Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-08

sell is not always easy anu III VarlaDly, nlS my
meritorious. A modest estimate Of ones
powers NAV be quite justified by the facts.
An underestimate Of ones powers may be
fault
"Grant had extraordinary abilities, and
while he never dwelt upon, or thought
about their greatness, or measured or COM
pared them with the abilities of others, he
Knew just what they were, their extent and
limitations, what might be accomplished by
them, and what was bevond their reach. He
was never misled by rating himself too
high or too low. The timid distrust, with
which he entered upon the engagement at
Belmont, rapidly disappeared as his powers
were tested in subsequent campaigns and
battles. In Mexico he had shown unmis-
taxable sense and courage in subordinate
capacity, but in our late war he began the
study of himself as a commander and
leader of men, and he soon mastered the
lesson.
GAS he became conscious of his powers he
relied with unshaken confidence upon his
own judgment. He held few if any coun-
ellis of war. He succeeded in great emer-
gencies by his native strength of will and
intellect, and his resolute persistence where
men of more learning and better versed in
military science, but with less natural ca
pacity, would have failed
NOT A PROFESSIONAL SOLDIER
The orator followed with cursory review
of General Grants military career as Illus
trating his genius and character, and then
said: although educated at West Point,
he was not professional soldier. Instead
of liking war, he abhorred it as the greatest
of human calamities, and his temperament
inclined to peace He engaged in our last
war because he recognized it was the only
means of maintaining the Union and secur-
ing unbroken peace.
He could not have led in any war OF
aggression or conquest, for he was the friend
and ben. iactor, rather than an oppressor or
destroyer of the people. Ambition never
stifed his sense Of duty or love of truth and
justice, or tarnished his name with acts OF
cruelty or tyranny. None welcomed the
return of peace with more cordiality, and
none saw the quiet disbanding of his army
of bronzed and hardened veterans, and their
resumption of peaceful pursuits, with emo
tions of greater pleasure when the struggle
was over. He did not believe that because
military force had saved the Union it was
proper instrument of government in time OF
peace. Iu his last days, while bearing with
serenity and fortitude the tortures of an in
curable disease, on Mount Gregor, he gave
his life final retrospect and it was the re-
union of the warning sections under the old
flag; that gave him the greatest satisfaction.
OUR GREATEST SOLDIER.
''The monument before us is dedicated to
the illustrious general of our armies, rather
than to the Chief Magistrate of our Repub-
lie, and it is therefore meet that my address
should dwell more on his military than his
civic life.
"Whatever may have been his merits, or
Aafn ho
questionably our greatest soldier, and his
matchless achievements in the field and
their influence upon the fate of his country
amply justify this beautiful testimonial. So
long as love of liberty and equality, and
admiration for heroic deeds and unselfsh
patriotism last, the memory of Grant will
be venerated.
''Some of the acts of his civil administra-
tion were really worth more to the country
and the world than the dull routine, and
solemn responsibility of many others.
While men had dreamed and written about
the uselessness and wickedness of war, as
an agency for the settlement of controver-
sizes between nations, and urged the substi-
tuition of more civilized methods, it was re-
served for our greatest soldier to reduce
these theories and vague aspirations to
practice. 1T was the successful leader of
our armies, in our greatest war, who took
the lead in bringing the civilized world to
practical recognition of the value of
peaceful arbitrament of international dis
putes"
THE STATUES HISTORY
A few days after the death of General
Grant number of prominent citizens met
at the Palmer House to discuss the advisa-
bility of erecting a statue to the honor of
the ex-President. Ten thousand dollars
were subscribed on the spot, and to-day's
event is the elimination of this meeting.
Money flowed in freely in large and small
amounts, the newspapers of the city them
selves raising over $4,000.
The total cost of the monument has been
in the neighborhood of 100000. 1t is an
equestrian statue, the largest bronze ever
cast in America The body of the horse is
5 feet high, IL feet long and feet in
breadth. Over the body is heavy saddle,
the army saddle cloth with stars in the
corners, while two holsters for the pistols
are on each side, and a tightly-rolled
blanket is just behind the saddle. The
General is sitting upright, his SLOUGH hat
welI forward on his head and his feet on