National Republican., 1888-04-30
uoNons TO GEN. GRANT.
Hon. Simon VOLTS Speech at the Ee
publican League Meeting.

The exercises by the Republican National
League In honor Of the anniversary of Gen.
L. s. Grants birthday were published in the
REPUBLICAN Of last Saturday. brief refer.
ence was made at that time TO the speech Of
Hon. Simon Wolf and In compliance with
number Of requests It is published In full
Mn. CnAInDtAs, LADIES, AND GENTLEMEN;
| shall not trespass upon your time, ]
shall not deal In ancient history, nor IN any
other, because the memory and achievements
Of the man whom we come TO honor tonight
are not ancient, and trust will never become
ancient In this country.
was for the purpose Of honoring, or observing
the birth OF the great hero, both military and
civil, and also for the purpose, as wo already
Abraham Lincoln, OF showing TO the American
PEOPLE that these anniversaries should take
place to educate the rising Americans, lap
plausc.l To keep In their minds what such
men rs Grant and Lincoln accomplished, and
that the Republican party which gave TO the
world those two great illustrious men, claims
them as It's own, not alone because they were
Americans. but because IN their acts and In
thcirlivcs they typlded the highest aspirations
the Republican party [Applause.l Ana |
believe that the time has come when we should
lave a rallymg point, and ! can think of moth.
ing grandcr or more ennobling than TO rally
around the memory OF Lincoln and Grant,
lapplause and to let the opposition know
that, while they can claim these illlstrinus
ls
US. and we will keep their memory sacred for
the purpose of porPetuatng thoso principles
for Which they fought lived. ana died Ap
plnuse.
personal experience with the man whose
memory we honor tonight. remember Wei
In ls6s, when he was about to be nominated
FOR presidency ot the United states, great
deal had beon said Of his opposition and
hatred against that ancient race, who, pos.
sibly, have contributed something to the. civil.
iZatlon, both religious and moral, of the
human race; that he was opposed 20 them aud
that he had, while general, issued an order
discriminating against them. | called upon
the general, and he then and there gave me
the inside history OF order No. II, with the
distinct understanding that would make no
use Of II during the campaign, for fear that u
might he misunderstood. said he: ~ would
rather stand In the eyes of the community as
myself furthc purpose of political preference "
iApplausc.l But after the election published
the iacts&p the world. As he showed his
characteristic in that particular instance, so
he did throughout the eight years that was
more or less Intimate with him rs one of his
OftiCiels. In every act, and knew hundreds
tious, thoroughbred gentleman lappausel
courteous and kind and genial-a heart brim
| full of the humanities, caring not whether II
was Christian or jew, white or black, as long
the very best There are to-day in
this country fifty families whose
homes have been made happy by the
touch Of his pen; where sons had strayed
away from home and wandered into the army,
and had deserted, like boys will, forgetting
their mothers counsel and admoniton and
their fathers advice and had run of, thinking
In the outer world TO find that which they can
never iind-a mothers love; and thus any
number of boys had deserted, and | called
his attention 10 them, and In every instance,
in investigating the facts, said he, why
should punish the parents for the disobedi'
encc of the boy; We are not In the midst of a
war" In every instance he pardoned them,
giving them back 10 their mothers arms and
their mothers love.
When called his attention to the fact that
the press and a large number of people
throughout this country looked upon the jews
as not physically courageous moral
courage and intellectual qualities had never
been questionable says to me- How rldiou.
lous, when all men see that some of the
bravest acts have been performed by Jews"
Gen l.. $. Solomon, who was promoted from
captain to general on the field OF battle for
gallantry, and whom he for that very reason
apnOinted governor Of Washington territory:
and hundreds of similar instances could |
mention of men who had served rs private
soldiers and officers whom he appointed as
surerintendents of Indian affairs, collectors.
| postmasters, and cOnsllls, and all of them
| Jews-in every instance, soldiers whom he
| knew and whom he loved and appreciated
| thus vindicating In the act that these men
and the race from which they sprang were not
Ard ii the time would permit tonight !
| might 90 back not TO ancient history, but IL
If governments have prospered and If cour
TTSS ny " &c 9sGG little sg9'5 u
Let me tell you an incident received 4
| letter from Jerusalem, from one of the p!ou.
Jews whose daughter was, to be married and
tries, writing letter in Hebrew. that thc
President Of the United states
should send wedding present. ] took
| man was ever more In earnest general" He
tapped the bell and his private secretary
came to him, and he then and there gave mt
| q check for S25 to send to this poor jew IN
| Jerusalem, whose daughter was to y"
rled. A letter beautifully eouehe)I/
the head oiGen. Grant came back ..mar
and the general treasured 50 formin.
most beautiful things " IN response
the result S MI Yl'" :, q one Of tn
aJew IN his WI rant was In Jerusalem
him and kiss"' along the street. all at one
LadieS ii The garment that he wore. 1
to celeb IN to whom he had sent the S25.,.
ourT and gentlemen: trust we will liv
enc rate many more of these days; tina
nildrens' children will look with reyer
v e and love and honor and duty to occasion
this character and that we who have beej
made responsible for the acts of Lincoln an
Grant will not forget our duty. Applause
But go right on determined TO fight, not 1
war, but to fight in peace, and to achieve tina
which Is yet lett undone.
And right here, allow me to say, perhaps
had best been said Il few months ago, in COZ
vCrsaton with Carl Schurz, whom we a
know was not the best friend of Gen. Gran
he said, when we were talking about a boo
that had recently, appeared IN which tiv
Americans We're defed, and Grant nC
among them, said he, How puny and trlfiin
Is this! Why" said he, ''al his deprecatol
will sink into forgetfulness and Grant sti
shine in the ornament of fame as III
brightest star his country, eyer produced
tAppause.l Nothing so glorious In the al
nails of history as his crowning act, writin
when death was at the door, that grand mi
moir which shall live in this country q
Caesars Commentaries have lived, and tha
the time will come this Is Schurzl when Il
I common schools Of the United States will rec
ocnlze Grants Memoirs as text book for a
time TO come" [Applausel
! think we can leave his memory, h
achievements, his virtue, his characteristic
his sobriety OF life, his moral grandeur TO u
time to come, when Il political adversary III
,, paid such glowing tribute to him whom v
all love- shall always love, and look back
with the greatest veneration.