The Portland daily press., 1891-06-04
TO THE GREAT CAPTAIN.


law of the land, ana the subject of pride and
not apology to the American people. The
Presidents earnest advocacy hastened its
ratification. On great questions affecting the
the honor and credit of the nation he was
always sound and emphatic, A people rapid
ly developing their material resources are
subject to frequent financial conditions
which cause stringency of money and com.
mercial disaster. To secure quick fortunes
debts are recklesSly incurred, and debt be-
comes the author of a currency craze. Pres
ident Grant set the wholesome fashion of
resisting and reasoning with this frenzy.
Against the advice OF his Cabinet and many
of his party admirers he vetoed the imitation
bill. He had never studied financial prob
lens, and yet the same clear and intuitive
grasp of critical situations which saved the
country from bankruptcy by defeating fat
money. restored public and individual credit
by the resumption Of specie payments. The
funding OF our war debt at lower rate of
interest made possible the magical payment
Of the principal The admission of the last
OF the rebel states into the Union, and uni
yersal amnesty for political offenses quick
ened the latent loyalty Of the South, and
turned its unfettered and fiery energies to
that development of its unequalled natural
wealth which has added incidentally to the
prosperity and power of the Commonwealth.
Ihese wise measures will ever form brill
liant page In American history, but the ad-
ministrati0n of General Grant will have a
place in the annals of the world for inaugu-
rating and successfully carrying out the pol
Icy OF the submission of international dis
pates to arbitration. The Geneva Confer
ence, and the judicial settlement of the Ala
bama claims will grow in Importance and
grandeur with time. AS the nations of the
eartn diSDand their ornaments and are gov
erDed by the laws of reason and humanity,
they will recur to this beneficent settlement
between the United States and Great Britain,
and General Grants memorable words upon
receiving the freedom of the city of London
although soldier by education and pro-
fession, have never felt any sort of fond
ness Tor war, and have never advocated it,
except as means of peace"--and they will
hail him as one of the benefactors of man.
kind.
He has been called silent man, and vet
nave often heard him hold little company
In delighted attention for hours by the charm
was graphic. his discussions lucid, and subtle
flashes of humor sparkled through his talk.
I ne said that when he spoke to an audience
MS knees Knocked together, and this was
evident in his manner and address. Init the
speech was often welcome message to the
country. AS he was speaking one evening
with considerable embarrassment, he point
ca TO speaker who had just entered the
a nan, ana SAD: III | could stand in his
me and better for you" Who of this gener-
alton could fill that great place? AS the
years increase, events crowd upon each 9TH
OF Win sucn volume, that the lesser ones are
crushed out OF memory. Most regulations
are forgotten by the succeeding generations.
and few survive century. In our thou.
sanutn year as nation, the only statesmen
or soldiers OF our first hundred years whose
names Will decorate the celebration, will be
washington and Hamilton for the begin
ming, Webster for the middle period and
Lincoln and Grant for the close.
HGeneral Grant was the product and repre-
sentative OK the best element in our social
NE. Home and its associations have been
sne training and Inspiration of our greatest
class which had neither poverty nor riches.
ana winch was. compelled to work for the
support OF the family, and the education of
the children. Its members are God-fearing
men, and loving, self-sacrificing women. It
gave us Lincoln from the farm, Garfield from
the tow path, Sherman, from the crowded
nouse OF the brave and struggling widow,
Sheridan from the humble cottage. and
Grant from the home of the country store
keeper OF the Ohio wilderness. These men
never lost their sympathy with every human
oil their early conditions and training. Grant
was clerk In the Custom House and Presi-
Dent OF the United States, a Lieutenant In
Mexico, and Commander-in-chief of the
armies q the Union. numbering over a
tanners frm at Galena, and the guest of
Emper0rs and Kings. But the memory of
Oh the church of his mother was ever visible
10 MS reverent regard for her teachings.
Inc applause of soldiers for their command
II, OF partlZans for their chief leader, and of
me world Tor one of its most illustrious
heroes was grateful, but the sweetest music
Ior MIN was within the family circle, in the
owing companionship of his wife and chill
iren, and the prattle of his grandchildren.
inough he received such honor and recogni- |
lion abroad and such distinction at home, he
was always, whether in the presence of roy
Atty or of the people, modest, typical |
citizen.
through the verses of great poets runs a
.amlllar strain, through the works of great |
composers an oft repeated tune. and through |
thought. These are the germs
which exhibit the moving forces of their |
minds. During the war, 81 propose to move |
iitionaI surrender ST shall take no hack.
his line if it takes all SUMNER" are the bea-
ION lights of the plans and strategy of Grant |
The soldier. At Appomatox, "The war is |
,yer,". THE rebels are our countrymen |
again" at the threshold of the Presidency. |
Let us have peace;" on his bed of agony |
md death at Mount McGregor, when his |
,oWer OF speech was gone, writing to Con-
ederate general by his bed side, "Much as |
suffer, do 1t with pleasure, If by that |
uHerlng can be accomplished the union of |
ny country" are the indices of the lsbors, |
ne aspirations and the prayer of Grant, the |
and the patriot.