Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-05-07

also the armies of Sheridan, Sherman.
Meade and Thomas.
BY series of magnificent strategic
movements the war was brought to an
end, with every southern soldier priS-
oner OF war. Grants nagnanimity at
Appomatox has always made the south.
ern people think kindly of him. Twenty
four hours after Lees surrender Grant
left for Washington, where he at once
began the work of disbanding the army.
The country was now at peace, the
union was saved and Grant was the
idol of the nation. Ali this had been
done in four years. In April, 1861, Grant
was not known by the congressman
from his district, who also lived in the
little city of Galena. In April, 1865, his
name was household word throughout
the United States, while his military
genius had been commented upon in all
the army circles of Europe. Never was
rise so rapid; never was there a general
who could point to such a succession of
signal victories. He accomplished alb
that he undertook to do and that right
speedily. In the troublous times that
followed Johnson's accession, the cool
head and cooler advice of Grant did
much to assuage bitterness in the long
ard acrimonious contest between the
president and congress.
Grant was the logical candidate OF
the republican party for president in
1868. No other name was mentioned
He was elected, and reelected in 1872
He was the subject of much adverse crit
icism from his own party as well az
the opposition because of certain meas
ha nd Of mi
men by whom he was surrounded. Some
of these men were proved to be corrupt,
and this added to the scandal. Tha
fact is that Grant had no knowledge Of
statecraft and he had very little ac-
quaintanoe with public men. He had
to rely largely upon others in his APP
pointments to Office, and it is but nat
ural that many of his own selections
were made from those who had been
soldiers during the war. Grant believed
in his friends and trusted them. Guile
less and honorable himself, he could
not believe it possible that those he
esteemed and had taken into his conf.
dence could be other than honest and
trustworthy. 1t was the hardest thing
in the world to convince him to the con-
trary. Herein was the principal cause
VI Iifc SOSSIp tudG lAC
years of his administration.
If he lost public favor he regained it
swiftly and surely when it was learned
that he was going abroad. All over the
land the public testified their gratitude
and affection. The real greatness o.
the man was brought out in strong re-
lief during his two years absence. The
afOretime hauler of wood and tanners
clerk became the companion and friend
of the princes and rulers of the earth.
They We'd with one another in honoring
the hero. This homage he accepted with
calm dignity, nor in a single instance
did he fail of proving himself the peer
Of those with whom he was thus asso-
ciated.
Returning home in 1879, he suffered
his name to be used as q candidate for
president. This revived all the acri.
monies that marked his last admins
tration, and his political popularity
was decidedly on the wane. Defeated in
the convention, he settled in New York
city, where, two years later, he entered
the banking business on Wall street
a collapse came, two of his partners
were sent to the penitentiary and Gran:
was left without a dollar. His asso-
ciates had swindled him as they had
robbed everybody else Grant had nc
knowledge of business, could not grasr
its details, and, in fact, was as a5chilJ
III all matters relating to money.
The lost popularity returned with in
creased potency when it was learned
that the great chicftain was dying of an
incurable malady. This feeling of af.
fectionate regard was strengthened
when it was learned that he was fight.
ing off death in order to complete his
memoirs, which he hoped would save
his widow from want Letters and |
kilograms poured in on him from all |
parts of the land. They cheered his
dying hour. He felt that now indeed |
had the north and the south come to- |
gether in fraternal union.
~ man of strong common sense i'm |
ordinary affairs, an excellent Judge Of |
men, military genius of the highest |
order, Grant frittered away his life |
until the time of his opportunity Then
he arose suddenly and majestically. He |
was invincible, persistent, magnani
nous, kindhearted and loyal. From
obscurity he became a ruler of men
and companion of the greatest of earth
In his uniqueness he stands out proni.
nent and clear. His like, take him all
l<,F ole