Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-09-19

solve Of tho invinelble captain who wrestsd
victory from defeat and established forever BY
the stern and irrepealsble legislation OF battle.
that evefY Government has the tmpfescr1pfible
right 70 protect and defend itself from foes and
assaults either within without its territories,
and this irrespective OF what may be granted or
withheld by constitutional limitation or legis-
latiyo enactment. That IT has and can have
but one argument against Instruction and in
vasion-the brutal but final argument OF force.
The life OF Gen-ral Grant profoundly Illus
trates the fact that history mocks At probabili-
ties and laughs In the face Of reasonable OK
pectatjons-in other words. 1t is an added proof
of the wisdom and experience embodied in the
old French proverb: There is nothing certain
but the unforeseen" When, at the first battle
OF Bulls Run. the Government and the country
realized the colossal character of the rebellion
and the stern struggle that lay before them,
who would have believed that man then I'M
known, who had dropped from the ranks OF the
army almost under q cloud. a man whose career
was supposed to have ended before middle lie
was reached, one of whom there were neither
expectations nor prophecies of future great
moss, would emerge from his long obscurfty,
seize the advancing crest of the wave OF oppor-
tunity, mold armies organize victory and
achieve imperishable renown? And yet this
was done in the case of General Grant Nor
was there any sudden transformation In MS
career. He grew with events and circum-
Stduc0S around MN. Incr6 was ClIQ6 ZOE uCNCt-
opment between each marked period OF his Ife
Men live and learn with unexampled rapidity
In the midst of great events, and he broadened
and developed with marvellous force and quick
ness in the vicissitudes and emergencies OF the
time. We see him first during the war num-
Bile assistant to the Adjutant-Generalo OF Illinois,
organizing and eQuipping troops for the Held,
then Colonel OF a regiment, Brfgad1er-Generai
at Belmont, hero at Fort Donelson, great
Captain at Shiloh, a wonderful strategtst at
ViGkahnHO a mr. nnUi9ldinQ HQht6r.
who would not accept defeat, in the Wilderness
and in each and all fully equal to the require
ments and exigencies Of the occasion.
Much learning has been displayed at various
times in critical analyses of his military genius,
and various comparisons have been made be-
tween him and Caesar, Wellington, Napoleon
and other great chieftains of the past and Of
history. All this seems idle and useless now.
1t matters very little to the patriotic citizen
whether he was greater or less than these. He
served our purpose and was always equal to the
demands of the time and the occasion. Whether
this be the true test Of genius and proof indie
but little practical significance to-day, however
important it may be hereafter to theorists. alb
| stractionists and antiquarians. What we now
know Is that he was the Moses who led us
| through the wilderness, and happier than his
prototype OF old entered with US into the
promised land. He divided the waters OF the
Red Sea of rebellion SO that our victorious
armies marched through in triumph. He smote
the rock In the wilderness and the living waters
of re- established government gushed forth
destined in the end, even by reason of the fate
full struggle and its results to be brighter and
purer than of yore. His life was marvel from
1861 to its close. Beginning subordinate in
the West he rapidly advanced from rank to
rank till he became Commander-in-C Chief, and
was General of the army-the highest position
| held by any one since George Washington.
Victory marched with him everywhere.
Wherever his banner was unfur led triumph
n o<n6f Ii
the synonym OF success until in the end the last
vestige OF the rebellion was crushed out and
the unique STONED authority of the Government
firmly and permanently established in all the
States of the Union. The gratitude of his
| countrymen twice elected him to the highest
ONCE in their gift-that of Chief Magistrate of
| the re-established and '.fndissoluble union of
| indestructible States.'' His cup was full, the
| measure OF achievement filed.
The first citizen of the Republic went abroad.
He was the honored guest OF crowned heads,
| noted warriors. distinguished statesmen. Be-
| sides this, and more than this, he was the idol
| bowed before him as we bow before kings.
| In the midst of all this adulation,
| under all this storm and tempest of henors,
| he bore himself with the simple,
| selfrespecting dignity of an American citizen,
| keeping steadily on IN the even and unvarying
| tenor of his way. And when he returned to our
| shores and our GO, 0O0, 000 of people, from the
| Golden Gate to Bar Harbor, rose up as one
| man to greet him and do him honor, he received
this wonderful ovation with the same dignifed
| simplicity that had always characterized his
| conduct since his first assumption to power.
| His modest demeauor seemed constantly to
| recognize his American citizenship as his high
| est claim to distinction. This unassuming sim
| plicity of the man is something absolutely mar
velous under the circumstances and makes a
picture which history will forever embalm and
preserve. In the midst of this furious tempest
Of applause from 100000 of tongues. he stood
| rs lmpenetrable and apparently as unconscious
| as his memorial statue before us to-day.
| He fought his last battle with death and
achieved his last victory in the struggle. Gaunt
| with disease, worn and wasted with pain and
| suffering, struggling and working with imper-
turbable brow and accomplishing lips, know
| ing full well that the end was at hand, but in
| dexibly resolute that it should not come till he
| was ready, he held death at bay till his life
| work was accomplished by the completion of
| his memoirs, in order that provision might be
! made for his family. that otherwise would be
| left comparatively destitute. This last struggle
| was the most touching of his life and 'eyes all
| unused to tears" have melted in tenderest
| sympathy at the picture OF the grim old chief
| tain fighting of death with one hand while he
| finished his life work with the other.
When his task was ended he turned his face
| to the wall and died. silent and accomplishing
| as throughout his life. There WAS nothing left
| for him to do. He had filed the full measure of
| glory and made ample provision for the loved
| ones left behind.
And now, as we sorrowfully stand in the pres
| ence of this mute but eloquent memorial OF him
who shas slept his last sleep and has fought h S
| last BATTLE" let be mindful of the lessons
| taught by his life and death-that we should be
| true to ourselves, faithful to the country, re-
| gardful of the family-so that we, too. VIII n the
| inevitable end comes may look back with COM
| posture, if not without regret, receive death
| without repining
| And 60 to take our places
| In the silent halls of death,
| Not like the quarry slave scourged to his dun
| geon,
But approach our graves like those
Who wrap the drapery OF their couch about