Omaha daily bee., 1888-08-13

WINS Incredibly given him. by the Lord,
in those three months which he spont
facing death. Who knows what inn
provemcnt he may have made OF those
opportunities? Who shall shy what
was Gods uuswcr to those earnest pray
ers OF his wife and family and friends,
FOR as he died they were all kncciing
in prayer for him? His spirit w's u,h-
cred into the presence Of God with in
tcrcessious. Hundreds Of thousands of
others, who loved him. have also prayed
for him. and, chiefly, that be might be
saved. What has been their answer!
We will wait in hope and see.
ITO tell the simple story Of II mans
life is easy: but a truthful analysis Of
his character may be difficult. Charac-
ter is the inner, or real, man. 1t is as
complicated rs the physical, mental,
moral, spiritual and social peculiaritiCs
of n person can make it. These
must be studied. one must
weigh. carefully, hereditary influences.
educational pcculiaritics and Opportuni-
ties; environment, or the circumstances
by which he has been surrounded all
through his life: forces which have COM
bincd TO aid him; ~antagonisms which he
has had to meet; temptations which
have tried him, aud requirements which
he has made within himself. All these.
together with the results which they
have wrought out, both in him and
through him, must be studied, and that
without prejudice. Thus We are to
measure q man, rather than by taking
what other people say of him, on the
street, or even through the press. | am
not able thus TO know General sheridan,
but he will be known thus. more and
more; and measured thus, ! believe he
Will ne nrnnnDnpp1 n rInut man. pnnut
modest. generous, brave, energetic and
true; a patriot, a soldier. a leader. u
typical American. God raised him up
Tor the work, which He has accomplished
through him. Let us give God praise
for it, even here, in His own house, and
on this, His holy day"
The speaker then showed how that
General Sheridan's whole life had be-
longed to the country: also that he ac-
complished his chief life task us Il young
man. He dwelt upon the significance
OF the wonderful tribute paid to him
during his sickness, and at his death
and burial. Sheridau's devotion to duty
rather than to glory. was emphasized.
In this he ranked with Wellington and
with Washington.
One chief element Of Shcridan's
strength was his quickness to discover
critical situations. both in times of bat
ties and also in the general maneuvers
and movements OF men. The admira-
ton Of the great Prussian generals, of
Sheridan. during the Franco-prussian
war, during part of which he was guest
at their headquarters, was noticed.
and the causes of it. Part of
Grants splendid tribute to Sheridan
was quoted. The speaker narrated
some of the famous rides in our history;
rs that of Paul Revere, those of Cen
cral Putnam. and hat of Cesar
Rodney. Sheridan's ride was
placed beside these. as more
thrilling, more wonderful by far. and
perhaps more important. His gather
ing up, that day. of his beaten and
panic-strickon army, and hurting it
again against the victorious foe. revcrs-
ing defeat into victory, and panic into
triumph, showed a wonderful power
over mon. If Sheridan could have had
some later war, in which to develop
and reveal more of his military talent,
he might have become even more dis
tingulshed than he is; and might have
proved himself, absolutely, the most
famous warrior of human history.
The speaker also spoke in honor of
the brave boys in blue, of the rank and
file, who made these successes of the
great leaders possible. and closed with
urging the soldiers before him to enlist
under the banners of the Savior of the
world; n quoted the words with which
Sheridan thrilled his army in his
famous ride, Face the other way
Fac the other way" They did it,
and conquered.