The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-10-08

Secretary Noble, Senator John Sherman,
Coy. Bulkely. Of Connecticut, Gov. Fifer.
of illinois. and Mrs. Gen. John A. Logan.
Next came the g. A. r. veteran posts of the
northwest. forming an entire division.
Then veterans and society of ex-confeder-
ates, closing with civic societies.
At the monument Bishop John p. New
man offered prayer. Then Col. E. S.. Tav-
lor presented the monument on behalf of
the monument association to the commits
sioners of Lincoln park. Unwilling fol-
lowed, and Gen. Gresham then delivered
his address. Tracing briefly some of the
more prominent traits of Grants charao-
ter, Judge Gresham said:
AS he became conscious of his powers
he relied with mistaken confidence upon
councils of war. He succeeded in great
emergencies by his native strength of will
and intellect, and his ~resolute persistence
whore men of more learning and better
versed in military science, but with less
natural capacity. would have failed. What
they were obliged to learn, he seemed to
know intuitively. He d%isregarded ole
mentary maxims of war without hesita-
tlon when they were plainly the outgrowth
OF conditions radically different from
those which confronted him. He was equal
to any command or emergency. But there
about his movements. The boldest of his
campaigns and battles were not deter
mined upon without deliberation,
and an intelligent comprehension of
the obstacles in his path and the means at
his command for overcoming them. And
having once entered upon the execution of
his plans, reverses which would have dis
Outraged less resolute and far-sighted men
mover impaired his confidence in ultimate
success. or disqualified him for Selling
upon unexpected advantages and profitiug
by them. Obstacles which seemed insur-
mountable to Others only seemed to in
splre him with determination to overcome
them. He saw facts and situations as thew
really were and acted with reference to
them as realities. Napoleon's genius NAV
have been more active and brilliant, but il
ne had been endowed with judgment as
strong and unerrinR be would never have
entered upon the disastrous Russian cam
paign. With a definite end always in visw.
without wavering or vaciilation, and ever
ready with large resources to adjust his
plans to any change of circumstances.
Grant pressed determinedly on to an inyar-
lably successful termination.
The monument before us is dedicated
to the illustrious general of our armies.
rather than to the chief magistrate of our
republic, and it is therefore meet that nv
address should dwell moro on his military
than on his civic life. Whatever may have
been his merits or his defects as chief
executive. he was unquestionablv our
greatest soldier, and his matchless achieve
ments in the field and their influence upon
the fate of his country amply Justify this
beautiful testimonial. So long az love of
liberty and equality, and admiration for
heroic deeds and unselfish patriotism last.
the memory of Grant will be .yenerated'
Some of the acts of his civil administration
were really worth more to the country and !
the world than the dull routine and solemn |
resPectability of many others. While men |
had dreamed and written about ths use- |
lessness and wickedness of war as an agency
Tor the settlement of controversies between |
nations, and urged the substitution of mora i
clVlllZed methods. 1t was reserved for our !
greatest soldier to reduce these theories |
and vague aspirations to p~rrctice. 1t was
the successful lender of our armies, in our
greatest war, who took tho lead in bringing |
ths:clvlllzed world to apractical RECOGNITION
OF the value OF Il peaceful arbitrament of !
international disputes, and the treaty Of |
Washington ls Il monument to his memorv
which will outliys those of bronze and stone,
Its moral influence extends infinitely be-
yond the Immediate parties to it, or the AGE
IN which II was negotiated. More than
once he displayed independence, high cout-
age, and strong sense of duty by vetoiuo
legislation which seriously threatened the
welfare.
''Ihe vast majority of the people are
and sound to the core, In them ia 1
our main stay and chief dependence. Oar
IN their steady and unfalterins
love of country, which is Indifferent about
any show of itself, and speaks only in it's
acts, will never be misplaced, It was this
sort Of patriotism that WAS personitiod in
Grant"
The sculptor of the statue is Louis Re-
blsso, OF Cincinnati. 1t is of bronze, eigh- }