The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1885-08-13
EuLOGY RY L W LONGRON.

| .EULoGY BY j. W. LoNGBoN.
In all the works of creation, there is nothing S
great man., and yet he dies. Death is the commo
lot of all. great man has paid the debt of nature
The great General is dead The victor is vanqushed
Death, the universal conqueror, has removed fror
the living the worlds greatest General and the
ton's greatest citizen. The voice that inspired ar
mics and led them on to victory, is now hushed Il
perpetual silence. His imprisoned spirit has burs
| from its clayey confinement, and gone to swell tn
ranks of the departed immortals. The nation is il
tears at the tomb of her most llustrous citizen Hi
grave will perpetuate Decoration Day, and cothe i
with new significance. In his last great conlic
with the King of terrors he met his fate calmly pa
tiently and uncomplainingly, and in the solemn
majesty of silence bowed in submission TO the inev
| liable decree.
Prompted by duty and inspired by patriotism, h
| fought for humanity and worshiped an invisible Df
| vinty. To him more than to any other man, th
American people are indebted for what they hol6
most dear. No other man had tronger hold on thu
heart of the nation, and no man can take away his
CROWN Before his fame, that of Kings and prince:
dwindles to insignifcance, and royalty trembles a
his achievements. In the simplicity of his republi
can nobility, he held audience with Kings and EN-
perors, who were honored by his presence. Before
the crowned heads of Europe, he maintained the
proud dignity of an American citizen, and eXtorted
from royalty tribute to his greatness, and respect
for his country.
His Journey around the world was a continued ova-
tion, and from the land of the orient, he returned
laden Win oriental nOnOrS. All nations N1eu VIII
one another in rendering homage to the man whose
greatness had rendered him worthy their esteem.
His name and fame not only national but inter-
national. His achievements form a great chapter in
history, and his renown is as imperishable the
atoms of the material world. He had received the
highest honors both civil and military that the nation
could bestow and through him, the greatness and the
glory of the nation revealed and made manifest
He was twice elected President, he twice ap-
pointed General of the army. Called to the Presi-
a
tence, he presided with such satisfaction to the
tion, that he reelected with unanmity not
equaled since the days of Washington. and he mar
rowly escaped third nomination for that great Office
the ground that such a precedent might lay the
foundation for future embarrassment.
In the councils war; he held the place of Jupiter
among the gods. The nod of the Thunderer not
more ominous than the silence of Grant, the po-
tency of the former more potential among the gods,
than the courage of the latter contagious
In all the qualities that constitute great gen.
eral, he was singularly pre-eminent. They who
would detract from his fame and reputation, assert
that his military successes DUE not from his
superior abilities, but from chance, from luck, from
accident, from the opportunities which he had Moth
ing is further from the truth. No other man ever
trusted less to accident luck chance. Ifhe did
not make opportunities, he improved them. Many
others had even greater opportunities but did not
know how to improve them, while he did. In strate
gy in planning in handling large forces, in directing
Il DdIllt, III advantage OI unexpected events
and in sefzing opportunities they occurred he
never surpassed Judged by the criterion success
he must be awarded the highest rank and the great
est praise. On the battlefield he known 1.-THE
man on horseback He operated with a directness
and singleness ofpurpose that no force could with
stand, that opposition could endure. In directing
battle or planning campaign, he displayed gener
alship of the highest order He never retreated he
never surrendered, he was always victorious he was
always prepared, and always ready to fight. His
courage was contagious, and in his presence, the
weak became strong and the timid brave. Fertile in
resources sklful in planning and efficient in
tion, obstacles either vanished at his approach
at his prowess The loyal people of great
republic gave him their confidence and support, for
had defended their homes and saved their nation
to the nation another and lease ofife The
rucia test of his generashp consists in the fact that
where others failed, he succeeded; that from the
lime he became chief in command, victory followed |
victory in close succession until the to
speedy close. He never aspired to omniscience or
and yet it is probable that other
.ral ever possessed or exhibited these powers in a
greater degree, either the field of battle, in the
planning of campaign To fear, or timidity, he
stranger. He was more than brave, he was cour- |
geous. Duty was his guiding star. His patriotism |
undoubted, his fidelity unquestioned. his loyalty
ndsputed. In GOODNESS and courage he equaled Well
ington in tenacity and PERSISTENCE he exceled Ma
oleon. He commanded greater armies than either
o mankind. His battles were decisive; none was
yer more so than Donelson, and Appomattox closed
he
The great army of the Potomac, perhaps the great
st in modern history, but hitherto unsuccessful in
he hands of its former commanders, became in the
ands of Grant, invincible and victorious. Without
peaking invidiously of our great commanders, we
lay that Sheridan brilliant, Sherman brave,
nd Grant courageous Sheridan resembled flash of
ghtning, Sherman hurricane, and Grant cyclone.
nd Grant was flustrious. Sheridan will be remem-
cred for his ride to Winchester, Sherman for his
larch to the sea- and Grant for his fighting in the
and the old soldiers who survive to tell
ne story of the war, will exclaim with enthusiasm
nat they respectively rode with Sheridan, marched
18th Sherman, and fought with Grant.
That no other general ever had such army. is no
lore true than that no other army ever had such
eneral. Unlike Alexander, Caesar, Cromwell, Fred
rick, or Napoleon, he never usurped power, never
ruggled for empire, never set up despotsm on the
lins of a conquered foe. Like Wellington whom he
uty, he fought not for ambition not for glory, but
n success. His victories were decisive, and as we
link of Wellington at Waterloo, may think of
rant at AppomattoX. No man ever drew his sword
ON purer motives in behalf of holier cause. In
lis respect unlike the great generals who preceded
i'm (save Wellington and Washington he is with
1T peer. Contrasted with Alexander Caesar, Fred
lick, Napoleon, Cromwell and the Conqueror, he
anuS hyperion 10 q SaLyr, ike Ine ZenlLn 10 the |
ldir. When we speak of Alexander the Great, AL
ed the Great, Frederick the Great, Peter the
reat, let not forget Ulysses the Greatest-the
,eatest general of the greatest nation.
In other civilized country is distinguished mill
ry service so poorly remunerated, and other
reat general of equal rank has been so made
latey compensated. For less services than Grant
.ndered, Wellington received from his government
lie immense sum of s., ,500o0O perpetual pension,
eerage, and tomb in Westminster Abbey. The ma
on that has suffered its eXPresfdents to subsst
-ivae charity and to die in poverty has at last Civ
color to the saying that republics ungrateful.
eneral Grant in a iaudable desire to help others,
st his fortune which grateful people had bestowed
pom him; and the government, goaded by a of
lame and pity. at last accorded him tardy recog-
tion by restoring him few months before his
cath to his former rank in the army. Perhaps the
alton that he saved will erect a monument to his
emory, but impartial history yet to be written, will
rnish a monument enduring time, and his
lme like that of Homer and Alexander will be re-
embered long after the place of his birth burial
lal have been forgotten. If the American people
lall please by monumental honors to symbolic his
laracter as well perpetuate his memory, let the
onument be of grantee broad at the base and tower
g in height, betokening the grandeur of his genius
storian shall have done his duty the and fame
the great general will be written in words of i'm
ortalfty for all succeeding ages.
Perhaps no other man more hated, abused,
Id mal1gned by his enemies. 1t could not be eN-
ected that those in sympathy with secession and re-
ellion which he had overthrown and vanquished, !
lould ever cease in their vituperation, relax in
ler malice toward him who had thwarted their pur-
Dses. On the other hand no other man had more
lends steadfast supporters. His faults, his
.rors, and his misfortunes, mainly due TO the
inability of his character in seeking to advance the
lterests of Others He suffered not much from his
wn wrongs as from the wrongs of others. Magma
unity, generosity and gratitude were prominent
aits in his character. He forgot his friends,
nd he suffered more through their indscretion, than
ON the shafts ofh enemies. His conduct at APP
omattoX is without parallel in history. He
odest and unassuminS, devoid of egotism and
)oiled by attery. He had pride without vanity and
slf respect without sefshness. Dishonesty and
1ption trembed at his approach and fled from his
resence He cared little for dress, little for
ent, little for mere ceremony. He kept his own
)unsel, knew when 10 be silent, and known as
lie silent man" that knew when to hold his tongue.
war; his sole object seemed to be 10 defeat the