The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-07-29

Inc announcement OF the death OF
General GRANT, the foremost man il
the Union, in popular estimation, was
received with regret throughout the
world, though the event was one which
had been anticipated for several months.
The time has scarcely come TO write
an impartial biography of this popular
hero. His friends are too devoted,
his enemies too bitter, and his admirers,
whether they be found among the vic
torious legions whom he marshalled and
led, or in the ranks Of those who sur
rendered all but their honor to him,
view him from stand-points so different
that even they have been unable TO
arrive at a common judgment.
That GRANT was a successful General
none viii dispute, but whether his sue
cess was of that character which entities
him to be ranked among the great mill
tary heroes of history, or whether it
came as the natural result of the failing
opposition which the South was able to
offer TO armies which drew their recruits
from the wide world, is question for
the critics of the future.
Of his craftsmanship, the least said the
better Even SO partisan a journal as
the New York Tribune, finds little more
to commend in his official career as Pres
ident, than his veto of the initiation bill,
and this is what any Republican Presi-
dent would have done. As civilian he
was failure both before and since the
war, and he was no greater at his death
than when he retired from the battle
field az the successful conqueror of
LEES army.
The admiration of the South for Gen.
eral GRANT dates from Appomattox.
There he displayed the greatest qualities
of the successful generosity and
magnanimity. Many things have ac-
Cured since to cloud the nobility of his
conduct on that occasion, but about the
terms of LEES surrender and the duty
and obligation CT the Government to
keep them inviolate, he never wavered
| As to these, he was the soldier,-th
man who had fought his country's
battles for love Of his country, and as a
soldier he despised the treachery of the
politician. But while he was able tC
Withstand the direct assaults of the
Government on the terms he had made
with LEE, he was weak enough, in the
hands of the artful schemers who haG
control of Congress while he was Presi
dent, to Indorse and approve measure.
which sorely harassed the Southern PEG
pie; and he gathered around him il
| Washington, as his boon companions, al
conocienceless set of tricksters as ever
was seen. He was over-reached BY
them. He lacked the faculty of know
| ing rascal when he saw him. Hi
friends were all honest men; hi
enemies-there you could look for thu
rascals.
Much has occurred during Genera
| GRANTS last illness to confirm us in tn
view that he was more than willing t
blot from the memory of men the year
when he was President. His book, whicl
has absorbed so much of his attention, i
war book Concerning incidents of tn
war he has expressed great solicitude t.
leave truthful and unvarnished record
Most of his conversation has been abou
the war and the men who took part i
it, and his most patriotic and admirabl
expressions have had reference to til
recon Citation of those who were oppose
during the war. He seemed to feel tina
his fame is inseparably united with hi
soldier-life, and he put behind him tn
regretted events of his Presidentis
career.
The South remembers him as the her
/ of Appomattox, and joins with thos
who mourn his death and honor h
} memory.