Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-07-30
General Grant.

La the early morning hours of Thurs
day, July 20, the bells throughout oul
land were tolling for its most honored
citizen, and the telegraph was flashing
10 every quarter of the globe the news
that the end had come. Throughout
the long and painful Illness it had been
known that sooner or later the strong
constitution and the iron will must yield
to the fatal disease. Sixty millions OF
people who claim him, living or dying,
rs their own, besides millions in other
lands, have watched with anxiety every
change in the condition of the sufferer,
hoping against hope. And through it
all, no one was more conscious of his
danger or knew better the imminence
Of death than the brave General him.
self. 1t needs not his distinguished
successes on the battlefield, his grand
leadership to victory, or his record as
the chief ruler of the nation whose
unity he had preserved, to proclaim him
great. Nothing can be found in history
more admirable, and at the same time
more pathetic, than the sublime courage
with which during his last days in the
face of death he calmly pursued his
task of finishing the work he had be-
gun.
IL is said that a great man cannot be
properly estimated in his own time, but
history can give to this great man no
higher place than he now holds in the
hearts Of his countrymen. Not that
time will diminish his glory; for the
more his character is studied, the bet
ter it is understood, the higher will it
be placed on the worlds roll Of honor.
The General Grant who last week
passed into The history of our country
is greater in the eyes of the world than
when he first stood before it as the vic
torlous leader of the grandest army in
the grandest conflict in its history.
Though rs soldier his greatest fame
was won, it was not alone as soldier
that he was great. His character was
OF such perfect symmetry that, approach
cd from any side or seen in any light,
he was still the same great souled, great
hearted man. During the closing
scenes Of his life we have had a closer
view Of the domestic and social elements
Of his character AS a husband, father
ard friend he has been as true, as I'M
selfish, as noble, as admirable as when
Dc offered his life to the service of his
country. He cared not where his last
restiug-place might be, or what costly
monument might be reared to mark
his burial place, only requesting that
be- be placed where his beloved wife
who had been his companion in success
and in adversely, might some day rest
beside him.
IL is not necessary here to give any
sketch of the career of this man whose
deeds are household words in every
family Even the incidents of his last
days are known to all who read. We
can only touch, with admiration and
reverence, upon some of his most dis
tinguishing characteristics.
OF these the most prominent was his
steadfastness of purpose. He was quick
to perceive the right course to be pur-
sued and having decided he never fall
tered or turned back. His courage
never failed him in any crisis of his life,
nor could the prolonged torture of
physical pain weaken its sustaining
power. Such was his simplicity and
purity that his life affords one of the
best illustrations of the truth of the
words of our Savior: "He who hum
bleth himself shall be exalted" He
never sought the greatness that came
to him. 1t was the crisis, and the need
OF such n man that developed the great
ness that was in him potentially, and as
he went onward and upward from
height to height he rose by the force of
what lie had done rather than climbed
toward a goal which he was striving to
reach. And his heart was great. His
affection for his friends and his forgive
ness Of bis enemies were OF that quality
that marks the highest results of Chris
tian civilization. His honesty and in
tegtity were unimpeachable, and none
could be found to accuse him of COM
plcity in the fraud which brought about
bis financial ruin. He was straightfer-
ward, frank, just and generous to all
He was modest, and wholly without af-
fectation or pretense of any kind
Chary Of his speech, whenever he
spoke his remarks had the same direct
ness Of bearing upon the point that
characterized his every act.
OF his military genius writer has
said: The secret of his success az a
military chief was that he was never
weak or hesitating, but always seemed
to set with the solidity and precision of
natural force Such was his COM
prcbonsiyeness that he was certain to
perceive the right thing to be done at
The right moment, and was irresistible
in It's performance.
But what is this humble tribute to the
memory of great man? How can the
pen of any but a genius attempt to add
inc to the volume of praise that has
been and will be written of this great
est Of our national heroes? The con-
taiaplation OF his greatness makes one
feel his own smallness, while it furnishes
ta all who will heed it an incentive to
rise above the petty weakness and self
i~huess of our daily lives and emulate
tie virtues of the man for whom ma
tion mOurns
In his death we sustain not only a
national calamity, but to every one
there comes sense of personal loss.
Sustained in his last moments by his
iudomitable courage and firm belief
IN aud hope of eternal life, retaining
unimpaired his mental faculties to the
very end, be passed away from us as
he had lived, brave, true man. 1t
may be that should the need ever come,