San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-10-07
GRANTS STATUE UNVEILED
VAST ASSEMBLY AT LINCOLN
PARK
%, 900 Men in Line of Procession
Judge W. Q. Gresham's
Great Speech.


CHICAGO, Oct IA bronze eques-
TRAN statue of General U. s. Grant
was unveiled this afternoon at Lin
coin Park. The procession started
from the lake front, thence to the
Park. Twenty-Five thousand men,
representing the leading military
and civic organizations OF the
United States. were in line. The
exercises consist of an address by
Judge w. G. Goudy delivering the
staue to the city on behalf of the as
ISOLATION which 81 ected it; q history of
the work by Secretary E. 5. Taylor.
of the board of Lincoln Park Commits
sioners, and the Grafton OF the day
was delivered by Walter Q Gresham,
| of the federal court. Judge Gresham
| spoke substantially as follows:
| Mr.. Chairman Ladies and Gentlemen
1t is hardly necessary on this DC
casion to enter upon any minute &C
| count of the lite and deeds OF the
man to whose memory this beautiful
| statue has been erected. They are
part of the history Of our country.
| Many of his traits of character are
| strictly Individual, and are
mteres ting only because they belong
to a striking and distinguished per.
sOnality. Even critic SO csptiOus
and eXscting as the late Mathew
Arnold discovered much in Grants
Cd Of hia
| ricipancy In the historical events of
which he gives an account in his official
reports OF them and in his autoOiog-
raphy. He was remarkably tree from
that vanily aud CONCERT which have
been the weakness OF many great
minds. The triumphs from Belmont to
Appomattox never destroyed his bal
ance. Even with the Confederacy at
his feet rs a tiual testimony OF his
skill and powers as a military chief
tain he was not betrayed into any.
thing ike eXultation. He thought of
the feelings and sensibilities of the
vauqulshed and of making the road
toward patriotic citizenship easy for
for them He thought more OF giving
an impulse to the pursuits OF peace
ana industry among disorganiZed
people. The great Confederate gen
eral was shown the respect
that generous natures always accord
TO misfortune bravely borne and
proved by his conduct and bearing
| the truth of the remark that the
| greatest reverses are most easily sus.
| tanned by n dignity that belongs TO
| them. In the struggle that ended in
| final capitulation Grant was never
| actuated by the spirit of revenge or
hate, or by aught else than n nigh
sense of patriotic duty. II should
| like to see an impartial history
written" he said, "suCh history will
| do full credit TO the courage of the
| American either, 70 matter what
section OF the country he halls from,
or in what ranks The failure OF
the southern people WAS not due to
any lack of courage or persistence, or
| of leadership on the field, but
the inevitable result of having
undertaken an impossible task
| An und erestimate OF ones pow ers may
| be II fault. But Gran was never
misIed 10y rating himself too high or
too low. In Mexico he had shown
| utmistak bic courage and sense in
/ . 'JhN'tNi oeN III O'l ioAO
war he began The study of himself as
a commander and leader OF men and
| he soon mustered the lesson. He
| succeeded IN great emergencies by
| his native strength of will and in
| tellect and his resolute persistence
| where men of more learning and bet
| ter versed In military science, but
with less natural capacity, would
D,,f IL.
| tati0n OF daeh or briIliancy
strengthened his resolution and
hrighiene his Intellect The
final movement on Nicksburg was
begun when many patriots in the
North were losing confidence in the
0ility of the government to suppress
the rebellion by arms Delay was
never more dangerous and he realized
it. He boldly placed the Mississippi
river behind him while il was in pos
session of the enemy, both above and
below him, and with vigor and skill
which have never been surpassed by
the great soldiers OF any age or coun-
try he threw his army against the
divided forces of Penn berton, conquer
ing and defeating them at all points
and ended with the investment and
capture of the enemy's stronghold
The campaign was prosecuted amid
the virulent censure of himself,
clamor for his removal and jealousy |
of martinets. He neither Wanted his |
abilities nor stopped to defend him |
self against criticism. He was |
silent, thoughtful, patient and sincere. |
Although educated at West Point he |
was not a professional soldier. In
stead of liking war he abhorred it az
the greatest OF human calamities. He |
engaged in our last war because he |
recognized il was the only means of |