Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1891-06-10

cried in indignant remonstrance: "4ou VIII
cut loose from your base of supplies, and that is
contrary to the rules" Giant answered, "Un
less we capture Vlcksburg the North will cut
off our supplies" and the sorely bereaved and
diSheartened people were transported with JOY
and hope by the Fourth of July message,
"Nicksburg has surrendered. The Western
armies never knew their resistless power until
they felt the hand of this master. No better OF
drawer body of soldiers ever marched or fought
han the Army of the Potomac. 1t lost battles
through bad generalship, and generals by camp
iealousies and Capitol intrigues, Thousands of
It's heroes fell in trultless fights, but it never
Wavered in its superb confidence and courage.
At last it found leader worthy Of itself, and
after scores Of bloody victories ended the rebel
lion under Grant
The United States are surprisingly rich in hav-
in their first century Washington, Lincoln and
Grant. s. Lincoln's faith and power
protected Grant from the cabals of the camp,
from the hostiities of the secretary of war, from
the politicians in Congress and from his con-
slant and extreme peril the horror OF the coun-
try at a method of warfare which sacrificed
thousands of lives in battle and assault for I'M
mediate results
The most signal services rendered by Grant to
his country were at Appomatox, and IN his con-
test with Johnson. The passions aroused by the
civil war most infamed when the Conted-
eracy collapsed Grief and vengeance are BAD
counselors. One serene intellect was poss essed
of an intuition which was second to prophecy,
and was clothed with power. He saw through
the vindictiye suggestions of the hour, that the
seeded states must be admitted to the Union,
and their PEOPLE vested with all the rights of
American citizenship, and all the privileges of
state government or the war had been fought in
vain lie Sternly repreSSed the EXPRESSIONS or
Joy by his troops the yanqulshed enemy
marched by with his famous order, 1.-THE war is
over, the rebels are our countrymen again, ana
the best sign of rejoicing after the victory Will
be to abstain from all demonstrations in the
field" He gave to the Confederates their horses
and belongings and told them to go home, cult
vate their farms and repair the rayageS of war.
He assured all. from Lee to the private soldier,
that they would be safe and unmolested 50 long
as they observed their paroles
know of no scene in our history SO dramatic
as the meeting between Lincoln and Grant at
the White house three days after the surrender
at AppomatoX. The President, Who had so 10y
ally sustained the General, and the General,
who had SO magnihcently responded to the con-
hdence of the President, met for the last time in
their lives. Grant returned, with deep emotion,
the fraternal grasp of the only man in the coun-
try who fully understood and was in complete
accord with the policy of reconciliation and re-
pose The work OF the warrior was done, and
the labor of the statesman begun. Yesterday it
was destruction. tomorrow 1T must be recon-
struction. That mig the bullet of the assassin
ended the life of our greatest president since
Washington, and postponed the settlement of
sectional difficulties and the cementing of the
Union for many years. 1t gave the country the
unfortunate administration of Andrew Johnson,
with its early frenzy for revenge and determine
ton to summarilvtry and execute all the rebel
leaders, and its later effort to win their favor by
giving them their states without pledges toy
the UnioniSt or the freedman. and the govern
ment without evidences of repentance or host
ages for loyalty. The one sent CONSERVATION
through the South and helped undo the work
at Appomatox, and the other unduly elated the
controlling pow ers in the rebel states, and ne
ccssitated measures which produced deplorable
results. Grant stood with his honor and his
fame between the raging executive and the Con-
federate generals, and prevented reopen1ng
of the war; he stood with drawn sword between
the chief magistrate and q revolutionary Con-
gress, and stayed another rebellion.
There have been many presidents in the
United States and the roll will be indefinitely
QYfa cd % have h0 n ia n Z
soldiers but only one great general The hon.
ors of civil life could add not hing TO the fame
of Gen. Grant, and it has been often argued
that his career in the presidency detracted
from his reputation. Such will not be the
judgment OF the impartial historian. He was
without experience or training for public life,
and unfamiliar with politicians and their meth
DDS. The spoils system. from which he could
not escape, nearly wrecked his first administers
ton. His mistakes were due to quality which
is the noblest of human virtues, loyalty to
friends.
The speaker then reviewed Grants
official life as President of the United
States, related one or two incidents of
his trip around the world, and referred
briefly to him as a public speaker. Mr.
Depew then continues:
Gen. Grant was the product and representa-
tive of the best element in our social life. Home
and its associations have been the training and
Inspiration of our greatest and noblest men;
They have come from the class which had
neither poverty nor riches, and which WAS CON-
PEELED to work for the support of the family,
and the education of the children. Its members
are God-fearing men. and loving, self-sacrlfic
ing women 1t gave Us Lincoln from the farm,
Garfield from the TOW path, Sherman from the
home of the country storekeeper of the
Ohio wilderness. These men never lost their
sympathy with every human lot and aspiration,
or the homely simplicity of their early con-
ditions and training. Grant clerk in the
custom house and President of the United
States q lieutenant In Mexico, and commander.
If han rroiQ of hn nj mo
over 100000 men. the unknown Junior III a
tanners firm at Galena, and the guest of En-
perors and kings; but the memory of the
church of his mother was ever visible in hiJ
reyerent regard for her teachings. The ap-
plause of soldiers for their commander, of
partisans for their chief leader. and of the
world for one of its most illustrious heroes was
grateful. but the sweetest music for him was
within the family circle, i'll the loving com
panionsnip of his wife and children and the
pratt1e of his grandchildren Though he re-
ceived such honor and recognition abroad and
such distinction at home, he was always,
whether in the presence of royalty or of the
people, modest typical American citizen.
Through the verses of great poets runs ia
miliar strain, through the works of great COM
posers an o1t-repeated tune, and through the
speeches of great orators q recurring and char
acter1stic thought. These are the germs which
exhi bit the moving forces of their minds. During
the war 81 propose to move Immediately upon
your works." unconditional surrender" .I
shall take backward step" II propose to
fig it out on this line if ii takes all summer,
of Grant the soldier At AppomatoX, THE
war is over" 'The Rebels are our countrymen
again. at the threshold of the presidency,
"Let US have peace:" on his bed of agony and
death at Mount McGregor, when his power of
speech was gone, writing to a Confederate gen.
eral by his bedside, ''Much / suffer, do it
with pleasure, if by that suffering can be ac-
complished the union of my country" are the
induces of the labors the aspirations and the
prayer of Grant, the statesman and the patriot
Gathered about the statue in the park
the exercises were opened with the
'.Star Spangled Banner" rendered by
the Fifteenth Regiment Band frpm
Fort Sheridan. After prayer by he
chaplain, the bands gathered there
in unison struck up with "Hail
to the Chief" as little. Miss
Pauline Kohlsaat, daughter of The
donor, unveiled the statue and the
gathered multitude applauded. Ex-
Gov. Hoard then formally presented
the statue to the city on behalf of the
donor.
HIS HONOR THE MAYOR AND CITIZENS OLGA
LENA: l am commissioned on behalf of one of
the distinguished citizens of your state-H H.
KOhlsaat. OF Chicago, "a man whose soul de-
lighteth in goodly dceds"-to tender youths
10 ioI Of Coz