The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1885-08-13

+ He was elected 0y large majority
He entered upon the duties of his
great office following the stormy
contest between President johnson
and Congress. The vexed question
of reconstruction WAS yet under
violent discussion. And the re-
building of the Republic was the
work of the hour. The age of great
events was not passed. The first
event by which the new Admins
tration was signalizcd was the COM
pletlon of the Pacific Railroad. This
enterprise had been long under
consideration. 1t was to open up to
q great commercial highway which
would form perpetual bond of
union between the East and the
mighty growing West. On the 10Th
of May, 1869. the great work was
completed with appropriate core
monies. 1t was also left to him to
officially proclaim to the country
that the thirteenth amendment, Civ
ing the right of suffrage to the col
ored race, had become part of the
Constitution.
Under his administration the
work of reconstruction was COM
pleted, and he saw tho seeding
States one by one fall into line and
take their places IN the old Union.
Under hls administration christian
civilization achieved the great tri-
umph of settling disputes by arbi-
tration instead of by war. During
the civil conflict our old enemy,
England, had in violation of the
laws of neutrality, allowed Confed-
crate cruisers TO be fitted out in
English ports to prey upon our COM
merce. The Board of Arbitratnrs
to whom this was referred allowed
us SIS, 100000 damages. The dis
pute as to our north western bonnda-
ry was settled In the same way.
Meanwhile our growth in popula.
tion and our material prosperity
were unparalleled. Netwithstand
ing the ravagcs of war we had
grown IN the decade from 1860 to
1870 from 81. 100000 to $4,000, 900,
and at the same time We had nearly
doubled our miles of railroad.
In 1872 General Grant was re-
nominated and reelected. During
this term the disturbance Of our
national finances, growing out of
tho war, eliminated in the great
panic of September, 1873. This
checked the building of the North
ern Pacific railroad. The closing
year of his last administration was
signalized by the celebration of the
Centennial CT American Independ-
ence The preparations at Phila-
delph,a were the most elaborate
that the world had ever seen. The
wealth of all civilization poured IN,
and on the 10th of May. 1876, Gen
eral Grant, in person, in the pres
ence of assembled multitudes, IN
cluding tho representatives of the
Great Powers of tho Old World, dc
clared the Centennial Exposition
open. For six months the Nation
held holiday The throngs of visi
tors mingled with the collected pro-
ducts Of industry, skill and genius.
stood with reverentiaI awe in tho
shadow of old Independence Hall.
am aware that in all these great
events he did not act alone. He
was not the originator of all OF them.
But IN all he was the prominent
figure. He was at times bitterly
and maligned; but who of
ourfpubllc men have not been?
Even. Washington ard Lincoln did
not,escape But he was wonder
fully free from resentment. He
never murmured nor complained,
hut he never explained nor apollo
gized. He trusted to the sober,
second thought of the people for his
Did he make mis-
takes? Yes, who has not? Did he
ever do wrong? Let him who is
without SIN cast the first stone. 1t
belongs to the art of picture paint
ing to blend the colors so that the
observer can not tell where the one
leaves off and the other begins. 1t
is singular fact that Gen. Grants
troubles, for which he was most Sc
verely criticised. grew out of one
Of his most prominent virtues. He
stood by his friends, and he was no
summer friend. When he took o
man into his confidence he trusted
him fully, he stood by him through
evil as we'll as good report. Out of
this marked feature of his character
came about all the trouble he ever
had, of which the public have
knowledge.
He was not literary man and
yet he wrote with great readiness
and accuracy. His powers of con-
lensation were perhaps never ex-
,elled. In his dispatch to Sheridan
N the Virginia campaign ho sur.
passed the celebrated dispatch of
Cesar to the Roman Government of
{ Veni uidi vici." Sheridan reported
% Grant that the condition of his
,wn forces and that of the enemy
vas such that If things were pushed
Ill along tho line victory might DO
gon. The reply came IN dae form.
Headquarters Army of the, United
States, giving date, to Major Gen.
,ral p. II. Sheridan: Push things.
U. $. Grant" At one
imo after the war, and while he
vas President, trouble arose IN
Louisiana. Aninsurgent army had
aiken possession of the State Gov
The General in COM
nand wrote to the President to
Know his duty, and the powers of the
general Government under existing
.ircumsta nces: Grant at once re-
,lied: "Put dowu that rebellion and
.sk for instructions afterwards"
n his first letter OF acceptance he
rave out the magic words, "Let us
lave peace" which became the
watch words OF the whole campaign,
md were moro powerful than all
he eloquent speeches of the great |
caders. No one can ever forget
lis words during the pendency of
he dispute as to the Presidency IN
S76: "Whoever this Commission
lccldes to be elected, will be inau-
,urated." He was not given to