The San Francisco call., 1896-03-11

although far advanced toward the mid
night of life, the same spirit still lives in
him that inspired his writings while editor
of the American Flag many years ago.
The fire of the veteran warrior and jour
nalist can be seen in every line, and those
familiar with his work pronounce 1t the
second best among his many contributions
to patriotic literature.
Regarding the opportunity to honor
Grant in the near future Mr.. Macdonald
writes:
On the 27th of April, 1892, when the body
OF General Grant was about TO be committed
to the tomb on the Hudson, great oppor-
tunity for the performance of q sublime Ma
tional drama seemed to have been forever lost.
The entombment of the great warrior ought to
have occurred in the evening, at the time
when the flag OF his country was descending
Tor nights repose, and when the reverbera-
uons OF the sunset gun were announcing to all
the inhabitants of hill and plain that another
day OF universal freedom and National
glory had been fulfilled. Then the unparal-
leled incident would have been eioquently
referred to by American orators hundred
years thereafter, and the most inspired genius
OF the future would have exhausted its art and
invention in giving imaginary form and beauty
TO sceneof National gratitude, love and de-
yofion, such as had never before awakened the
emotions of patriotic mankind. American
poets would have sung over it; beautiful
women OF the distant time would have wept at
only continuous woods and voiceless desert,
young children, in the prosperous abodes OF
labor, would have conned it in their school
books and clapped their hands over the won
derful story OF their countrys Leonidas.
General Grants career is without parallel
in ancient or modern times. In civil occupa-
tions he had been failure. He came out of
the West looking like plowman and had great
difficulty in obtaining a footing among the
dress parade military men OF that time. He
took command OF the army after three prede
ah q or ard Qt tfar nnQ 0d d1fn nc
The North was discontented and the South
confident OF victory, and it does not appear
that at first he had the entire confidence of a
half-frantic administration. 1t was not gener-
ally believed that the silent, undemonstra-
tive man from the prairies could
bling order out OF military chaos,
be aOle to successfully cope with the splendid
Confederate commander, General Lee But,
having been aroused from his gloomy torpor
by the electrical touch of a pinion OF the out
flying War Spirit, and realizing that conquest
involved the slaughter OF men, and sometimes
the decimation OF armies, he set his face with
an iron front and bore down on the rebel capi-
tai with the steadiness and momentum OF
Arctic iceberg.
Since the time of Alexander of Macedon no
military commander has ever sustained the
popular honors that have attended General
Grant, not only in his own country, but all
around the circumference of the globe 1t was
all one whether he travelled without ostenta-
ton. through empires or Kingdoms, common
wealths republics, or in half-bar rbarian
him gS q demi-gOd.
And there is still time and viii be occasion
for the grandest obsequies the world ever saw
AT his death General Grants body was laid in
temporary tomb where 1t still remains, and
the bivouac of the illustrious dead is continu-
ally guarded by Union soldier-sentinel.
There has been popular subscription in sums
ranging from ! cent to $4,000; and to the ex-
tent OF 100000, to raise a becoming monu-
ment over the greatest warrior of the nine
teenth century, and on the 9th day of April,
1S92, the then President of the United States
laid it's foundation in the presence of an in
Vulnerable throng.
The majestic pillar is still being carried up-
ward by the votive hands of American labor,
and when it shall have been finished the re-
mains OF General Grant will lie forever laid"
beneath the lofty dome. Then there will be
time tor the la;t act in the drama of the great
soldiers history, the Passion plav of American
patriotism. Then let the dreamless sleeper be
called forth by one of the tremendous voices
that shook the Wilderness when the evening
sun is taking parting glance at the dropping
standard-sheet of his heroic devotion. Let
the seemingly dead rise again at the tremen-
dous reveille that had so often animated his
great soul for victorious battle.
Some of Us who. in the days of battle and
war, humbly shared with General Grant an
earnest wish for the restoration of our conn
try's unity, will lament that we had not laid
up granite fragment in that perpetual monu-
ment OF a nations gratitude and love, and can
only hope that when it shall have been thiekly
clad with the MOSES of time, the exultant sign
of our Unions salvation may be still streaming
out from its summit, and may still continue to
glitter and flash in the sunlight OF q thousand
other successive years.
CALVIN B. MACDONALD,
AL Fourth street, Oakland.
In Memory Of Rickard.
BERKELEY, CAL, March 1O-The
Board of Town Trustees at their meeting
last night paid high tribute of respect to
the late Reuben Rickard who was twice
member of the town board once its presi-
dent, and twice member of the Board of
Free holders. Eulogistic resolutions were
passed.
The Father Killed.
HAYWARDS, CAL, March 10-Mrs. j.
r. Thomas. who resides on Castro street
with her three daugh hters and tive sons,