Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1892-05-12
A Tribute to Grant.

At banquet given in New York last |
week in commemoration of General
Grants birthday Stephen b. Elkins
paid the following splendid tribute to
the dead hero:
Grant had that simplicity that be-
longs 20 greatness. He was self-pos-
sessed and self-reliant; seldom spoke
of himself; in his fatal illness, when
suffering most intense pain, he never
uttered a word of complaint. His
conversation was pure and chaste,
such as could he heard in any society.
In all his life he never uttered a pro-
fame word; he never spoke extrava-
gantly; used few adjectives- He was
direct in speech, a most entertaining
and instructive talker; he had the
merit OF allowing his companions not
only to take part in the conversation,
but oftentimes to do the largest share.
He was so clear in expression that
even a child could readily understand
his meaning. His information about
his own and other countries, their
people, laws, manners, habits, GUS
toms, resources, trade and commerce.
was vide and accurate. His memory
of men and their faces, OF places,
mountains, roads, lakes and rivers
was remarkable. He said that he
never camped his army in the enemy's
country without first going over every
foot of the ground it was to occupy.
In the family circle he was always
loving and deferential to his wife,
mindful OF her wishes, and affection
ate to his children; his conduct and
bearing were at all times polite and
Il E,,n e IL 4
good deeds, but never spoke of his
kindness and helpful acts. He was
incapable OF deception or intrigue;
never acted from impulse, passion or
revenge. He had complete mastery
over himself; under calumny, reproach
and injustice he was silent.
He said that victory often brought
responsibilities that made it next to
defeat. He understood the south
| better than any public man OF his
| time not OF the south. He loved the
southern people, and sympathized
with them in the disaster, ruin and
despair that followed their defeat.
He said that if the south had succeed
ed in the war, in ten years more her
people would have waged another war
| to get back into the Union. Watch
| ing the movement OF the enemy on
| the James river once, he said: 'They
are brave fellows; when this thing is
| over what a country we shall have'
Speaking OF the surrender at NIcks-
| burg he said for an hour or so pend
ing negotiations, and while the details
were being arranged, Pemberton al
most made him believe he was sur
rendering our army to him, and he
finally had to remind him that he
thought he had some part in the
transaction. Grant wore q blouse at
Appotomax; Lee, his full uniform.
| He said Lee was n commanding figure.
d handsome man, and a gentleman,
and when he met him he hardly knew
how to begin the conversation. Lee
opened it by saying he remembered
seeing Grant in Mexico. He said his
sympathy was so great with Lee that
1t was embarrassing for him at first
to go on with the negotiations leading
to the surrender. Never knowing de-
feat, he declared that he felt that
..1ore was no humiliation and agony
equal to that suffered by a fallen
general.
The state and city of New York will
always be greater for Grants having
lived within their borders, and the
Hudson will always be more famous
in history, in story and in song be-
cause by it's waters his body finds its
last repose.
As the shadows grow longer, as the
'light thickens," and the curtains OF
life are drawn more closely, we, who
knew him well, will esteem it most
precious privilege that We were hon
ored with his friendship. The chief
distinction that will come to many oil
us and our children will be that We
lived in the time of this good man,
great general and great president. He
loved his own people. He loved his
friends, and trusted them. What
jewels in the setting of human charac-
ter, often fare, but for this reason
precious! These virtues sometimes
led him into errors, but they were
errors common to men, such as We
are allowed to hope the angels pardon
and heaven forgets.
"Man of the mighty days and equal
to the days." he has joined ''the un-
dying dead" His character will stand
out serene on the horizon OF history;
even now it is beyond the reach oi
envy and malice He touched hu-
manity at every point, and his name
and fame belong to all mankind
They have passed into the keeping o.
the wide world and will be cherished
by it forever.