National Republican., 1885-08-09

character in American history has par
allcl with Washington like Grant. The
one was the founder and father of the
republic, the other was its savieri each
was commander-in-chcf of the forceSin
the field each served eight years as the
Chief Magistrate of the nation; each, in
his time, was the best product of Ameri!
can manhood; each suffered the pain
and the anguish incident to exalted posi-
ton. When the final change came ii was
to each
Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch
About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams"
In doing honor and in giving express
sion to the sympathy and grief of the
nation, your acts as President haye been
both appropriate and tender TO the wishes
Of the family and to the memory of
Grant. On this day of mourning, while
the tramp of hundreds of thousands of
men keeps step to the m',sie;-pf his
funeral dirge, within whose LIMBS are
gathered the represGG.Ses &f every
-st,riun- and moro y SdfY Yhe sur
face expression of the swelling hearts
and prayers of millions to Almighty God
that such a man was vouchsafed to us in
the dark hours of our history to shape
our destiny. Why should we wonder,
then, that any State should claim his
ashes for final resting place; why should
we wonder that the people of every State
should select the national capital for his
scpulchcr and the erection of monu-
mcnt by the government he saved, in
homage and in honor of his mighty
deeds?
The simple story of his humble birth,
his ambition for Il military education,
his struggles with poverty, yet enjoying
the blessings and bcnediction Of Il de-
voted wife and mother, only cqualcd by
his own love and cUnsccrtion as hus-
band and father must ever serve us an
inspiration and noble example to this
and coming time.
As Il graduate of West Point and cap
tain in the regular army, he served in
the war with Mexico and Indian wars,
which furnished him with the needed
preparation To- instruct his fcllow-coun-
trymcn in the military art. Appointed
by the governor of Illinois colonel of a
volunteer regiment, he demonstrated in
an eminent degree his ability to manage
and control soldiers. From this, his first
command, he passed in rapid succession
from grade to grade, through the shock
Of victorious battle and the many stern
realities of war, to be general of armies
comprchcnding more than million OF
men. At this iuncturc the martyrcd Lin
coin called him to the nations capital for
counsel, and upon Grants solid Judgment
the President and the people rested with
implicit faith while the blood and the
treasure of the land flowed out in equal
measure To support the mighty struggle
with some of the greatest generals and
bravcSt men known to this time or an
cicnt ages When the contest of arms
closed in victory for the cause of the
Union, his great heart cOmprehended and
embraced all the people us brethren OF
common origin and common destiny un-
der one government and one flag
With feelings of patriotic pride and un.
bounded gratitude II grateful people called
him to the Presidency of the Republic
From this time forward his ways were
ways Of peace; to establish law and order
ont Of the chaos of war; the revolution Of
society, and maintain and cherish public
credit, was ever his guiding star.
/ His military and civil labors closed, om
exalted citizen made the circuit of the
| globe, received the welcome and the
homage of the rulers of kingdoms and
empires, and Of the inhabitants of every
cline. Returning to his native shores all
the people gathered round him and gave
him welcome us II plain citizen unpre
redcnted in the history of the world
| His efforts to benefit his family, and thu
financial mislortunes that ensucd, nearly
broke his heart The National Congress