The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-06-13
AT GRANTS TOMB.

participate in the Memorial day exer-
cises at the tomb of Gen. Ulysses s.
Grant. Scared veterans by tho hum
dreds marched in procession, grateful
for the opportunity to pay tribute to
the memory of their old commander.
The last resting-place of the hero was
completely covered with floral tributes
both interior and exterior pre-.
senting a remarkable sight in
this respect. After preliminary
exercises, which consisted in the
observance of the ceremonies laid down
in the G. A. Il. ritual for Decoration
day, Hon. John S. Wise, of Virginia,
was introduced as the orator of the oc-
casion. He delivered long and elo-
quent address on the life, character |
and services OF the illustrious dead, ex-
tracts from which are as follows:
"The tombs Of the mighty dead of our repub- |
lie are the shrines Of American patriotism. Az |
them, above all other places are we moved to |
reflection on the blessings we enjoy, and In. |
Bpired to reverence and patriotism towards the |
government under which we live At the tomb |
OF the great, the American freeman draws his |
inspiration from the fountain head, for high |
resolve and mighty deed. There may he pledge |
his fealty to principles without transmitting 1t
through any representative.
"In this tomb lies one whose great qualities of
head and heart whose bravery, whose simple
ity, whose magnanimity, whose patience, |
whose steadfastness OF purpose, whose loyalty |
to every obligation whose capacity for admin
lstratlon in the highest offices IN the world,
military and civic have placed his name us
among the most remarkable men who have
ever lived. The theater OF his career was only
matic episodes Of his life were in his character
as leader Of one of the armies Of his divided
people, Yet, even on that narrow feld and
under those restricting conditions he SO bore
himself that tho whole world watched
when his work was finished proclaimed him to
be of the stamp of true greatness, rarely devol.
oped; and OF q greatness, blended with such
qualities OF manhood rs entitled him to be held
up Us On example to the world
THE man is surely great whose fame Is
worldwide And such was Ulysses s. Grant
There is to-day an Arab stroldng his steed
| under shady palms by the SOLITARY fountain
rejecting on the greatness OF Grant. There are
| gentle Japanese reading In their own language
the story of his life with wonder and adrIiru-
tlon There arc American Indians crouching
| by desert fires picturing to themselves in rude
imagination the sort OF man he was There are
Egyptians floating on the Nile dreaming of
Grant and Vicksburg and the far of Missis-
sippL There are Russians with half il
lumined minds struggling to reconcile
the strength and tenderness, the power
md md mercy, to them SO strangely
are Frenchmen learning pertlnacity. There
are Spaniards and Italians on whom his for
giyenesS and magEanimity will not be lost.
His life and character are known to the
fartheSt bounds Of fame. Men will model their
characters upon this ideal when we are dead
and forgotten. BY the memory OF his indomit-
able pluck columns will surge forward to des-
perate assault in centuries TO come. Mankind
will be stronger by emulating his endurance
md fortitude; war will be less brutal; victory
less arrogant; defeat less bitter; and human
nature more gentle by the conspicuousness Of
his moderation, his magnanimity, ,uhis kindness
TO his foes, and his yearning longing when war
was past for fraternity and peace.
'Such was the man whose memory we com
memoDate this day. We know his history and
We know his worth. We we're actors in the
great passion play in which he emerged from
obscurity to become the central figure Of the
greatest drama of our day. We saw him, man
that he was, take sides in the hour of dscord,
and rise until he was chief partisan In section.
al strife. We saw him, on the instant of re-
stored peace, transformed, as it were to be-
come champion of forgetfulness, advocate of
mutual forgiveness, and counselor of restored
fraternity. We saw him in the hour of his
strength. We ewatched and pitied him in the
hour of his weakness, until his patient, painful
death. AMI now we are standing by his tomb
after full time for reflection upon what he was
"Some OF us were soldiers in his army. To
such would not venture to picture what they
must teel beside ms grave. some OF OF us were
followers of his great antagonist. Time was
when he was our chief enemy. Time was, when
he was our victorious adversary. 1t is true that
cynic history tells us the vanquished are not,
as rule, the magnanimous. Yet, this say,
with perfect confidence that it is true Be-
tween Grant and the confederate soldier even
In time of war there was ever feeling of mu.
tual respect and much that was akin to kind
ness. Towards Grant, for gentleness and mag.
nanimity which touched them ineXpreSSibly,
there went forth from the hearts OF the sol.
dierS Of the army of northern Virginia, even mt
the hour of their surrender to him, feeling
which they entertained toward no other fed
eral commander.
'"Thenceforth, there sprung up and grew bo-
tween them and him kindn ess which grew
and waxed stronger as the yearsrolled on until,
when he died, his coffin bore us many flowers of
the south of the north every state of the union
stood around his bier; and the old confederate
veteran had feeling at his heart such as he
had not known since he stacked arms at Ap.
pomattox or wept at the tidings that Lee was
dead. 1t is no dsparagement OF the other feder.
al generals to say that, in this firm hold upon
the affections OF his old antagon SITS, Grant was
alone. That he knew it, and hat 1t pleased
him, is beyond doubt. / remember hearing
from hls own lips, after his election to his sec
ond term that the electoral vote of Virginia
caused him as much genuine qualification as
any incident of his presidential campaign He
: delighted to display genuine friendship towards
every southern soldier who would give him op
portunity
politics took such shape, in the years sue
cceding the war, that Grant was opposed polit
ically by the great mass of confederate soldiers
Other federal commanders were candidates FOL
? federal office. To such, political support was
given, accompanied, for the time being, by
more or less enthusiasm But at no time, ant
to no officer of the federal armies, has the hear
! of Lees veterans ever warmed, for none have
| their tears been shed, as for him at whose
> tomb we stand assembled.
1 | Yes, my countrymen, strife and bitterness
! have passed away. Here stand we, loving
/ brethren, about Grants tomb-members of /
nhppy, reunited, prosperous country. HOW
much he did to bring about this fraternal ant
l loyal feeling all men know. We come rejoicing
at nn opportunity to testify our respect for tn,
: memory Of our great countryman. We have, i
2 Is true in many southern cemetery an army
of dead comrades to whose memory and tt
whose valor we delight to pay the tribute o
loving hearts. INA quiet chapel under tn,
shadow of the Blue Ridge sleeps one who, II
days gone by, was to our love, TO our hope ant
d to our idea of patriotic duty, all that Gran
represents to you. Yet, our hearts are lurg
! enough for both, and when Grant sought them
he never asked us to forget our dead
= IAN that Grant contended for was eStat
. lished. All that Lee maintained failed OF aC
= cOmplshment Every sensible citizen of thi
d republic now acquiesces cheerful,y in the re
L suit. II is certain that many thousands of tn
confederate veterans are to-day MS affection
ately loyal to the federal government nv If tn
a lumentablc strife had never been. We come a
men who feel that time has taught all citizen
y of this republic that they honor themselves
], honoring this great American. Passion hR
8 subsided sufficiently to let us see him as h
u was-srcater than any part of our divide
l. country; u patriot whose fame belongs to u
his fellow citizens. As to our own believe
h will never come when the men who sustnine
n the union cause can reconcile IL to thci
- sense of loyalty TO dc public honor to his mem
ory. Far be IL from me TO urge that cours
Is seek not to share our veneration for his meme
ry with anyone who Is unwilling. 1t may b
tnat his name and fame will be left to us MS n
b ! our own. Yet II will be strange-passin
- | II with the American love OF valor. OF homo
II self-sacritlce and humility your grandchildren
e when the bitterness OF cur day hns bee
forgotten, shall deny their sharein the name an
j. lnntly crossed that OF Grant and never lowere
u It's point TO amy foe but him orylelded save
"a the power OF overwhelming numbers ana r.
1t Bources-o who when he ceased To light, ~
I | ceOthd the result in CheerfulneSS and disDluyC