The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-03-30
IN MEMORY OF SHERMAN
Grafton Delivered Before the Legis-
lature of the State of
New York,
Services Held In Memory OF the
Late General William Te-
acumseh Sherman.
Brilliant Eulosy of tho Great Captain by
Chauncey NJ. Depew-Shermnn's
Elements of Greatness.

Albany. N. ", March 29.-Over three
thousand persons listened to Chauncey M.
Dspew's Grafton on the occasion of the
memorial services in honor of Gen. VIM. Il.
Sherman, under the auspices of the legisla-
ture of New York, held tonight in Blocker
hall. this city. The members of the legis-
latare proceeded to the hall in u body.
Mr.. Depew said:
Senators and Me,nbers of Assembly,
The passions of civil war usually survive
centuries. We cannot yet impsrtially and
calmly estimate the ability and services of
Hamilton and Jeffersou. Their names still
stand for antagonistic principles and an
taoonized followers. But the issues of the
rebellion we're buried with its dead. That
struggle was unique, both IN magnitude
and settlement. It was an earthquake
which rent asunder q continent and plunged
into cavernous depths millions of men and
money, and the shaokles of the slaves. LIZ
closed, and the survivors. freed from the
causes of contention. were united Tor the
nnhuildinp of the new nation. Prior to
Tia war We were slngularlv provincial and
%insular, but we have since grown to be re
radically liberal and cosmopolitan. Then
t,nr judgments of statesmen and measures
we're governed by considerations which
we're territorial or inherited. Now
those w, who y Ters me ~ gys sns b 5a9a :
can fairly view and freely weigh the merits
Of their friends and foes. We cnn elm
mate our feelings, our prejudaces and our
convictions upon the purposes tor whlcn
thew fought, and contrast Grant and Lee,
Sherman and Joe johnson, Sheridan and
BeaursgRrd, as to the genius and ability
with which they planned end played the
game of war. with equal candor and better
light than the historian OF the future.
Yesterday General Sherman was the last
OF that triumvirate of great captains,
Grant, Sherman and Sheridan, VINO were
the most distinguished soldiers or our
country, and Of our times, and a familiar
fipure IL our midst. His presence revived
and embodied the Rlories and the memories
of the marches and the victories of the
heroes who fought, and of the heroes who
had died, for the preservation OF the union.
To-day we commemorate his life and DEEDS;
and the. civil wal is history. -.
General Sherman was destined from ms
birth for the career which has become one
of the brightest pages in the oountry's his
tory. The hero among the early settlers OF
the Ohio valley was thnt brave and chlval-
rio Indian chief, Tecumseh. who had COM
manded the admiration of the whites by
his prowess, and their good will by his kind
ness. He fought to sxtermlnate. but ne
could as quickly forgive as he feroely and
s~ayapelv struck. The qualities of this wild
warrior became part OF the characteristic
of his namesake. It was ruthless and re-
lentless war with the enemy in the field
but no commander ever granted more gen
erous terms to the yanqulshed, or was sc
ready to assist with purse and influence
Taller foe.
His father, Judge Sherman, died sud
denly leaving his widow with little means
and a family of eleven children. The help
fulness of the American family whe1
thrown upon their " resources. and tht
ready and practical sympathy of American
communities, so extended as to convey. no
charity, but compliment, has no better ex-
ample thar in the story of this household
and the success in life of its members
The bench and the bar felt that the boy
were the wards of the profession. Ohio
leading LAWYER, and United States sen
ator. the Honorable Thomas Ewing, said
Give me one. but the brightest
and tbs brothers and sisters of the future
captor of Atlanta answered, Take Cump
he is the smartest." This profound juris
and keen observer of character saw the fu
ture general in this quick, nervous, intelli
gent. pugnacious boy, with his Indian war
rior name, and appointed him to the Yves
Point military academy. His fertile ans
versatile mind pushed its inquiries into to
many directions. and explored fields to,
diverse for that methodical and accurat
mastery of the curriculum which makes
valediotorian, but not always a man
Nevertheless. he stood sixth in bis class
and was it's most original and attractlv
member. He had q fondness for topc
graphical studies, and d keen eye an
natural and traine instinct tor the oppor
tunities for defence and attack which coul
be utilized in the places whore he was sta
tione and the country over which b
Travelled.
Sherman had been brought up an
trained in tho school OF Hamilton. of Wet
ster, and of Henry Clay. His Bible was tn
constitution. He had imagination, but Il
sentiment; passion. but no pathos. BE
lieving slayery to have guarantees in til
constitution. he would have unsheathed hi
sword as readily against q John Blown raj
as he did at the firing upon Fo1t Sumte
His imagination led him to glorify an
idealize the republic. Its grandeur, il
growth, and it's possibilities captured an
possessed his heart and mind. This in
tense nationalist and accomplished soldie
was selected by the state of Louisiana
be the superintendent and organizer of b.
military school. The veteran who coul
bring to the business of banking lit
more than answering integrity, and faile,
and whose direotness of purpose and tran
parent candor were disguised with t.
law, found in this teld of instruction
most pleasant and congenlal occupntio
He was at the head of a university whis
was fitting youth for careers in civil lif
and training them, if needs be, to fight f
their country. The institution grew
rapidly, and wisely, that the attention
the state authorities WAS attracted to its ali
and brilliant principle. He did not gu
pect treason, and they were orga
iZing rebellion. To capture this DO
lender of men was to start will an arm
Social Establishments, political ptessal
and appeals to ambition were skillfully Il
piled to his purposes and principles. Su
denly the truth burst upon his f. AMI natui
tie was poor, and had a large and helple
family. He held an honorable, congeni
lucrative and permanent position. r
future, IT he abandoned his place, was da
and doubtful, but the union WAS In dang,
and he did not hesitate q moment. I
letter OF resignation to the governor
Louisiana reads like a bugle-ca of patrit
Ism: A l occupy q -lnilitary 30
ton under the laws of the state, [ deem
proper to %acqualnt you, that / accept
such position when Louisiana was a at;
in the unlou, aud when the motto of Il
semina y was inserted in marble over t
main door. by the liberality of the gene
government of the United States. i
union este perpetual Recent events 70
shadow a great change, and it becomes
from the federal union, l prefer to ma
tain my allegiance to the constitution
" long as a fragment of it survives. M
On no earthly account will I do any &C,
think any thought hostile to or in defa
of the old government of the Uni
States"
Critics and historians will forever 4