The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1891-06-04

cises at the tomb OF. Gen. Ulysses s.
Grant. Scared veterans by the hum
dreds marched in procession, grateful
for the opportunity to pay tribute to
the memory of their old commander.
The last resting place Of the hero was
completely covered with floral tributes.
both interior and exterior - pre-.
senting remarkable sight in
this respect. After preliminary
Exercises, which consisted ina the
observanceM the ceremonies laid down
in the G. A. R. ritual for Decoration
day, Hon. John S. Wise, of Virginia,
was introduced as the orator of the &C.
casion. He delivered a long and elo-
quent address on the life, character
and services of the illustrious dead, ex-
tracts from which are asstollows: s,sts..,s.
! ss.The tolnbs OF the mighty dead Of our repnb-
| Tic are the shrineS OF American patriotism AZ
i them, ABOVE I'LL other places, EafeWe moved TO
reflection on the blessings we enjoy and in.
| government under which we live. At the tomb
OF the great the American freeman draws his
inspiration from the fountain head, for high
resolve and mighty deed There may he pledge
his fealty to principles, without transmitting it
1 through any representative.
IN this tomb lies one whose great qualities Of
| nead and heart, whose bravery whose simple
1ty, whose magnanimity, whose patience
whose steadfastness Of purpose, whose loyalty
70 every obligation, whose capacity for admin
1stratlon IN the highest offices In the world
military and civic. have placed his name US
among the most remarkable men who have
ever lived The theater Of his career was only
matte episodes of his life, were in his character
as leader OF one OF the a-mies OF his divided
people: Yet, even on that narrow field. and
under those restricting conditions, he SO bore
| himself that the whole world watched him. and
when his work was finished, proclaimed him to
De OF the stamp of true greatness, rarely devcl-
| opeo; ana OF greatness, blended with such
qualities OF manhood as entitled him to be held
up as an example to the world
The man is surely great whose fame is
WoridWlde. And such was Ulysses S. Grant
There is to-day an Arab strOkfng his steed
under shady palms BY the SOLITARY fountain
aem ne on the greatness Of Grant There are
the story OF his life with wonder and adj IRA
t1on: There arc American Indians crouchinv
by desert hres picturing to themselves in rude
Egyptians floating on the Nile dreaming Of
Grant and Vickshurg and the far of Missis-
slppl -, There are Russians with half il.
and mercy to them SO strangely
blended ols in his great character There
are Spaniards and Italians on whom his for
glveness and magnanimity will not be lost
f his me and character are known to the
I
| characters upon this ideal when we are dead
and forgotten: BY the memory of his indo1nit-
able pluck columns will surge forward to des-
will be stronger by emulating his endurance
and tortttude; war viii be less brutal; victory
less arrogant; defeat less bitter; and human
nature moro gentle by the conspicuousness OF
ms moderation his magnanimity, ohs kindness
70 ms Toes, and his yearning longing when war
| was past for fraternity and peace.
such was the man whose memory we COM
memorate this day. We know his history and
| we know his worth. We were actors in the
great passion play in which he emerged from
ooscurlty 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 discord,
ana 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 be-
come champion of forgetfulness advocate Of
mutual forgiveness, and counselor OF restored
| fraternity. We saw him in the hour Of his
strength. We watched and pitied him in the
9our OF MS weakness until his patient painful
death: an NJ, I now we are standing by his tomb,
| aIter tull time for reflection upon what he was
Some OF us were soldiers in his army. TO
such l would not venture to picture what they
must feel beside his grave. Some Of were
when he was our chief enemy. Time was when
he was our victorious adversary. 1t is true that
ynlG rns 1h sels US the vanq1shed are not
with perfect confidence that it is true Be-
tween Grant and the confederate soldier, even
.S OF VAT and mere was ever feeling Of m
hess. Towards Grant. for gentleness and MAG.
nan1mtty which touched them inexpressiblv.
diers OF the army Of northern Virginia, even at
the hour OF their surrender to him, a feeling
which they entertained toward no other fed.
eral commander.
'"Thenceforth. there sprung D and grew he.
tween them and him kindn ess which grew
and waxed stronger as the yearsrolled on Until
when ne died, his coffin bore as many flowers of
the south as Of the north every state Of the union
stood around his bier; and the old confederate
veteran had feeling at his heart such as he
; had not known since he stacked arms at AID.
pomattox, or wept at the tidings that Lee was
dead. 1t is no DISBURSEMENT OF the other fedcr-
| 81 generals to say that, in this firm hold upon
alone. That he knew it, and hat il pleased
him, Is beyond doubt. / remember hearing
from his own lips, after his election to his sec
ond term, that the electoral vote Of Virginia
! caused him as much genuine qualification as
, any incident OF his presidential campaign He
delighted to display genuine friendship towards
portunity
Politics took such shape. in the years sue
ceedlng the war, that Grant was opposed polit-
ically by the great mass Of confederate soldiers.
; OLner 1ederal commanders were candidates for
federal office. To such, political support was
given accompanied, for the time being, by
to no officer OF the federal armies has the heart
OF Lees veterans ever warmed for none have
their their tears been shed, as for him at whose
| tomb we stand assembled.
Yes, my countrymen. strife and bitterness
! have passed away. Here stand we. loving
brethren, about Grants tomb-members of u
| happy. reunited, prosperous country. How
much he did to bring about this fraternal and
loyal feeling all men know. We come rejoicing
at an opportunity to testify our respect for the
memory OF our great countryman. We have, it
/ Is true. in many southern cemetery an army
Oh oeao comrades to whose memory and to
whose valor we delight to pay the tribute OF
LOVING hearts In quiet chapel under the
shadow OF the Blue Ridge sleeps one who, in
days gone by, was to our love- to our hope, and
to our idea of patriotic duty, all that Grant
represents to you. Yet. our hearts are large
enough for both, and when Grant sought them,
he never asked us to forget our dead
"Ai that Grant commended for was cstab-
| llshed All that Lee maintained failed of &C.
comPlishment. Every sensible citizen OF this
republic now acquiesces chcerfully in the re-
suit: 1t is certain that many thousands of the
| confederate veterans to-day as affection
ately loyal to the federal government as if the
lamentabe strife had never been. We come as
men IN who reel that tim: has taught all citizens
! OF this republic that they honor themselves in
honorinS this great American. Passion has
subsidized sufficiently to let US see him as he
COUNTY, patroe 4hSxa part OF our vi
| his fellow citizens. AS to our own beloved
commander, it may be that the time
WI never come when the men who sustained
! the union cause can reconcile it to their
sense OF loyalty to do public honor to his men,
DRY: Far be 1t from me to urge that course
upon you we who followed him and loved him
| seek not to share our veneration for his memo.
| ~ with anyone who is unwilling. 1t may be
| that his name and fame will be left to us as all
our own. Yet it will be strange-passng
strange; it will reverse all history in the past;
! II with the American love OF valor of honor
self-sacrifice and humility your grandchildren,
when the bitterness of our day Inns been
forgotten. shall deny their sharein the name and
lame OF him whose sword SO often and so gal
| iantly crossed that OF Grant and never lowered
| Its point to any foe but him ory.elded save to
| the power of overwhelming numbers and re-
sources-oue who when he ceased to fight, &C.
cepted the result in cheerfulness and displayed
the same manhood, sincerity and humility
which make us honor Grant as great.
DO the dead look down on us? 1t must be
So What joy OF elysium could compare with
that experienced by the dead warrior, as, look
Ing down upon the land for which he died he
beholds it blessed with peace prosperity and
fraternity, fruit CT his self.sacriHce?
mortal vision, no. Yet in imagination, y tsI
indeed! And this, my brethren Of the north
and south, Is the vision which saw of late:
Through the open portals Of the great beyond
saw the boundless plains Of " alb ana-where
FAR as the eye could reach, we're spread the
snowy tents Of ghostly legions ranged beneath
the banner Of eternal peace. .& heard the
booming OF Heavens artillery, the strain Of
celestial bands, and the hoarse roar Of
shouting thousands. Here and there, out
OF the hurrying hosts, stood out the faces
OF the long ago, young and fresh, as wo
knew them when they volunteered. the cruel