The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1891-06-11
rounds of applause. His speech was as

Thirty years ago yolr city numbered among
its citizens a man so modest that he was little
known in the community mtrchant 80 hum
BILE that his activities were not felt in your
business. Three years later his fame illunlined
the earth. and tho calculations OF every com
merciai venture and of every constructive on
icrprisn in tho country were based upon the
success or failure OF his plans. He WAS then
supporting his family on a Thousand dollars IL
departure from your city he was spending four
millions day for the rreservation OF
the Union. One of the patriatic meetings,
common ut that time all over the North,
was held here to sustain President Lincoln
in his call for seveiity-fve thousand m II TO
suppress the rel elion. The ardor and elo'iuence
Of John A. Rawlius impressed an auditor
whom none OF the C"ngresslnen and prominent
citizens on the plat form had ever met that he
subsequently made tho orator his chief OF staff
and Secretary Of War. Some one discovered
thnt Captain Grant a graduate of " est Point
aud veteran of the Mexican war, lived il: this
citv, ana he was invited to preside at the for
nation of IL military company. He was SO diff
dent that few heard his speech of three sen
fences. but in that short address was condensed
all the eloIuence and logic; OF the times. "foa
know the object for which we are assembled.
Men needed to preserve the Union What il
your pleasure?" He organized ard drilled that
company and led it TO the Governor at Spring
field. by that march (ialeEa lost citizen and
tho republic found its savior.
Grants career will be tho paradox OF history.
Parallels cannot be drawn for him with the
great captains of the world. Historians, by
common consent, place Alexander tho Great,
Hannibal, Julius Cirsa and Napoleon Bona
parte In the front rank. But each OF them had
learned the art of war by continuous service
and uneq quaed opportunities and displayed the
most brilliant qualities at every period of their
achievements. Hannibal and Cusar had won
universal fame III the '3fs. Alexander died at
80. grieyirg because Ee had no more worlds to
conquer, aud Napoleon at 81 was ma ster of
Eulopa But Grant at 40 was an obscure leath
merchant In Galena AS cadet Mt West
Point he had risen only just above the middle of
his class. As subaltern on the frontier nd in
Mexico he had done no more than perform his
duty with the courage AMI capacity of the aver
age " est Pointer
But th l., moment that. the great responsible
ties We're thrust upon him and the fate OF his
country rested upon his shoulders, this inditfer-
ent farmer, business man, merchant, h'catne
the foremost figure of the century. The re-
serve powers of tt dominant intellect, which or
dinary affairs could not move, came into action
A mighty mind which God had kept for the hour
OF supreme danger t. the republic erasped the
scattered elements of strength solidiiied them
into resistlcss force aud organized victory.
He OWNED the purposes of the enemy as we'll AS
he knew his Own plans. His brain became
clearer. his strategy more perfect and his conf
dence in EiInse more serene his power in
creased. He could lead the assault al Doneison
OF the forlorn hope at Shiloh nlaneuver hi s
| forces with exquisite skill and originality
of resources at Nicksburg the best of brigade
or corps commanders or before Richmond
calmly conduct a campaign covering n conti-
| neDt and many arules with consulumate gem
eralship.
| His plans did not contemplate defeat. The
| movement he always made was advance The
! order he always gave was forward" When