Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1891-06-10

came to take part in the ceremonies.
Business in Galena was entirely sus-
pended. Two special trains from Chica-
go brought delegations of Grand Army
men and distinguished citizens. Among
them were Chauncey NJ. Depew, orator
of the day; Gov. Joseph w. Fifer. of
Illinois; ex-Gov. w. D. Hoard, of Wis
consin; Gen. Nelson A. Miles, Judge
Walter Q. Gresham, Johannes
Gelert, the sculptor; H. II. Kohl
saat, the donor of the statue !;
Senators Allison and Cullom; Congress-
man Henderson, of Iowa, and Judge H.
ceremonies of the day were inaugurated
with parade, participated in by Grand
Army veterans, visiting military and
civic bodies and citizens.
Mr.. Depew began his Grafton by
briefly outlining the story of Grants
early life, his experience in the Office of
the governor Of Illinois at the breaking
out of the war and the subsequent rec
ignition of his worth by the officers of
the government. He continued:
Grants career will be the paradox of history.
Parallels cannot be drawn for him with the
great captains of the world Historians, by
common consent. place Alexander the Great,
Hannibal Julius Caesar, and Napoleon Bona
parre in the front rank. But each of them had
learned the art of by continuous service
and unequalled opportunities, and displayed
the most brilliant qualities at every period of
their achievements. Hannibal and Caesar had
won universal fame in the sos. Alexander died
st SO. grieving because he had no more worlds
TO conquer, and Napoleon, at 81, was master of
Europe But Grant, at 40, was an obscure
leather merchant III Galena. AS cadet at
West Point he had risen only just above the
middle of his class As subaltern on the
frontier and in Mexico, he had done no more
than perform his duty with the courage and
capacity of the average West Pointer. He had
pursued agriculture with his customary con-
scientious care and industry. He not
afraid 10 do the work of the farm himself nor
ashamed to ride into St. Louis upon the load of
wood which he was to sell, or to pile it up for
his Gust Omer. and yet almost any farmer in
Missouri WAS more successful. Clients failed to
retain him surveyor. his real estate Office
had to be closed, and he not factor in the
tanners firm.
But the moment that the greatest responsible
tiles were thrust upon him. and the fate of his
country rested upon his shoulders this indif.
ferent farmer, business man. merchant became
the foremost figure of the century. The re-
serve powers of a dominant intellect, which or
binary affairs could not move. came into action
A mig hty mind which God had kept for the
hour of supreme danger to the Republic
grasped the scattered elements of strength, so
lidifed them into a resistiess force and organ
lied victory. He OWNED the purposes of the
enemy as we'll as he knew his own plans. His
brain became clearer, his strategy more per-
tect, and his confidence IN himself more serene
as his power increased. He could lead the as
sault at Donelson, or the forlOrn hope at Shiloh,
or manRuyre his forces With exquisite skill
and rare originality of resources at Vicksburg,
as the best of brigade or corps commanders, or
before Richmond calmly conduct q campaign
covering a continent and many armies with
consummate generalship. y
His plans did not contemplate defeat. The
movement he always made was advance"
The order he always gaVeWaS "forwardp' When
Buell. told him that the transports at Pittsburg
Landing would not carry away one-third of his
force Grant said: eff that becomes necessary,
they will hold all there are left" His Vicks.