The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1885-07-29

landmarks of the state; and Grant
was the guide-post of victorious war
land landmark of msgnanimous
peace. The American people them /
selves will judge him now, after the
calm evening and the serene repose of
retirement, more Justly than in the
stress and storm of struggle. The as
perities of the angry contentious have
8passed; the flaws have faded and the
4blemishes are dimmed, while the
splendor of his achievements and the
simple grandeur of his character have
gained brighter halo as the years
shave rolled by. The clouds and the
smoke of battle have long since lifted /;
! the fragments and the scenes are swal +.
lowed in the majestic drama; and To-.
: day we see Grant elevated on his true
pedestal Of fame through the just per-
spective Of history.
And great he undeniably was; ; great
( in the strong attributes of his mind !;
great in the ruggled qualities of his
character; great in the fiery trials of
war; and great in the larger work OF
peace. Not without faults, but with a.
purity of purpose and lustre of
achievement which left them as faint
Jas the spots on the sun. If he did
not rank with the few military cap.
ltains of supreme genius. he stood high
'up among the great commanders of
the centuries. Pitt said Give was al
heaven. born general. If Grant was
not heav, n. born he drew the strength
lof Anteus from the earth. If bel
could not achieve marvels with slen \
der means, like Hannibal, he meas,
'ured his aim and took no Backward
step. Cromwell never struck blowl
bill he was forty and then moved rel
|sistlessly to the mastery Of an EN-
pire. Grant gave no sign of his great
powers till he had passed the same]
meridian, and then displayed the in-I
ldomitable spirit OF another Ironsidesi
aud rose to the full height of bisI
matchless opportunity. 1t was hisI
brilliant success and his trumpet blast
lat Donelson that thrilled the countryE
with the first real Inspiration of VIC.
tory. 1t was his unyielding advance,
his bold strategy and his Unfalteringy
fighting in the Vicksburg campaign
that showed a genius equal to the
trial aad gave the first intelligent as.
surance of final triumph. He had|
the Insight of the true chieftain andI
chose his marshals with unerring SKILL
When he rose to command new or.
der of fighting generals came to theI
front, and the Shermans and the Sher.
idaus shared his triumphs and his lau-.
rels. Taking the splendid but unfor-I
tunate Army of the Potomac he led III
with the same undauuted and invinei.
bic spirit, never knowing defeat, nev.l
er wavering in the fercest tempest of!
battle, never faltering even at theE
frowniug front and awful slaughterj
of Cold Harbor, until he accepted the
surrender of the rebellion at Appomat-I
tox. And there, at the summit Of al
soldiers ambition, he crowned theE
glory of great generalship with theE
higher glory of greater magnanimity.I
Grant fought his way to success in|
the field, and he fought his way to
success as civil ruler. But heI
reached it through trials and rebufis.
He was swept into the Presidency onI
the high wave Of popular gratitude,
for his matchless services be came to
it without civic training or experience, ]
and he made mistakes, as any mani
must inevitably have done under sim.
liar conditions. At the outset he did
not display the same untailing insight
lin the choice of his counsellors which,
lhe had exhibited as soldier, and er.
rors followed unfortunate selections.
But time has greatly changed theI
public judgment, and Grants careerI
Jas President is estimated more iustlyl
now than in the midst of strife or inI
the glare of mistakes. Its faults areI
seen to be transient and superficial, |
while its larger work and Its vital rel
sulls are broad and enduring. Grant,
never failed in any high duty or onS
any great Issue. No Administration
i'm our history save Washington 81
which organized the government andI
Jefiersons which acquired louisiana
Iand Lincoln's which ordained eman-;
exhibits more lustrousI
achievements. Jackson's bears no.
comparison, and Adams had no op-I
Iportunity. When initiation swept
through Congress, Grant stood like al
rock aud it dashed against him in
vain. When the public debt was as.
sailed, Grant was the bulwark of itsi
safety and security. His AdmInistra.
ton crowned the freedman with citi.I
Izenship, saved the financial honor of
the nation, defended the public faithl
at all points, completed reconstruct
ton, and cemented the work of peace /
What eight years Of our history, With