The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-04-28

in the chorus.
Hon. John Dalzell, on the part OF the
Americus club, extended cordial vel
come to the distinguished guests pres,
ent. lie spoke eloQuently of the ser
vices OF Senator Sherman and his allu-
sions to ex-senator Harrison, Colonel
Fred Grant and others were greeted
with cheers.
Mr.. Byram, of the Chronicle Telegraph,
then read number OF letters OF regret.
Among them was one from Mrs. Grant.
Mr.. II. II. Byram, OF this city, re-
sponded to "Our Absent Guests" In
the course of his remarks, Mr.. Byram
said: There is one who might have been
here tonight, but who has forever dc
parted from us, to whose memory 1t is
fitting that this club, which he honored
with his confidence and esteem and
through whom he first broke the
silence OF years and gave expression
to his unaltered and unalterable adhe-
sion to the accepted truths ofthe Repub-
lican party, should pay tribute OF re-
spect. Here, whether present or alb
sent, the name of Hon. Roscoe Conk-
ling has been held in love and venera-
ton, and though gone from all the activ-
ities Of life, he yet speaks to us from
pictured efiigy, and is entitled to "such
a welcome at my hand as honor without
breach of honor may make tender of"
Senator Sherman was next introduced
and responded to the toast Grant"
MR.. sHERMAN's SPEECH.
In response to the toast U. S. Grant,"
Senator Sherman said: II deem it an
honor to be called upon by your club
on this sixty-ninth anniversary OF the
birth OF General Grant, to present in
briefwords this typical American citizen,
this illustrious soldier, this patriotic
President. BY his tenacious courage
and skill, the armies OF the Union were
led from victory to victory from Bel
mont to Appomatox, until every enemy
OF the Republic laid down his arms in
surrender. He won
from foreign nations reparations for
injuries done TO us during the war. He
did more than anyone else to preserve
the public credit and honor.
His services in the army include the
whole history OF the war, an epoch now
being told in huge volumes OF records OF
the War OF the Rebellion, and in the in
Vulnerable memoirs OF those who par
ticipated in it. It is enough to say that
in these records the name OF Grant will
be ofteper mentioned than any other;
that he fought and commanded in a
greater number OF battles than any other
soldier OF that war, living or dead; that
with rare and doubtful exceptions his
battles were victories, that in the num-
berof his command, in the wide extent
OF the field OF his operations, and in the
completeness OF his success, no COM
mander Of modern ages, not even
Napoleon, excelled him.
Not only will the image OF Grant, as a
military hero OF the war, rise higher and
higher in the roll Of fame as times goes
on, but the object OF the war, its motive
and aim, the intense desire to perpetu-
ate the Union, which guided the coun-
ellis and inspired the hearts Of our loyal
people, will become more manifest, so
that all classes OF people, whether chill
dren OF the North or South, or Federals
or Confederates, or white or black, will
speak OF it and think OF it--not as the
war OF the rebellion, but as the war
of the Union, and of Grant as the pre-
server as Washington was the founder
OF our country.
Asto the civil life OF General Grant, l
have always doubted whether it would
not have been better for him to have re-
mained General ofthe Army during his
life, rather than to have undertaken the
civil duties OF n President of the United
States. This doubt is not founded so
much upon what he did as President,
but upon the striking differences in the
duties OF the two oilicesa and the training
qualifications and personal traits de-
manded for each. But whether this
view is correct or not, the earnest desire
of the people OF the United States was
that General Grant should be rewarded
with the highest honor in their gift,
and this feeling was shared by many
Confederates, who were touched by the
generous forbearance of General Grant
in arranging the terms OF surrender.
Bntit is not as q great hero, the COM
mapder OF armies, or as a president oi
the United States, that you wish TO heal
OF Grant. 1t is rs man. l said he was
typical American. No strut; no pa
raider; no imitation OF royalty or aristo
cracy; no Ggotistical pretense OF supe
riority, because he held great command
OF high position. The most mark
cd Characteristic which chung L
him in all periods OF his life wa
his extreme modesty. He wa
always the same plain, simple, confiding
brave, tenacious and generous man II
war aud peace, and the leader Of vas
armies, Us President OF the United
States, us the guest OF Kings and Empe
rors, and in his final struggle with grin
viaged death. Gentlemen, you do righ
to commemorate his birthday. He wa
heroic to the end, and you should bI
equally heroic in maintaining and pre-
serving the rights and privileges ant
policy for which he contended.
In response to PARTY organization,
Hon. j. ?. Foster, Of New York, Presi
dent OF the Republican League OF thu
United States, said that since last De
cember, lis clubs had been organize
| in West Virginia, 400 in Minnesota
nearly 500 in illinois, l42 in Nebraska
go in Michigan, g00in Indiana, 800 il
Wisconsin, $50 in Pennsylvania, 900 ii
New York, and 100 each in New Jerse,
and Connecticut.
@To-day," said he, there are clos
onto 900 clubs and $4,000 members OF
| s,o,,;,n1 &c tho Grand Ranuhliran naOtl