The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-06-04


1t is no judgment upon cause; i
cares nothing for the particular con
trovelJy, but il means that in the mar
himself, the world has seen thai
"touch of nature, which makes the
whole world kin )" and hailed hi pre-
eminent qualities of manhood, as en-
titling him to the admiration of his
race.
Charlatans may deceive State, OF
even continent, but the impostel
has never lived who could delude a
world It's verdict is above prejudice.
It's vision is unclouded by local infiu-
ence. It's judgment is infallible.
The man is surely great whose fame
is world wide.
And such was Ulysses s. Grant.
There is today an Arab stroking his
steed under shady palms by the soli-
tary fountain, rejecting on the great
ness of Grant. There are gentle Jap.
anese, reading in their own language,
the story of his life, with wonder and
admiration. There are American
Indians, crouching by dessert fires,
picturing to themselves in rude imag-
ination the sort of man he was. There
are Egyptians, floating on the Nile,
dreaming OF Grant, and Vicksburg,
and the far off Mississippi. There are
Russians, with half illumined minds,
struggling to reconcile the strength
and tenderness, the power and mercy
to them so strangely blended in his
great character. There are French
men learning pertinacity. There are
Spaniards- and Italians on whom his
forgiveness and magnanimity will not
be lost.
His life and character are known to
the farthesS bounds of fame. And in
the wide world there is rot one man
of Celtic or anglo-Saxon blood, who is
not proud to boast himself of that
strain of humanity which produced
this great captain of the Union.
Men will model their characters
upon this ideal, when we are dead and
forgotten.
By the memory of his indomi table
pluck, columns will surge forward to
desperate assault, in centuries to come.
Mankind will be stronger, by emu
lating his endurance and fortitude /;
war will be less brutal; victory less
arrogant defeat less bitter; and hu-
man nature more gentle, by the con-
spicuonsness of his moderation, his
magnanimity, his kindness to his
foes, and his yearning longing when
war wss past for fraternity and peace.
Such was the man whose memory
we commemorate this day.
We know his history and we know
his worth
We were actors in the great passion
play in which he emerged from OBJ
security to become the central figure of
the greatest drama of our day.
We saw him, man that he was, take
sides in the hour of dlscord, and rise
until he was chief partisan in section
al strife.
we saw him, on the instant OF re-
stored peace, transformed as it were,
to become champion of forgetfulness,
advocate Of mutual forgiveness, and
councillor of restored fraternity.
We saw him in the hour of his
strength.
We watched and pitied him in the
hour of his weakness, until his patient
painful death.
And now we are standing by his
tomb, after full time for reflection
upon what he was.
Some of us were soldiers in his
army.
To such, 1 would not venture to
picture what they must feel beside his
grave.
Some of us were followers of his
great antagonist.
Time was, when he was our chief
en- my.
Time was when he was our victori-
Gus adversary.
When? Why? How? 1t profits
not here to recount.
1t is true that cynic history tells US
the vanquished are not, as rule, the
magnanimous.
Yet, this say, with perfect conf
dence that it is true.
Between Grant and the Con federate
soldier, even in time of war, there was
ever feeling of mutual respect, and
much that was akin to kindness.
Towards Grant, TOR gentleness and
magnanimity which touched them in
expressibly, there went forth from the
hearts of the soldiers of the army of
Northern Virginia, even at the hour
of their surrender to him, feeling
which they entertained towards no
other Federal commander.
Thenceforth, there sprung up and
grew between them and him, kind
ness which grew and waved stronger
as the years rolled on, until, when he