The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-04-28
GRANTS MONUMENT.
Ground Broken on the Site in River
side PARK.

GIOuul 6EOken on the site IN River
side Park.
NEW YORK, April "a. - Ground was
broken to-day at Riverside Park for a
monument which is to be raised at the
tomb of Gen. Grant. The ceremonies were
In charge of the Grand Army of the Rspub-
lie, and were very impressive. When
the sod was broken by Commander
Freeman Of the q. A. R. the United States
steamer Hantic, anchored IN the Hudson
river, off the park, fired twenty-one guns at
intervals of thirty seconds. The feature of
the occasion was the music of the Marine
band and large chorus of children. Gen.
Horace Porter was the orator Of the day.
GEN. PoRTER's ADDRESS.
The following is q brief extract from the
address OF Gen. Horace Porter: "Gen.
Grant possessed in a striking degree all the
characteristics of q successful soldier. His
methods in warfare bore the stamp of
originality and ingenuity. HIS success de-
pended more upon his powers Of invention
than adaptation. The fact that he has been
compared at times to nearly all the great
commanders OF history is the best proof
that he was like none of them. His self-re-
hance was one OF his most pronounced
traits. He assumed the grayest RESPONSE
bilities, with their attendant risks, without
asking any one to share them. He had a
fertility OF resource and a faculty Of
adapting the means at hand TO the accom-
plshmeut Of his purposes, which contrib
ed in no small degree to his success. Both
his moral and physical courage were equal
to every emergency in which he was placed
Never unduly elated by victory or depressed
by defeat, he was calm amidst excitement,
patient under trials, aud never in his life
Mt 4,
were simple and he enjoyed a physical con-
st!tution which enabled him to endure every
form of fatigue and privation incident to
military service In the field. While possess
ing sensitive nature and a slngularly tender
heart, he never allowed his senslbilities to
interfere with the stern duties OF the soldier.
He knew better than to attempt to hew
rocks with a finely tempered razor; he
realized that paper bullets should not
be fired in warfare; he felt that the
hardest blows brought the quickest results,
aud that more men died from disease in
sckly camps than from shot aud shell in
battle. he had knowledge Of topography
which seemed to be intuitlve, and never be-
came confused as to locality. he exhibited
a rapidity Of thought and action IN the
field which enabled him to move troops in
the presence OF an enemy with a promptness
which has rarely, if ever, been equaled.
There was a spur on the heel OF every field
order he sent. He had 10 hobby as 10 any
particular aim of service. He naturally
placed his main reliance on his infantry,
but made more vigorous use of cavalry
than any of the generals of his day, and
was judicious in regulating the amount of
his artillery by the character Of the country
in which he was operating.
"While his achievements in actual battle
eclipse by their brllliancy the stategy and
grand tactics employed in his campaigns,
yet the extraordinary combinations effected
and the skill aud boldness exhibited in mov-
ing large armies into position entitle him to
as mucn credit as the qualities he displayed
in the immediate presence of the enemy.
80 brilliant was his career as a soldier
that we are to apt to overlook the successes
he achieved as a statesman, but when we
sum up the events of his presidential terms
their magnitude is such that they challenge
comparison with those Of any other chief
magistrate since the formation of the gov
ernment,h ~