Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-08-14


stronger and warmer during his years Of re-
tirement, and the long weary weeks aud
months Of his physical suffering
But in undertaking the discharge of the
duty you have dovolvod on me, cannot but
feel how little remains 10 be said. No words
Of mine can add one jot or little 10 the lus-
tire Of his name but in this brief service we
can contemplate q character 30 well and tru-
ly formed, and 30 beautifully polished and
adorned, as not only 10 command our highest
admiration, but also 10 be cherished by us as
a model Of excellence. II is but echoing the
voice which has been heard from every part
of the oountry-from foreign lands, from
crowned heads and titled dignitaries, from
the press, from the pulpit, and from every
association from which II could with prOpfi-
ETY. be uttered-to say that In the death OF
General Grant, the most illustrious soldier Of
modern times, whose matohleas efforts 30
largely contributed TO the suooessful issue OF
the war for the preservation OF the Union,
the securing Of the just and true interpreta-
tion OF the powers Of the government under
the oonstitutlon-the sovereignty Of unity
over its several and constituent parts, the one
ness and indestructibility Of American ma
tionAlity-the man Of unBelhHh ambition,
who for eight years bore the honors Of the
highest office the people could bestow, with
becoming modesty and republican simplicity,
and with watohful regard for the nations
honor and veal, the truly eminent and dis
tinguished citizen, the afeOtionate husband
and tender father, surrounded and soOthed
by those he most loved,
"From the top Of Fame's ladder
Stepped TO the akes,"
and the people of all lands and OF every
tongue sincerely mourn.
II is happy thing for q country, when the
lives OF its public men may be thrown freely
open 10 the world and challenge Its closest
scrutiny with a consciousness ON the part Of
the friendly critic that there Ia no blot TO be
concealed, and no glaring fault which love
of truth forbids them to deny. He was not
immaculate-he was human and had iDfrmi
ties like other men, but they we're slight and
few. True and steadfast in his friendships,
and governed by the rule of strict integrity
in bis intercourse and dealings with his fellow
men, he believed others TO be like unto him
self, and hence the greatest errors OF his life,
IL errors they can be called, arose from his
too honest, Trusting nature. In this regard
another has well said Of him "The mean
and sordid peouniAry cares that ve1ed his
closing years OF life but showed how truly
resolute and upright he was. In selecting
men in military life in whom 10 repose conf
dence, his view vas singularly correct and
Just II might be said to be perfect. He was
a soldier to the inmOst core he knew every
thing that he needed then and made no mis-
takes. His education aud studies had not
fitted him with the same judgment In civil
life. Il was an errOTiOf tFustful, generous
nature that led him 10 stand by those
in whom he had once reposed confidence,
even after there was legitimate reason for
distrust. He gave generously and withdrew
reluctantly, and thus a. q civilian he WAS
more than once grievously abused in official
life That he should show the same disposi-
ton in dealing with his private and personal
affairs might have been anticipated. But II
was an error which most grievoualy he was
compelled 10 answer. Betrayed by cunning,
intriguing knaves when financial ruin came
he met II with the old calm resolution. He
was ready at once TO strip himself of all he
possessed, even of the very gifts which were
the Just memorials of his fame, that he might
satisfy those who had trusted in him. FinAn-
oial and commercial honor we're az dear to
him a. any other honor"
In the life OF General Grant there can be
found no instance OF q mean or equivocating
action none OF a departure from the self
imposed restraints OF a refined and lofty
sense Of honor and none In which the fear
OF man or the seductions OF ambition tempt
cd him TO do that which could destroy bis
own self-respect or the respect Of his fellow.
men.
1t Ia said that the story Of every human
life, II rightly told, may convey useful les
son to those who survive. OF all the public
men of our own day and generation, there
can be none whose lives will teach more i'm
pressively the great moral Of the strength
which firm and honest adherence TO duty
and its faithful discharge gives, than that OF
nanawal IA ma M aud VA
from the very force Of character he could
WELD an influence, in civil az we'll Rs in mill
tary life, which the most fervid olOquence
never commanded. His was an instance in
which greatness was achieved without those
brilliant qualities which tho world calls
genius, but by what Is far better, a
sound Judgment, q resoute and unhnching
purpose 10 pursue the right and tenRciously
hold to 1t. Thus it was that the people be-
came inspired with q Just confidence in the
souDdness Of his judgment and the strict in
tegrity of his purpose. and beheld in him a
safe depositAry of trust and power. Although
gentle and kind In his intercourse with 9th
ers, he could be stern enough when the pub
lie interests or his personal honor required II.
He was a man whose whole soul would have
sickened under q sense of personal dishOnOr.
1t is not surprising, then, that such an one
should have been crowned with public hon.
ors by his oountrymen.
1t may be said that In his military career
he succeeded where othsrs failed. His nom.
ination and appointment TO o oadetship al
| West Point was secured by reason OF the fail
ure of another, previously appointed from his
district, 10 meet the requirements and 10 OBJ.
serve the strict rules of discipline OF that In.
stitution. He graduated in the GLASS Of 1S43
having, IA II has been said, "a scholastic
1 IL. M..NL l.
standing and reputation for truth and integ
rity was high" He was commissioned a SEQ
ond lieutenant of the Fourth infantry regi
ment, and from this time forward until the
summer Of 1854, when he resigned his cap
taincy to which he had been promoted h'
served continuously with the army in Mexico
upon our northern frontier and the Pacific
coast, always disoharging his duties with thai
fidelity and zeal 80 characteristic of him In
his after life.
April 18th, 1861, when intelligence AAsheC
over the wires that the flag OF our country
under which he had fought and was sworn Il
protect, had been fred upon, and that armeC
resistance to the lawfully constituted author
tiles of the government had already begun
found him pursuing the peaceful avocAtion o
tanner at Galena, ILL.,, enjoying the sWee
comforts of domestic life, always 90 dear h
him. II has been claimed that previous Il
and at the beginning Of the war he was
democrat Charles A. Dana, one Of his man!
biographers, writes of him as follows "HAv
ing been educated as military man, ant
been denied the opportunity of voting dur
ing his service In the army, he had no bon,
Of sympathy with purely partisan move
ments, and took no part In political matter
farther than TO keep himself we'll informed
an AN Intelligent citizen should, of what wa
taking place throughout the country" How
ever this may have been, Il Ia quite csrtAii
that in the presidential election Of 1850 b
voted for the Hon. Stephen A. Douglas, AM
at the commencement of hOstilities II ma
well be said that he was war Democrat
and an such he was not long in deciding WhA
| a. a. nha ,uaak Nollotyin., :, That auaw ,,anno.