The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-02-14
EULOGN ON GRANT.
BY Member of CLASS 3. !

There is nothing in history that resembles the {
close of the war between the states. Millions OF
men we're arrayed against each other, thousands .
nerished and countless treasure was expended;
vet in moment this struggle ceased ana peace
was proclaimed: and no such peace ever followed
any war.
The southern army was at the entire mercy OF
the northern. still the sound of the last gun had
hardly died ON the ear when peace ana GOOD
will were reestablished. and the victor and the
vanauished took up the work OF repairing tue
damage that had been done. Not only was Tic
union of the states restored but the union OF the
people was re-establiShed as if by magic' and 10
nv mind. the bringing about of this happy state
of affairs was due more to the efforts OF that
modern hero Gen. U. S. Grant, than to any
other man.
In calling YOUR attention to the facts that
warrant my assertion. wish to call your atten-
ton to a part of the conversation held between
Grant and Lee at the iatter's surrender at APP
| pomatOx You are all aware that Grant opened
| the correspondence which led to the meeting be-
tween himself and Lee, at the house OF Mclean.
Lee wished to give the subject OF the surrender
a wide scope and to- also insert some political
views to which Gen. Grant repned. Il nave ho
authority to deal with political subjects but it is
ding another drop of American blood You
will p,ease rsote: not northern blood not south
ern blood. but American blood To his grand
and commemorative mind, all men then arrayed
against each other on the field OF battle. were
Americans and American blood was sacred III
the ewes of both these great generals, and lt
flows i'm the veins of all of AS and NSh0uld ne
ever ready to be poured out without stint III de-
} Tense of our flag
Conld ANYTHING be more noble fE the line OF
Thought more magnanimc'ts- or more patrloeic
? than were those words OF Gen. Grant on TINS
momentous occasion. The bleeding ana nan
? starved army of Gen. Lee who for four long
wears had bafied every effort of the federal hosts
l to reach the confederate capitol who had twice
. horne the flag of the confederacy beyond the Pc
tomac had at its head that great soldier whose
4 name was one to inspire fear and awe. put Wn<
had been forced to retreat from Richmond ant
! Petersburg and who Was finally brought to bay
@ at Appomatox on the ninth day OF May 1863
There was no doubt. that if driven to despera
d tien by the terms of the surrender. they Woult
y have resisted and cut their way through o
d persisted in the attempt. Feace wouid nav
z been proclaimed. but it would have been TIN
= peace of Poland. the peace of Ireland. IL Gran
l. had been governed by selfish motives. or de
y fruits of victory like Napoleon. or aspired
1t those which Washington put away from him
e what triumph lay before him. What ROma
Is triumph would have approached it. had he lie
n Gen. Lee and his army through Pennsylvanl
a. Avenue in chains But he could no more
tempted to put aside the interests of his countr
IS for any selfish aim. than could Washington nm
X self when tempted at Annapolis
u It is a credit to America that she had men VIII
or were equal to the greatest strain that could b
n put upon their courage and patriotism, cOmpa
inc favorably with Cromwell, Napoleon. Welllns
he ton or other European commanders. upon I'll
y; terms of that surrender, hinged the destiny
o. American Institutions had the rights OF mllltaI
Id success which was practical in Europe Deeh II
81 sisted upon the Americans OF the SCUM Woul
o. have been Inundated and in their hearts woul
ne have been sown the seed of an eternal enmlt
e. which would have been transmitted from fatllt
1t to son to all time There would have been
ly United States but not a united people; the sam
lg relations now existing between England an
or Ireland would exist here and some nOrther
al Gladstone would arise to demand the rights
pit the dOwntrodden people of the south.
IN Would we exchange the present happy IT
I'D lations which exist between us ana OF
as southern brother for those existing betwee
If England and Ireland? Would we wish unlo
tn of states without union OF people? Ed
to phatcally, no! Grant triumphed without e.
We ultation and with the respect of his enem
IN No knight of romance could be more magnan
nd MONS more generous to fallen foe, No state
he man ever decided question more wisely MOI
. in the interest of his country and humanity. an
for all time one of the grandest names enT0aie
an on the page of history. Will DC THAT VI VITAL
ID the hero of the App0matOx.