The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-08-10

Dut BACK OF that general, and back OF |
those armies, was the hand of G cd NOV
ing, shaping the events of the nation un~
til it was eventually cemented together in
a more perfect union, a wider franchise,
and stronger government. That war
was begun to put down a rebellion, but
an omnipotent leader so controlled it that
it was the means of shaking the shackles
from four millions of slaves, and making
this country in truth as well as in name
the land of ''the free and the home of the
brave"
| say that an omnipotent hand was
controlling the destinlnies of that war,
but as in all human affairs. it was done
by appropriate means Its battles were
to be fought by human soldiers, but God
raised up the leaders and endowed them
with abilities to lead its armies to victory,
1t | had no other grounds for believing
in an over ruling providence, the career
of General Grant, in his relation to our
late rebellion, would compel me to be
lieve 1t. Who cannot see the hand of God
displayed in the history of that remark
able war? Who cannot see that there
were more than human agencies at work,
everything events to bring about most
wise and beneficial result? God raises
mp men and places them in position
where they may achieve grand results for
nations and the world by their peculiar
gifts and endowments. This has eyer
been Gods way of dealing with the chill
dren of men. When he wanted COVER
nor of Egypt who should bring about his
purposes in preserving his chosen people,
he chooses the boy Joseph, and by a long
series Of providenccs, makes him the gov
ernor of all Egypt. When he wanted a
leader to lead that people out of bondage
he calls a Moses and by his eighty years
training in the court schools of Egypt
and the wilderness, he prepares him for
| that great and ardurous duty of leading
his people to the land pf promise. When
God wanted king to reign over his peo>
pie Israel, he passed by the Sauls and the
mighty men of the nation and chooses
from among she sheepfOlds, a David.
| God is working by his mysterious PROV
| licences in the same way today. and when
a general was wanted to lead our armies
to victory he passed by the prominent
| leaders of the nation and chose a Ulysses
s. Grant God choice is not always our
| choice, and his will is often at varianc e
with ours But he is omuicent and hi s
choice is always right and mfallibe Who
| that knew General Grant as a boy in
| southern Ohio. or even as leather mer~
chant IN Galena. would ever have thought
of him AS great leader of armies? He
was boy OF apparently only mediocre
ability. and in some respects seemed al
most duh. As 8 man he was quiet and
unpretentiouS. But the germ of greatness
was there anu only needed the OppOrtuni
| ty 10 develop it and bring it forth. and At
| the proper time wise providence brought
| him Ia the front, and the astonished
world are witnesses of the results achieved.
To the careless observer it might seem
a mere accident that the appointed cadet
10 West Point failed in his examinations
after years trial, and the quiet boy of
| Southern Ohio was appointed in his place.
But to thoughtful observer, looking at
il in the light of subsequent history, this
circumstance will be seen 10 be the first
in long SERIES of providenCes that was
to prepare for this country a military
leader 10 fight her battles and achieve her
| virtories--l leader of whom the world
might well he proud. A very small cir
cumSt4nCe gave 10 this country her Ulys~
ses : Grant. 1t all depended upon the
exempltied untitness and failure of boy
in the military academy at West Point.
Doubtless if this apparently trivial circum-
stance had not happened, the world would
never have heard OF the military genius
of him whose memory we revere today.
But an omnicent God controlled that cir
cumstance to lead to this very result
There are other critical moments in the
life of this illustrious man IN which his
military destiny hung in the balance. In
his early military career General Grant
was undoubtedly incorporate in his hab-
its. and had he not, at the solicitation OF
an earnest friend, given it up, it would
doubles have proved with him, like it has
| with many another great man, his ruin.
After the battle of Shiloh be was re
lieved from command by General Halleck
but instead of resigning his commission,
as many a more naughty and less patriot
ic man would have done. Grant moved on
in obedience TO his superiors.
IN his long series of manoeuverS at the
north and west of Nicksburg. he almost
lost his hold upon the people in his APP
parent slowness and inability to strike
the enemy.
After Sherman's famous march to tht
sea, cutting the confederacy in twain and
capturing Atlanta, when his name blazeC
forth in such popularity and briliaucy
whilst Grant was quietly sitting before
Petersburg, it was proposed TO put Sher'
man In supreme command, and the worlC
all know the spirit of resentment thai
proposition met with by the gallant Sher'
man on the one hand, and the spirit OF
generosity and good will by Grant on tht
other.
The general of an army like every
other soldier, is more or less exposed tt
the contingencies Of war, and death may
cut his life short at any time, | ask you
today, who was it that made thu
J circumstances such as to lead thu
boy Grant TO the national military
academy when he apparently had nj
special fitness for the position2 Who
, was it that restrained him in his intem
, perate habits? Who was it that held hin
in position whilst undergoing the crit
cism before NlCksburg and Petersburg
: Who protected his life and guarded his
r person through all his checkered career
$ in the war of the rebellion? Was it BLIND
chance? Was it mere circumstance, o.
, was it the ever ruling hand of kinC
g Providence? Was il not because Goo
reigns, and in his long suffering and ten
: der mercies, decreed. that the government
5 of Washington should live?
s In those troubles that came upon this
t nation quarter of a century ago, whel
: state after state seeded from the union