Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-07-26
THE PRESS ON GENERAL GRANT.
What the Leading Pspers Say of the Dead
Soldier
Boston Globe

Boston Globe
Many q man has died exhibiting all the
virtues Of General Grant and been unsung
but it was permitted him to manifest them
at an emiDence where they could be 90
servtd d of all men, and where they would
secure the most general sympathy and
admiration. In the midst of the very
diverting conditions and tendencies o.
,mericsn social life there was reared uF
mt ofthe by.ways stranger, who. with re-
n ,rkable virtues, became victorious over
one Of the worlds gravrst moral emergen
cies, and grew dear 10 the peoples heart as
a hero. At the height of his fame, when he
vas the observed Of all, and had secured the
most abiding hold upon the affections, there
was given him the crowning work oi
sharing the firm Of death common to bu
manity, and of illustrating the triumph oi
character over its pains doubts and fears
1t is as if God wisely iuterposed for the good
of mankind and directed the life OF General
Grant to the end of making all behold the
transcendent holiness. Of him who as a babe
rpon its mothers breast lies down with
love and confidence upon the bosom OF bis
God.
PhladsIphic Record.
1t has been said that only two things car
each the top Of pyramid, the eagle and
the reptile. Grant was tbs eagle who rose
10 his place without apparent effort, and he
keptit. His command Of vast armies in the
presence Of an enemy was as easy to him az
was his drilling of o regiment Of raw
militia in the beginning of his ca
reer. Fort Donelson, Vicksburg, Chat
tanocga ard the campaign on
the Potomac are among the monuments OF
his military fame. II ne was sustained BY
the arms and resources Of great nation, he
was opposed by foe whose prowess en-
hanced the splendor Of his victories. His
magnanimity and clenency in the day Of
final success mitigated to his enemies the
humiliation of defeat, and to the love and
admiration in which he was held by the vic
rors WI united the gratitude Of the van
pushed.
1t is favori,e theory, justified largely BY
facts, that perioos Of great social upheavai
or situations of extreme peril TO nationt
themselves, develop the man capable oi
mastering them. BE who was to emerge
in 1865 as !conqueror OF the rebellion and
thenceforth 10 have his name
hlazoned with the names OF the
great captains of the world was totally
unknown in 1861. An undistinguishei
graduate of West Point and useful subal.
tern in Mexico, he had retired wholly from
rhe army and was ploddiug unambitiously
and prosaically at Gslena. To obtain the
command Of regiment seemed the limit Of
an ambition never shown to be obtrusiye
until 1860. The promotion TO Brigadier'
shIp was the work Of partial friends, who felt
full justification il the stirring news from
Donelson 1t was but passing cloud at Shi'
lob. Thereafter through the long and bloody
struggle, in the East as in the West, com
mandipg an army on the Mississippi or on
the James, directing operations through the
whole vast theatre of conflict, he was to be
undisturbed save by promotion, and, ulti
mately. was to win. The triumphs OF the
armies we're bis successes, and they have
placed the commander where criticism o'
his military genius, however acute, can have
no popular approval The greatest OF the
heroes of the war for the suppression OF the
rebellion he Is ensbriped forever.
81. L0Uis R(PrblteuH.
Gen. Grant was a soldier, not states
mal. As soldier be relied on himself fsnd
became gres', but be failed Of greatness a.
a statesman primarily becau'e be relied on
others, fr whose mistakes be wa
held responsible, living, though they
will not be set against him, dead
BE was nan single OF purpose
incapable of deceit, and so warm in biz
friendships that nothing turned him from
them. The work whish occupied the clos
ing hours Of L;s life gave him an opportu
nifty 10 display fortitude higher than ID:
courage Of the battlefield. That in To.
long sgony Of wasting death he should
strive 10 make record, Just alike
to his Tie5ds and his enemies In
the struegle Of which be was q
grea. part, is scarcely less q subject fol
admiration than his military career. Durine
bis life be made many warm friends ans
many bitter enemies friends whom be kept
er emies whom be lost. And now that be i
d, ad, no friend need ever be ct loss 10
good TO say Of him.