Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1890-07-11
The Proposed Grant Monument.
HICKORY GROVE, Va July 4. I09


TIE proposition that ex ConfedereteF
should contribute large sum of money to
build monument to General Grant bas
been favorably received by the southern
press and Ia really good ides, especially in
huah times like these, when most people
have superabundancs of loose change.
Hiram Ulysses was not much of hero
judged by the best standards but he was
right good fellow, for one of his kind, and
monuments have been reared to much worae
men. He wss naturally honest and kind
hearted and a shining example of the truth
OF the old saw, "Evi Communications cor
rupt good Manners" or morals Andy John
con accused him OF lying and most people
thought he wonld prove the charge, but
man who went back on his principles and
his friends as Johnson did, because he was
not considered fit associate for gentlemen.
is Z ot entitled to credence in any matter of
controversy At best 1t was but case Of
not calling kettle black. As sample OF the
canGor of Hiram Ulysses | will cite the ir-
stance OF bis owning up to the superiority OF
General Lee aud the Confederate army 10
himself and the forces under his command.
In the campaign of 1864 he based bis hopes of
final success on the fact that "the anvil will
in time wear out the hammer" Was it DOS
sible to have used stronger metaphor !?
Tne steel hammer welded By the arm OF the
master workman, and the ponderous sto!ld
anvil made to receive the blows 1t could only
resist by weight and immobiity. Alas the
result proved the infGllbility of the jude.
mens and sagacity of Hiram ULYSSES. He
was "msgnanimous" 10 hls treatment of
General Lee at Appomattox. He did rot
| violate the flag of truce aud put Lee In
irons; which act would have been hailed
| with shouts of appliance by Dine-tenths of
the northern people. He made terms that
were not rigorous, because he knew that the
hammer, though worn out, could still be
used 10 dealing heavy blows, and be was too
! glad to finish up the job he had so conf
dently undertaken, to be at ell particular
about the details of the end. Afterwards
| he refused to allow his cartel to be broken !;
that would have besn bsse dishoDor to him.
| self as man end O soldier, and he was too
| much of q man and soldier for that, and
for that he deserves honor and monument
The ex-Confederates are able to build it.
The material which composed "the incom
parable army" OF the Confederacy, when
solved into its original personalities still re-
| tanned the prominent characteristics OF that
organization. The high courage, tho patient
endurance of adversely, the indomltaols ei-
ergy, the resolution TO dare and to do, con-
stitute good capital for any business under
taking, and consequently Confederate SOL
| oiers, as rule, are prosperous ana succese-
ful men, and if Hiram Ulysses is to
have a monument they are the men who
| must pay for it. Who else is to do ii?
| It will not do to impose such burden upon
the worn out and decrepid members OF the
G. a. 4. and other veterans of the federal
armies. There were only three millions OF
them enlisted to "put down the rebellion"
supplemented by big navy to follow them
around to help them out of tight PLACES, snd
1t would be too much to expect the surviv-
ors of the dreadful marches, and terrible bat
ties, and horrible prisons-And Jacksonville,
&o.,-to DO snythiDg but alternately brag
and whine More than 100000 have
| been distributed among them in the last
wear, that sum to be doubled as soon 90 the
boys 10 blue can get to the counter; but
what is that divided among 90 many? 1t is
true that the "horrors of Audersonville"
we're only the inevitable reeult OF the policy
of the "maguanimous" Grant and the typ
ical American, the God-iike Lincoln" who
refused to exchange prisone,s-even to
accept two for one-or to take them on any
terms or in any way to relieve their una
voidable suffering They considered every
| Confederate prisoner as deed mar, and
they did not want tbs trouble and expense
| OF klliog him over again, and declared that
az exchange of prisoners would lead 10 the
defeat of the federal armies. And 80, on the
principle of two negatives making an firm.
stiye. they squared the crime before high
heaven By wsntonly freezing, starving, gen.
orally maltreating, and in many cases down.
right numbering Confederate prisoners held
! at P oint Look cut, Johnson's Island, FortDela-
ware, Fort Warren, &c. Butthis is d!gfession.
The ex-soldiers of the Union cannot be
expected to move in the matter of the mon
ument, as according 10 current reports they
all have to be supported at the public ex-
pense to keep them from starving, or beg
ging, or stealing; which last mentioned re-
sort, judging by our experience during the
war, would not, by many of them. be con-
sidered very great hardship, If they can
find anything to steal General Lees mon
ument only cost about seventy thousand
dollars. Really, his fame required nothing
OF the sort, for his best monument he had
built himself, and the memory of his virtues
and noble deeds will forever live, not only
in the hearts Of his countrymen, but those of
good men everywhere Three hundred
thousand dollars is not bit too much for
monument to Hiram Ulysses. If disem-
bodied spirits know and feel an interest in
sublunary events las many beieve) his will
value the compliment. Yes, raise the nor
ey, and build 1t strong and broad and high,
and upon the apex place the colossal statue
of General, President. Hirsm Ulysses Grant.
E.