Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-07-24
The Death of General Grant.

NlClOI Ill " HhbuiNt
less in the presence Of the Universal
Conoueror as the humblest Of mortals'
and so the great successful hero oil the
w,r between the States has laid down
his sword and Joined the innumerabie
,bronr that tread the pale realms OF
Death. Truly
"Tbe glorfes Of our blood and State
Are shadows not substantial things;
There is no armor against Fate
Death laws his icy hands on kings.
Sccpire and crown
Must tumble down,
And I'm the dust lie equals made
With the poor crooked soythe and SPADE.
II is difficult for any American now
living to do justice to General GRANTS
memory. The northern people and the
southern alike are disqualified by the
preiudices inseparable from the circum-
stances heretofore and now surrounding
them.
What .ught General GRANT to have
been il he was entitled to the high civic
bonors which have been accorded to
him by his countrymen, and to the
worldwide reputation which his
achievements as a soldier gained for
him? We answer, in few words, that
he ought to have been great man.
Since the world began there have been
few men who were really great, unless
we include among such men those "yil-
iage HAMPDENs and others alluded
to by GRAY, who never had an oppor-
tunity to make their greatness manifest.
Was General GRANT one Of the few?
In our opinion, not only is his lone OF
the few, the immortal names that were
not born to die" but his is one Of the
still fewer names that are entitled to
immortality upon earth. He is not
only one Of the immortals, but he is
one ri them by right Ho waS a"
AGAMEMNoN-a" King Of men," He
was SO pervaded by greatness that
he seemed not to be conscious
that he was great. lie was magnani-
nous, modest, faithful to his friends,
lust to all men as far as his CUR
roundihgs permitted, above stimulation
or assimilation, self-poiSed, and equal
10 every occasion. lie was not a
MARLBOROUGH, nor NAPOLEON,
nor a LEE, nor WELLINGTON, nor
WASHINGTON, nor CESAR, nor a
HANNIBAL. He was nevertheless one
of the greatest Of generals--greater
perhaps than some Of those whom we
have named. We are not qualified to
express an opinion upon that point.
There was nothing small about Gene
raj GRANT, no Punic faith, no per-
fidious element, no jealousy. His CHI
Various spirit would not permit him to
ask LEE or his officers for their swords,
or LEES men for their horses. $50
in peace " was the substance of his
treatment of the heroes who surrendered
at Appomsttox Courthouse. His fidel-
ity to his not assumed but presumed or
supposed obligationS--his loyalty to
truth and justice-caused him to
forbid that General LEE should be
arrested or annoyed by the Federal
authorities. Even MosBY, whom the
northern people styled bushwhacker
and guerillero, was protected in all his
rights by GRANT, and afterwards by
him appointed to Federal office. When
investigation convinced him that he and
the army officers had wrOnged FITz-
JOHN PORTER, he at once recanted his
former belief and addressed himself to
the task Of righting the wrong, never
for a moment hesitating because Gen
eral LOGAN and nearly all the rest OF
the Republican senator's were arrayed
against him.
Right royalty did GRANT demcar
himself in all these cases. Right roy
ally did he keep faith with his brother
soldiers Of the Confederate army
Right royalty did he bear himsel
when last winter first one and then an
other person or association proposed L
provide for him competency. He re
fused all such offers. If he wa
worthy Of pension and competency
il was the Government Of the United
States that owed it to him. Either h
would have it thence or nowhsnce
Nay, We do him injustice. Ii was hi,
friends who OWNED his feelings, no
himself that made these known. AnC
right glad are we that Congress sootheC
bis death-bed by restoring him to tn,
army and giving him the pay ola gene
raj as q retired officer.
But his earthly career is ended. Hi
fame is now assured. He has filled {
large space in the eye Of the world
and now there can be no reason TO fear
that he will not always Gil it. Rest in
peace, great warrior. Thou hast nc
longer enemies. None but friends can
be found either in the North or in the
South. The Confederate soldier will
lay wresths upon the hsro's grave, and
mourn with the millions that will mourn
wherever the flag Of restored Union
waves.
"There 10 70 tear for al who die,
mourner Ger the bumblest grave.
but Nations swell the funeral cry,
Aud Triumph weeps, above the brave"