The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1893-05-12
GRANTS GREATNESS.
His Career as Citizen. Soldier and
Statesman
An Eloquent Tribute by Gov. Mckinley
In Memory of the Famous Sol
dIer-A Great Day In
Galena-


turned out on the aTth of April to do
honor TO the memory of Ulysses s.
Grant on the seventy-first anniversary
of the birth of the great soldier and
statesman. The ceremonies were
elaborate and impressive and were par
ticipated in by some of the foremost
men of the state. Gov. Mckinley. of
Ohio, was present, and made the lead
ing grafton, in which he paid glowing
tribute to the memory of the grand old
commander of the union forces. The
following is the gist of speech:
The distinguished citizen whose life we
commemorate. and the anniversary of whose
birth we pause 10 celebrate to-day, was born at
Point Pleasant in my own native state, on the
e7th day OF April 1872 His early life was an
uneventful one. He did not differ from the
boys OF his time, and gave no more promise
than a multitude OF the youth Of his own age
and station. either OF the past or the present
He spraug from plKn but industrious parents,
and with faith and courage, with viii and
mind for work, he confronted the problem OF
life At the age OF seventeen he was sent from
one Of the Ohio districts as a cadet 10 the West
Point military academy. His predecessor had
failed TO pass the necessary examination and
the vacancy was filed by young Grant AT the
academy he was marked a. q painstaking, OBJ
serving. plodding, persistent pupil He neither
graduated at the head nor the foot of his class,
but stood twenty-second in class OF thirty
nine His rank at graduation placed him in the
infantry arm OF the service, ana in Isi3 he was
commissioned and brevetted second lieutenant
in the Fourth United States regulars No
qualities OF exceptional nature showed them
selves up 70 this point in the character OF the
young officer. His first actual experience in
war was in Mexico Here he distinguished
himself and was twice mentioned In general or
ders for his conspicuous gallautry. He was
twice brevetted by the president OF the United
States for heroic conduct at the battles Of
Monterey Palo Alto and Resaca, Chapultepcc
and Moiino Del Rey After the war with Mex
leo he was stationed with his regiment the
northern frontier and subsequently, on the Pa
cihc coast in Oregon and California, IN which
latter stations he saw much trying service with
the Indians. On the 3lst day OF July, 1854 he
resigned hts commission In the army, after
eleven years service therein-a service credit
able to him in every particular, but in 20 sense
so marked as TO distinguish him from a score
OF others OF equal rank and opportunity.
AS q private citizen he was little known
either at 81. Louis No, where nc first took up
his residence, or here, 1t GGlena, where he sub
seQuenty located his home. In business he did
not get on well His business undertakings in
that time he would have been called a very I'M
successful man His fatherin-law had given
him q few acres OF land near the city Of St
Louis, and there he constructed log house for
the family residence As indicating his III
luck and hard lines at that period he sigulfi
cantly ard with that unaffected frankness al
ways 80 conspicuous called his humble resi-
deuoa Hard Scrabble Joining hts father IN
this city in the leather business he was more
fortunate. and when the war came on he was
fairly cOmf0rtable-no nothing more. In his years
OF poverty he demonstrated one high quality,
that q industry; he was not afraid Of hard
work He made full hand In Telling timber
and hauling IL to market lie laborei with his
hands in his fathers tauncry- These accom-
plishmentS were not taught al West Point. but
his strong and sturdy nature so marked in
later years did not shrink from the toughest
and most mental labor TO provide for and main
tain his family.
He was thirty-nire years old when Sumter
fell and within ten days he was in the city OF
Springfield, Ill. with a company % his fellow
townsmen. and yours, Offering their services
for immediate duty AZ the front Although
friendly toward the south. as he had always
been, his Old army associates and closest
friends being chiefly from that section, he was
not FOR an instant irresolUte or in doubt as TO
the pathway Of duty, but swift 10 tender his
skill, his experience, and, IL required, his life
for the cause OF the union On the 18Th Of
April, 1851. when other men were hesitating
and wayeriag. he wrote TO . friend; Now is
the time Tor men 70 prove their love Of country:
now all party distinctions should be lost sight
o. and every true patriot be for maintaining
the integrity OF the glorious stars and stripes
the union and the constitution No impartial
man, writes he, can conceal from himself The
fact that in these troubles the southerners have
been the aggressors, and the administration
has stood purely on the defensive, more on the
defensive than she would dare have done but
Tor her consciousness OF strength and the
certainty OF right prevailing in. the end. >
These were noble. patriotic words from the
young captain, uttered AZ the right time, with
out apology or eqUiyocation, and disclose the
sturdy elements OF his character which dis
tinguished his illustrious career. Then his
eyes penetrated the future. and in the same let
ter he declares that in all this can but see
the doom OF slavery
Ibis broad vision saw with clearness what
few Others were given 10 see or believe at that
early day, and he lived 10 witness his prophecy
OF 1861 ripen into glorious fulfllment, and 10
him more than 10 any other man living or dead,
citizen or soldier, was Abraham Lincoln in
debted for the power 10 enforce his great proc
lamation OF emancipation He seemed also TO
comprehend the power and determined spirit
of the north FOR on the same day he said:
The government can call into the field not only
- coo troops but ten or twenty times 55 0oO IL il
should be necessary, and find the means Of
maintaining them, too He realized the mighty
resources and strength OF his country. Who at
that early period would have thought that in
less than three years the United States would
have mustered for duty his extreme estimate
OF twenty times 5000 soldiers-l.5OOO0o men
battling for the union, and that he whom the
distinguished Washburre did not know would
be their supreme commander in the field The
Lee I 10. he
soldier had been growing IN the years OF his Sc
clusion and poverty. aud that the opening guns
OF the war found him thoroughly equipped in
mind and soul for the great conflict in which he
was later TO be the central figure Once in the
city OF Springfield. his military knowledge was
called into immediate requisition, and until
June, 1861. he assisted the governor in the mus
Ter and organization of the fast arriving troops.
when he was commissioned colonel OF the
Twenty first Illinois infantry.
From this loyal prairie state he marched
with his regiment 10 the turbulent state Of Mis-
souri,, where outbreaks were rife and open war
was threatened, joining the forces Under Gen
Fremont On August 3 following he received
a commission as brigadier general Of vOiun-
teers, which was his FIRST recognition from the
president Of the United States He was sue
cessful almost from the beginning OF his mill
tarT command His earlier, like his later,
bI9vs- were tellingly disastrous 10 the enemy.
First at Paducah. then fighting with Polk and
Pillow a. Belmont, again al Fort Henry, which
lie captured. Then lie determined 10 destroy
Fort DoneIson, and with rare coolness and
deliberation he settled himself down 10 the
task, which be successfully accomplished on
the Ie;h day Of February, 1872 After two
days severe battle 1000 prisoners and their
belongings fell into his hands, and the victory
was sweeping and complete He was imme-
diately commissioned . major general Of volun-
teers n recognition Of HIS brilliant triumph
and al once secured the confidence Of The presi
dent, the trusting faith OF the loyal
north. while the men al the front
turned their eyes hopefully to their
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