The Globe-republican., 1893-05-12

oo0AAASs
brave army, fell into union hands He
had won this signal victory after repeated
assaults after siege and battle with the odds
against him, confronted bya powerful well
disciplined and determined army. protected by
almost impenetrable intrenchments and COM
manded by one OF the ablest OF the confederate
generals He had fought it against the advice
of political generals and the suggestions OF the
strategic commanders in the rear. He started
out to do 1t, and he did it, and that was habit
Grant had His plans were well conceived and
fully executed He permitted nothing to divert
hum from his original design He needed not the
clamor OF the meddlesome or the severe criticism
of envious rivals. He moved right on, steadily,
directly, strategicalIy-maden no parade OF his
expected victory-was without the usual trap
pings and paraphernalia OF great commanders.
He was on duty, with earnest work before him,
and he relaxed not until he had achieved vic
tory-without a parallel in American annals
He was promptly made . major general in the
regular army. His name became household
word his pictures were everywhere seen and
made his face familiar for the first time 10 his
countrymen: his fame was the theme OF every
tongue. The press and the platform joined in
highest eulosy: public meetings were held to
do him honor: thanksgiving and praise went
out from the pulpit, and he was at once the &C.
knowledged hero Of the war
His civil administration covered eight years.
two full terms as president Of the United
States. This new exaltatun was not OF his own
seeking-he preferred to remain general OF the
army with which he had acquired his great
fame The country. however. was determined
that the successful soldier should be its civil
ruler The loyal people felt that they owed him
the highest honors which the nation could be-
stow, and they called him from. the military to
the civil head Of the government His term COM
menced March 4, 1869, and ended N March,
1877. Il constituted one OF the most important
A. pn1 70 fhn lnd n
Washington's administration involved the for
nation of the union that Of Grants was con-
fronted with its reconstruction after most re-
lentless internal struggle to destroy It 1t was
most delicate era in which to rule. 1t would
have been difficult embarrassing and haz-
ardous to any man, no matter how gllted or
what his previous preparation or equipment
might have been. Could anyone have done bet
ter than he we will not pause to discuss Dir
ferent opinions prevail and in this presence we
do not enter the field Of controversy but speak
ing for myself believe he was the exact man
for the place and the time, and that he filled the
full measure Of the trust to which his fellow
citizens called him He committed errors: who
could have escaped them at such time and
in such a place: He stood in his civil station
battling for the legitimate fruits OF the
war; that they might be firmly secured to the
present and posterity. His arm was never lifted
against the right. for his soul abhorred the
zation Of the commission to settle the claims OF
the United States against England; his strong
but conciliatory foreign policy; his constant
| care to have no policy against the will OF the
people: his enforcement Of the constitution and
| its amendments in every part OF the republlc;
| his maintenance of the credit OF the govern
| meut and its good faith at home and abroad
| marked his administration as one OF the strong
| est wisest and patriotic we ever had Good
| and wise as his civil administration was, the
achievements which make him one OF the i'm
| mortal few whose names will never die are
| found in his military career. Carping critics
| have sought to mar it, strategists have found
flaws in it, but in the presence OF his successive
| uninterrupted and unrivaled victories it IS the
| idlest chatter which none OF US heed He was
| always ready to fight: il beaten to-day he re-
| sumed battle on the morrow, and his pathway
was all along crowned with victories and sur
| renders which silenced criticism and placed
| him side by side with the mighty soldiers OF
the world. With no dspa-agement to others,
| two names rise above the rest in American MIS-
tory since George Washing
| above them They are Abraham Lincoln and
Ulysses Grant Each will be remembered for
what he did and accomplished for his race and
for mankind.
His private life was beautiful in its purity
and simplicity. No irrelevent oath, it is said,
| ever passed his lips after he arrived at man
hood, and his conversation was as chaste and
| unaffected as that of simple childhood His re
lations with his family were tender and anec-
| tionate and with his officers and soldiers cor.
dial and considerable He was typical Amer
lean, free from ostentation. easily approached
| His whole life gave proof Of his nationality:
man from the people. Of the people, for the peo
pie, ard never above the people. For weeks
| during the siege Of VickSburg he was withou,
baggage or servant, camp chest or tent, shar
ing the rations of the private soldier, and
hy1f
heavens above him. On one occasion, In the de
partment he was commanding, the steamboat
captain Disseminated against the private sol
der, and would not permit him TO ride as
cabin passenger on equal terms with onicers
and the travelling public generally This com
ing to the generals knowledge he issued an i'm
mediate and peremptory order forbidding sucf
un- American treatment and Furnishing with ex
IRENE severity any future discrimination
against the bravest and best, nis allies in the
great conflict His tenderness and respect FOL
the volunteer soldier was proverbial in every
army wherein he served, and any slight to then
he repealed rs q personal indignity.
only . few years ago. in one Of his journey:
through the south, when he was receiving I
great ovation the colored men crowded hi.
hotel to look into his face and to grasp thu
hand Of their great deliverer. To this intrusion
objection was made and the colored men were
about to be elected when the old hero ap
| peAred, and In his quiet way, Iuu OF leeunX,
said: Where am they shall come He be-
neved in the brotherhood Of man. in the polite
nj equality Of all men; he had secured them will
his sword, and was prompt to recognize then
in al places and every where.
But my friends, death had marked him TO
q victim. He fought il with his iron viii AM
| his old-time courage, but At last yielded, the
hrst and only time the great soldier was van
pushed: he had routed every other foe, he hac
triumphed over every other enemy. but thu
| last one conquered him, Is in the end 1t con
: quers all. II however, stayed it fatal hand
} long enough to permit him to finish the last
great work Of his life-to write the history ht
: had made. True. it had already been writ
ten; written in blood, In the agony o.
. the DYING and In the tears Of . suffering M
! ton; written In the hearts OF . patriotic
! people. The ready pen Of others hat
, told more than . thousand times the match.
! less story: the artists had, . hundfes
Q times, placed upon canvas the soul-surrin,
a scenes In which he Was the central figure; thu
o sculptor had cut its every phase in endurin
r marble; yet kind Providence merctfully spare
, him few months longer, that he who saw
: and directed il should sum up the great wor
+ | wrought by the Grand Army Of the Republi
l. under his magic guidance he WAS not An oil
+ | man when he died. but after all. what CON
I plete life was his. Mightier events and mighsie
& achievements were never crowded into singh
r life before, and he lived 70 place them in enduz
h inc form N he Rad nv the millions living An