The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-06-11

For the one was found Abraham lin
Din and for the other Ulysses s. Grant
AS We look back through the clarified
atmosphere OF a quarter of a centnrv
Of peace, congresses and cabinets. with
their petty strifes and wretched in
trigues, are obscured by the wisdom
and work of the martyr president. He
, was man of the people and
always in touch with them. He
strengthened the wavering, lifted mn
the faint hearted and inspired the
strong.
From him came the unfaltering ma.
; triotism and unfailing confidence
which recruited the depleted army and
slled the exhausted treasury. Lincolns
faith and power protected Grant from
the cabals of the camp, from the hos.
tility of the secretary of war, from the
politicians in congress aud from his
constant and extreme peril, the horror
of the country at method of warfare,
which sacrificed thousands of lives in
battle and assault for immediate re-
suits. But time has demonstrated
that this course was wiser in tactics
aud more merciful to the men than a
Fabian policy and larger losses from
diseases and exposure. Without this
impregnabe friend, Grants career
would, on many occasions, have
abruptly closed, Without the general
in supreme command, upon whose
genius he staked his administration
and to whose skill he entrusted the
fate of the republic, there might have
been added to the list of illustrious
patriots who have fallen victims to the
unreasoning rage of a defeated and
demoralized people the name of Alb
raham Lincoln.
The most signal services rendered by
Grant to his country were at Appoma-
tox, and in his contest with President
johnson. The passions aroused by
the civil war were most infiamed
when the Confederacy collapsed. Grief
and vengence are bad counselors. One
serene intellect was possessed of an in
tuition which was second to prophecy,
and was clothed with power. He saw
through the vindictive suggestions of
the hour, that the seeded states must
be admitted into the Union, aud 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. He
sternly depressed the expressions or
Joy by his troops as the vanished
enemy marched by, with his famous
order, THE war is over, the rebels are
our couutrymen again. aud the best
sign of rejoicing after the VIC
tory will be to abstain
from all demonstrations in the
field" He gave to the Con-
| federates their horses and belongings
and told them to go home, cultivate
their farms and repair the ravages of
war. He assured all, from Lee to the
private soldier. that they would be
safe and unmolested so long as they
observed their paroles.
To enter Richmond. the capital of
the Confederacy, whose spires had
been in sight of the beseigers so long,
would have been resistless tempta-
ton for weaker man. But his mind
was not on spt ctacnlar display or tri-
umphal marches over LuIniliated foes.
1t was bent upon peace and paciti-
cation. l know OF no scene 10 our his
tory so dramatic as the meeting be-
tween Lincoln and Grant at the white
house three days after the surrender at
Appomatox. The president, who had
so Loyalty sustained the general, and
the general, who had so magnificently
responded to the confidence of the
president, met for the last time,
in their lives. Grant returned
with deep emotion the fratern-
al grasp of the only man in the couu-
try who fully understood and was in
complete accord with the policy Of
reconciliation and repose. The work of
the warrior was done, aud the labor of
the statesman begun. Yesterday it was
destruction, and tomorrow it must be
reconstruction. That night the bullet
of the assassin ended the life of our
greatest president since Washington,
and postponed the settlement of sec
tional difficulties and the cementing
of the union for many years. 1t gave
the c untry the unfort innate admins
trait N of Andrew Jol Dson, with it's
early frenzy for revenge and determi-
nation to summarily try and execute
all the Rebel leaders, aud its later eff
fort to win their favor by giving them
their states without pledges for
the unionist or freeman. and
government without evidences OF
repentance or hostages for loyalty.
The one sent CONSERVATION through
the south and helped undo the work
at AppomatoX, and the other unduly
elated the controlling powers in the
rebel states, and necessitated measures.
which produced deplorable results.
Grant stood with his honor and his
fame between the raging executive and
the Confederate generals, and pre-
vented reopening of the war; he stood
with drawn sword between the chief
magistrate and revolutionary con-
gress, and stayed another rebellion.
Secretary Foster.
NEW YORK limo A -Cacrat orv FOS--