Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-06-04
GRANTS MONUMENT
ICoutin1ted from First Page.

and the IaIe Ol HIS NOunui iN'eNu "FN
his shoulders this Indifferent farmer,
business man, merchant, became the
foremost figure of the century. The
reserve powers of a dominant
intellect. which ordinary affairs could
not move. came into action. A mighty
mind. which God had kept for the
hour of supreme danger to the repuo-
lie. yrasped the scattered elements OF
strength. solicited them into 4
resistless force and organized victory.
He OWNED the purpose of the enemy as
well as he knew his own plans. His
brain became clearer. his strategy more
perfect, and his confidence in himself
more serene as his power increased. lie
could lead the assault at DOnelson, or
the foreign hope at Shiloh, or maneuver
his forces with exquisite skill and rare
originality of resources at Vicksburg,
as the best of brigade or corps comman-
ders, or before Richmond, calmly con-
duct campaign covering continent
and many armies with consummate gen.
eralship.
"His plans did not contemplate de-
feat. The movement he always made
was advance" The order he always
gave was Forward :" When Buell. told
him that the transports at Pittsburg
would not carry away one-third of his
force Grant said: eff that becomes
necessary they will hold all there are
left" His Vicksburg campaign was
against all the teachings Of the military
schools and the unanimous opinions OF
his council of war. A veteran strate-
gist cried in indignant remonStrance:
s'You will cut loose from your base
of supplies, and that is con-
trav to all the rules" Grant answered.
"UnlesS we capture Vicksburg the
North will cut off our supplies" and the
thoroughly bereaved and disheartened
people were transported with Joy ana
hope by the Fourth OF July message:
''Vicksburg has surrendered. The
Wertern armies never knew their rest
less power until they felt the hand OF
their master. No better or Drawer body
of soldiers ever marched or fought than
the Army of the Potomac. 1t lost bat
ties through bad generalship, and gen
erals by camp jealousies and capitol in
trigueS. Thousands OF its heroes fell In
fruitless fights, but it never wavered in
its superb confidence and courage. At
last it found a leader worthy of itself,
and after scores of bloody victories
ended the rebellion under Grant.
''The most signal services rendered
by Grant to his country were at Apo
mattox and in his contest with Presi-
dent johnson. The passions aroused
by the civil war were most infiamed
when the Confederacy collapsed. Grief
and vengeance are bad counselors. One
serene intellect was possessed of an in
tuition which was second to prophecy,
and was clothed with power. He saw
through the vindictive suggestions OF
the hour that the seeded States must
be admitted to the union, and their peo-
pie vested with all the rights
of American citizenship and
all the privileges OF State
government, or the war had been fought
in vain. He sternly repressed the ex-
presSionS of JOY by his troops as the
vanquished enemy marched by, with
his famous order, "The war is over, the
rebels are our cOuntrymen again, and
the best sign of rejoicing after the vic
tory will be TO abstain from all demon
strations in the field" He gave to the
Confederates their horses and belong
ings and told them to go home, Guilt
vate their farms and repair the ravageS
of war. He assured them all, from Lee
TO the private soldier, that they
would be safe and unmoleSted so long as
they observed their paroles.
81 know of no scene in our history so
dramatic as the meeting between Lin
coin and Grant at the White House
three days after the surrender at Apo
mattoX. The President, who had so
Loyalty sustained the General, and the
General who had so magnificently re-
sponded to the confidence Of the PreSi-
bent, met for the last time in their
lives. Grant returned with deep emo
ton the fraternal grasp OF the only
man in the country who fully under
stood and was in complete accord with
the policy of reconciliation and repose.
The work Of the warrior was done and
the labor of the statesman begun. Yes
terday it was destruction, Tomorrow
it must be reconstruction. That
night the bullet of the assassin
enden the life of our greatest President
since Washington and postponed the
settlement of the sectional difficulties
and the cementing of the Unior for
many years. 1t gave the country the
unfortunate administration of Andrew
Johnson, with its early frenzy for re-
venge and determination to summarily
try and execute all the rebel leaders,
and it's later effort to win their favor by
giving them their States without pledges
for the Unionist or the freedman, and
the government without evidences Of re-
pentance or hostages for loyalty. The
one sent CONSERVATION through the
South and helped undo the work at APP
pomattOX, and the other undulY. elated
the controlling powers in the rebel
States, and neceSsitated measures which
produced deplorable results. Grant
stood with his honor and his fame be-
tween the raging executive and the Con-
federate generals and prevented re-
opening of the war; he stood with drawn
sword between the Chief Magistrate and
a revolutionary Congress, and stayed
another rebellion"
In conclusion, Mr.. Depew said:
Through the verses OF great poets
runs familiar strain, through the
works of great composers an oft-repeat-
ed tune, and through the speeches of
great orators recurring and character
istic thought. These are the germs
which exhibit the moving forces Of their
minds. During the war, 81 propose to
move Immediately upon your works."
unconditional surrender" Il shall
take no backward step" 81 propose TO