration of our own greatest
military hero. The forces under GRANTS
command were larger than those NAPOLEON
led. GRANTS military operations were
extended over far larger area of country.
and were conducted under greater difficult
ties of campaigning and supplies. And
| GRANT had to encounter more skillfully and
| herOically-led foes than NAPOLEON ever
met Opposed to GRANT were leaders like
LEE. whose genius for war was unsurpassed
! IN the annals of war. while around him was
a coterie Of as brilliant corps commanders
| as ever graced an army. NAPOLEON fought
armies badly led. awkwardly handled and
tardily moved. incumbered by absurd and
antiquated tactics. and having no such in
SEPARATION as fired the French armies.
NAPOLEON first won the power he had
over men by leading soldiers who were wild
with their newly-asSerted citizenship and
inspired with a faith which CARLYIE saws
was miracle. To such soldiers. believing
that they must lose their liberty and all
hope unless they overcame the hirelings of
surrounding despotisms, NAPOLEON gave
discipline, simple tactics. the inspiration Of
a marvellous presence and the genius of
common sense. He was carried on by the
revolutionary forces Of his time until finally
the force of the revolution spent itself.
When NAPOLEON confronted the steady
military sagacity and GRANT-like tenacity
and stubbomness of the Duke of Wei
lington he met his fate and had to sur
render.
GRANT led million of sober citizens In
arms with a century of self-govenment be
hind them. who had deliberately dedicated
their lives to the preservation of an actual
practical. benefeent government. and who
/
ing their fellow citizens. but were solell
sustained by a sense of duty and an intelli
gent appreciation of the rights of the ma
ton and the power and value of the Union
GRANTS soldiers were not stimulated b,
love of glory. of hope. of swift promotion
They fought to restore and not 10 destroy
They were civilians and not soldiers TO tn
last and were glad to sink back quietly int
e the mass of citizenship when the struggl
was over.
- NAPOLEON turned his victories to over
throwing the liberties of his own peopl
and made his successes the foundation O
his imperial throne. GRANT was not
conQueror for glory. but citizen soldierin
i for all that makes American citizenshi
valuable. GRANTS achievements an
fame kept growing until they eliminate
n with a Vicksburg and an Appomattox
NAPoLEoN's later career was q series c
blunders and disasters, ending with Water
I. loo and st. Helena.
- The most striking contrast betwee
g. GRANT and NAPOLEON was in the diffel
ID ence in their moral natures. To crafty
false ambition NAPOLEON shut out frcl
his heart, his home and his throne the onl
n woman he ever loved-the beautiful JOSH
PINE. As GRANT lay dying at Mt. NJ
Gregor his latest and tenderest though
+ = were of the wife who, while yet plal
country girl in her humble home on
Western prairie, had given hun her hear
ut and whom he had kept close to his side
q all the varied scenes of his remarkab
life. AS Mr.. HoDGsoN said in his r
ed marks in the chamber of commerce yesterda