The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-10-17
THE GREAT CAPTAIN.
dwelling Of the Grant Statue at
Lincoln Park, Chicago.
A synopsis OF tho Eloquent Grafton De-
lvored on tho Occasion by Judge
walter q. Gresham-A Tribute
to the Soldler-Statesman.
JUDGE aREsHAM's ADDRESS.

JUDGE aREsHAM's ADDRESS.
CHICAGO, Oct THE following is a
synopsis of the Grafton delivered by
Judge Walter Q. Gresham at the un-
yelling of the statue of Gen. Ulysses
s. Grant at Lincoln park in this city:
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen: 1t Is
hardly necessary on this occasion to enter upon
any minute account OF the life and deeds OF the
man to whose memory this beautiful statue
has been erected They are part OF the history
of our country, and In the minds OF the
| people are as familiar as household words
| Wherever its history Is read, In whatever
nook and corner of the habitable globe
| there exists an intelligent interest in
the strength and perpetuity OF our institutions,
the name and fame OF the illustrlous soldier.
| who was at once their product and their pre-
server have preceded aught that may now be
said OF him. Many incidents of his public or
| private life, however, will bear frequent repe-
tition, because they servo to illustrate personal
| characteristics which made him, in many re-
spects, an ideal citizen of our democratic re-
public and are worthy OF our constant emu
lation.
he was remarkably free from that vanity
and conceit which have been the weakness OF
| many great minds, and which seem to be lhe
| peculiar vice of men who have risen, like him,
| from humble antecedents to q lofty eminence.
| He had none OF the strut OF the first Napoleon,
as 1t was revealed in his private let
| ters, his turgd addresses to tho
armies OF France and his egotistlcal
assumption that he was man of destiny; and
none Of the boastfulness with which Caesar an
nounced his victories in Asia Minor to the Ro'
| man senate ever manifested itself in the
| speech or writings OF the victorious leader OF
| our armies. Greatness was never more uncon-
soous Of itself than 1t was in him. The trt-
umphs OF Grant from Belmont to Appomattox
| never destroyed his balance, or affected the
! habitual moderation OF his utterance or de-
| meanor.
Even with the confederacy at his feet, as a
nnal testimony OF his skill and prowess as q
military ohieftain, he was not betrayed into
/ anything like exultation, and stopped the jubl-
| liant firing Of @ salute In his command as soon
| as the sound Of the cannon reached his ears.
| The glittering uniform OF the conquered leader
| of the confederate armies contrasted strangely
| with the plain and much worn habiliments OF
the conqueror; but Grant was moreintent upon
the results Of the conference between them
than upon his own appearance In it. And
| 1t was not the result of surrender OF the con-
federate armies and final cessation of hostili.
| ties upon the north or upon partisan politics
that occupied his mind In that supreme mo-
ment he ceased to be the leader Of the union
army only, and thought and acted with broad
| and enlightened craftsmanship and patriotism
for the whole reunited country. He thought
OF the feelings and sensibilities OF the van
quished, and of making the road towards
patriotic citizenship easy for them. He thought
Of the waste lands and impoverished commune
ties Of the south, which were again under the
old flag, and quickened o returning sense Of OBJ
| legation TO it by restoring to every confederate
soldier the horse or mule which had belonged
TO him, and might be used again in making
and garnering the crops on which he
and his family would depend for their
| sustenance. He thought more of giving
an impulse TO the pursuits OF peace and indus
try among a disorganized people, OF aiding
them in the maintenance Of themselves, OF
bringing them back into social as well as polit-
ical relations with the rest OF the country than
upon his own part and lot in the accomplish
ment OF these salutary ends. In the struggle
that ended In final capitulation, he was never
actuated by the spirit OF revenge or hate, or by
aught else than q high sense OF patriotic duty.
The failure of the southern people was not
due to any lack of courage or persistence, or
leadership in the field, but it was the inevita
BILE result OF their having undertaken an i'm
possible task. 1t is natural that men who
were capable Of such an effort should be
cemented together in bonds OF sympathy and
friendship, ana, so long as they are loyal to the
flag of the union, brave and generous men will
not censure them for cherishing an afiectonate
regard for one another and for strewing flow
ers on the graves Of their fallen comrades.
Grant had extraordinary abilities, and while
he never dwelt upon or thought about their
greatness, or measured or compared them with
the abilities of Others he knew just what they
were, their extent and limitations, what might
be accomplished by them, and what was be
yond their reach. He was never misled by
rating himself too high or too low. In Mexico
he had shown unmistakable sense and courage
in q subordinate capacity but in our late wal
he began the study of himself as a commander
and leader Of men, and he soon mastered the
lesson.
Ashe became conscious Of his powers he re
lied with upshaken confidence upon his owr
Judgment. He held few If any councils of war
He succeeded in great emergencies by his ma
tive strength Of will and intellect, and his reso
Lutte persistence where men of more learning
and better versed in military science, but witt
less natural capacity, would have failed. Wha
they are obliged to learn, he seemed to know
intuitively. He disregarded elementary
maxims of war, without hesitation, when they
were plainly the outgrowtE OF conditions radi
cally different from those which confronted
him. He was equal to any command or emer
genoy. But there was no a1ectation OF dash o.
brilliancy about his movements. The bodies
of his campaigns and battles were not deter
mined upon without dellberation, and an intel
lgent comprehension OF the obstacles In hi
path and the means at his command 70
overcoming them. And having ono
entered upon the execution Of his plans, re
verses which would have discouraged less res
olute and far.sighted men never impaired hi
confidence in ultimate success, or disqualifie
him for seizing upon unexpected advantage
and profting by them. With definite end a
ways In view, without wavering or vacillatior
and ever ready, with large resources, to adius
his plans to any change of circumstances
Grant pressed determinedly on to an invariabl
successful termination. He never lost tn
fruits OF victory through inactivity.
Tho ViCkSOurU CamDaiRn WAS BEGUN an
! prosecuted amid the virulent censure Of hin
self, popular clamor for his removal, the jea
ousy OF martinets. and the doubts and misgi1
ings OF some Of his faithful and trustworth
subordinates; but it went steadily on until
I reached q triumphant conclusion. Its en-
sealed the fate of the confederacy, restored conf
dence in the efficiency of our armies throughor
the north and among loyal people eVerywher
and all but the quiet and undemonstratiy
soldier who had brought It about, and Il
whom it was personal triumph as well as
union victory, gave way to a delirium Of Joy al
exultation. No success ever turned his hea
= He commanded himself as successfully as
a commanded armies, and where he led all fe
safe against the consequences of incapacity
rashness.
) Although educated at West Point, hey was n
o q professional soldier. Instead OF liking wa
{ he abhorred 1t as the greatest Of human calar
. tiles, and his temperament inclined TO peac
= He engaged in our last war because he reco
u nized it was the only means nj maintain
t ing the union and securing unbroken peac
( 1t was a cause for which he was willing
make any sacrifice, even life itself. He cou
not have led in any war of aggression CO
: quest, for he was the friend and benefactC
Z rather than an oppressor destroy
r OF the people Ambition never stified his sen
u OF duty or love OF truth and justice or tarnish
hiS name with acts OF cruelty or tyrann