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


said Burke, are the guide. posts and
landmarks of the state; and Grant
was the guide.post of victorious war
and 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 III the
stress and storm of struggle. The as.
sperities Of the angry contentious have
passed; the flaws have faded and the
blemishes are dimmed, while the
splendor of his achievements and the
simple grandeur of his character have
gained brighter halo as the years
have 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 10.
day we see Grant elevated on his true
pedestal Of fame through the just peri
Ispective of history.
And great he undeniably was great
in the strong attributes of his mind 4
great in the ruggled qualities Of his
character; great in the fiery trials of
war; and great in the larger work otl
peace. Not without faults, but with a
purity of purpose aud lustre of
achievement which left them as faint
as the spots on the sun. If he did
not rank with the few military cap.
|tains of supreme genius, he stood higbI
lup among the great commanders of
the centuries. Pitt said Give was al
heaven. general. If Grant was
not heav, n. born he drew the strength
|of Antaus from the earth. If bel
could not achieve marvels with slen j
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 re.
sistlessly to the mastery of an EN-
pire. Grant gave no sigu of his great
powers till he had passed the same|
meridian, and then displayed the in-l
|domitable spirit Of another IronsidesI
aud rose to the full height of bisI
matchless opportunity. 1t was hisI
brilliant success and his trumpet blast
at Donelson that thrilled the country
with the first real inspiration of VIC. /
tory. 1t was his unyielding advance,
his bold strategy and his Unfalterings
fighting in the Vicksburg campaign
that showed a genius equal to the
trial aad gave the first intelligent as.
surance of final triumph. He hadI
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 the /
front, and the Shermans and the Sher.
idans shared his triumphs and his Iau.I
rels. Taking the splendid but unfor-I
tunate Army of the Potomac he led It!
with the same undaunted and inviuci.
BILE spirit, never knowing defeat, new.
er wavering in the fiercest tempest of!
battle, never faltering even at the!
frowniug front and awful slaughterI
of Cold Harbor, until he accepted the
surrender of the rebellion at Appomat-l
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 inI
the field, and he fought his way to|
success as a 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 he 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 didI
not display the same unfailing insight
lin the choice of his counsellors which,
he had exhibited as soldier, and er.
rors followed unfortunate selections.
But time has greatly changed the|
public judgment, and Grants careerI
as President is estimated more JUSTLY
now than in the midst of strife or inl
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 OnI
any great Issue. No Administration
in our history save Washington 81
which organized the government andI
Jefierson's which acquired louisiana
and Lincoln's which ordained eman.,
cipation, exhibits more lustrousI
achievements. JacksOn's bears mol
comparison, and Adams had no op-I
portunity. When initiation swept
through Congress, Grapt stood like al
rock aud it dashed against him in
vain. When the public debt was as.
sailed, Grant was the bulwark of its
safety and security. His AdmInistra-
tion crowned the freedman with citi.l
zenship, saved the financial honor of