The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-02
GENERAL GRANT DYING.

The people of this Nation would like to hide
from them an unwelcome fact, one that is
now so palpable as to admit Of no doubt
General Grant is dying. Some day-it may
be tomorrow, or the next day, or next week
the intelligence will fash round the world
that the greatest soldier of his time is no more.
The vital force of the hero of Appomattox is
shattered. BY no possibility short of mira
Gle can he be restored. Hard service, advanc
ing years, and, latterly, growing
anxiety because of financial troubles,
have donei their work, and Grant
is the wreck of what he was a score of
years ago. General Grant is dying. His ply
sicians say that at the utmost he can survive
but few months, and may pass away at any
hour. Grant is dying, and may be dead to-
morrow. What thenf What but everlasting
shame and dishonor upon this great Republic,
which owes its very existence more to this dy-
ing chieftain than to any other living mani
Busy with their personal affairs, the people
forget that Ulysses s. Grant is to go into his
tory on that same high plane occu-
pied by Washington and Lincoln, and
accessible only to the best and greatest.
Were General Grant to die to-day, the Ameri-
can people could never hope to escape the con-
disdain of history. The conduct of the pres
ent Congress in higgling over its plain duty to
place General Grant on the retired list is un-
speakably infamous, and without parallel in
the annals of civilization. With Lincoln,
Grant was foremost in the herculean task of
putting down the rebellion and saving the
government. But for his inestimable services
there would be no such Congress to-day; the
Nation would be divided, and the
sections either at war or in ex-
pensive armed readiness for war
The services of General Grant have saved
to the people many millions of money besides
the priceless blessings of free government.
The neglect he has suffered, the distress he
now endures, ought to damn rebel Congresses
forever. But for the practically solid oppo-
sition of ex-rebel members, General Grant
would be in the enjoyment of his manifest
deserts. The opposition of General Rosecrans,
so petty chat it stinks in its meanness, has
won for the man universal contempt among
decent members Of all parties. He alone of
Union officers, is opposed to Grants re-
tirement to place of honor during his
few remaining days. and the animus
Of his hostility is so evident that he has no
following in his contemplate opposition. 1t
is o significant, an ominous fact that but for
the hostility of such members as were disloyal
and went into rebellion for the purpose of de-
stroying the government, this shame would
not now be upon the Nation. What does it
mean but that under Democratic control 10y
atty is to be discounted and treason made re-
turn for such Republicans as actuated as
they maintained by patriotic motives, gave
aid and comfort to the Democratic party
in it's last campaign. Democracy and treason
have walked in intimate fellowship too long
to divide now and pay homage to patriotic
valor and heroic generalship. We feel that
we are not enacting the role of alarmists when
we assert that this Republic. and any republic,
is in danger when it fails to amply requite its
defenders in its hour of peril; not with money,
but with the need of its honorable gratitude.
The government now cannot refuse to do its
duty toward the great commander Of the loyal
veteran army. TO do so is but an attempt to
put odium on the name of the most illustrous
military commander of the nineteenth cen
fury And if so be the people of this great
Nation allow General Grant to go down to his
grave overwhelmed by the troubles that now
beset him, uncheercd by cheap vote of graf
itude, an age of repentance cannot wipe out
the stain of national dishonor. Unless Sc
quences prove false to causes in a way they
never have hitherto, the day will come when
mugwump and sorehead will regret in blood
and tears the folly of having warmed to life a
political viper that knows nothing of graft
tude, and has never felt an honest, patriotic
instinct in all its existence
THE APPORTIONMENT STEAL.