Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1885-08-12

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much. When IN the course of events,
war has became necessary. the man who.
by force Of character and ability is able
to step to the front, organize and make
available the force which would other
wise be weak and powerless. is q great
man, and deserves highest honor and
gratitude from his countrymen. Such u
man was Gen. Grant. Great because he
filled great place in the economy Of
human affairs. Greater still. because Of
the high motives which prompted him.
In honoring him, we honor the qualities
Of character which were conspicuous in
him-reverence for God and religion. uu
seltishness. humility. magnanimitY and
courage. In honoring him, also. we are
paying tribute to patriotism. We are
expressing our sense of the value Of those
interests he 80 ably defended. Those in
terests, as expressed in the Declaration of
Independence. are: Life, Liberty and
the Pursuit Of Happiness" How often
these great and precious interests are i'm
perilled. We honor the man who has
done 50 much TO preserve them to US and
to all men. Gen. Grant was not Wash
iugton in the breadth Of his character
and wisdom. He was not a Lincoln in
his craftsmanship. But in the history of
this land he will stand by the side of
Washington and Lincoln. as one raised
up by God to be a great savior Of his coun-
try. To-day. Riverside Park takes its
place in history. and as thousands and
millions of this generation and coming
generations, shall visit the tomb Of this
man. and as they shall read the story Of
his character and his achievements, they
Will find in it. no inspiration to what IS
evil-but an Indictment to all that Is pure
aud honest and true among men. So
thon let us pay our honor to the fallen
hero.
l.. A. Pierce spoke on The military
career Of Gen. Grant" He said: There
are times when men and nations stand 50
near the veil that separates mortals and
immortals, time from eternity. and men
from their God, that they can almost
hear the breathing and feel the pulsation
Of The heart of the Infinite. Through
such time has this nation passed, when
$50. 900 spirits went from the field OF hon
or through the thin veil to the presence
Of God. So, too, at Grants death we
stood so near the dividing veil, that whis-
| hn
children of men. Bending beneath our
weight of sorrow, we unite to-day with
the whole civilized world. at his grave.
| in memorial services There are certain
traits Of character that must be possessed
by military chieftain to make him
successful leader Grant possessed all of
these in marked and extraordinary de-
gree. First, IN answering loyalty and
devotion to his cause, a love Of country,
and broad true patriotism. In spite OF
the injustice done him by Gen. l1alleck,
after the splendid victory at Donelson.
Graut said, "rherc is such a disposition
to find fault with me that again ask to
be relieved from duty until can be plac
ed right in the estimation Of those high
est in auth GRITTY" TO one Of his staff
officers he said. "They may take away
my command; take from my shoulders
the insignia Of my rank; abuse and insult
me; but If they will give me the com
mund Of division, or Il regiment. | will
continue to fight for my country. Her
cause is Just, and 1t must succeed" Sec.
Ond An entire absence Of jealousy aud
scltishness. Three events may be noticed.
In his brief and modest dispatch after the
grand successes at Lookout Mountain and
Missionary Ridge; when he took com
mand Of the Union armies at Washington
and again, when he visited the old world,
and received the highest honors, here he
displayed the greatest modcsty. AS H.
lustrations Of his freedom from jealousy,
he always abstaincd from retaliatinx up
on those who had sought to injure him;
wrote Gen. Sherman, who was Il candi-
date for the position Of Lieut.. General,
letter Of commentator. and in never
abiding discourteously IN his speeches in
foreign lands to his enemies ut home.
Third. His personal bravery. When q
mrjor general he led the First Ohio in a
charge at Shiloh and often showed dis
regard of personal safety. Fourth. Con
6dencc in and respect for the men Of his
command, united with willing recogni-
ton Of the services of his subOrdinatcs
This was shown in every order issued in
the field Fifth. An active brain Undue
ing CELEBRITY of action, and quick compile.
hcnson of traspirlng events. This finds
llIust ration in his brilliant rallying of the
troops at the first repulse before FIT. Don
elson, and in the great campaign against
Vicksburg. Sixth. Love Of peace and
adherence of war. In response TO Il
toast Of the Lord Mayor Of London, he
said, although soldier by profession
have never felt any fondness for war
and have never advocated 1t except as q
means Of peace" Seventh. Magnani
nifty to conquered foe. TO the fallen
foe, when the heart of the north was bit
ter with the strife, he SAID. we seel
not revenge. All we ask is that you ad
nit that you were wrong, and we were
right, and that you assist us in placing iL
tho constitution to shine like stars forcv
or, the immortal principles Of Truth ane
Justice That all men, be they white o.
black, rich or poor educated or ignorant
are free and stand equal before the law.
He also displayed at times wonderful
tenderness of heart. weeping at the in
tclliyencc Of Gen. Mcpherson death aDt
writing the mother letter Of coincidence
Eighth. A prompt and strict obedience
to and compliance with the orders Of su
, peror officers. Although not in syEpa
thy with the abolitionlsts before the war
, and although it was predicted he woult
not obey the order of the government ir