Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-05-02

EIGHTEENTH YEAR.

own forces, leading them into one great
battle after another, but he directed
also the armies of Sheridan, Sherman,
Meade and Thomas.
BY a series of magnificent strategis
movements the war was brought to an
end, with every southern soldier pris-
oner of war. Grants magnanimity 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. All 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 a 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 succession of
signal victories. He accomplished all
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
Dluch 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 as
the opposition because of certain meas
ures he favored and because of certain
L L Id
of these men were proved to be corrupt,
and this added to the scandal. The
fact is that Grant had no knowledge OF
statecraft and he had very little ac-
Quaintance with public men. He had
to rely largely upon others in his ap-
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
of the gossip that marked the latter
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
I VI. L. l. -,
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 no
knowledge of business, could not grasp
its details, and, in fact, was as a child
| in all matters relating to money.
| The lost popularity returned with in
creased potency when it was learned
that the great chicftain was dying of IN
| 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 in
ordinary affairs, excellent judge of
men. a 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 promi-
nent and clear. His like, take him all
in all, cannot be found elsewhere.
WILLIAM RossEE CoBBE-
/