The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-05-04
Grant.

Inc greatest pageant JnaI over oC-
CURED on American soil was the dodi-
cation of the Grant monumont, on the
banks OF the Hudson, in New York, on
Tuesday last. Probably a million Of
people joined in the grand demonstra-
ton, composed of the military and
naval forces Of the nation and citi-
zens Of tho whole country. On tho
death of Grant, New York was ac-
corded the honor Of caring for his re-
mains, and there they have been until
now, undcr guard, in a temporary rest
ing place, until the completion Of the
tomb and monument where they were
permanently laid on last Tuesday
Foreign nations sent ships Of war,
which lay in the Hudson, under the
magnificent monument, and joined in
the tribute to the lucky dead. Prcsi-
dent Mckinley made a speech and it
was unusually patriotic and sensible,
and ex-Presidept Cleveland was pres
ent as o great citizcn. We noto nc
Southorner of distinction except Gen.
Gordon and q corps Of the Sons Of
Veterans, who reverently Id wreaths
OF flowers on the tomb Of Grant. Our
readers will find the details of oil that
was done elsewhere, and we have no
lengthy comment to mako. There has
grown to be a universal conclusion
that Grant was generous to Lee at APP
pomatox, according liberal terms OF his
surrender. We have mover been able
fn op,,rnoioto tho rrnrnls ,,,,Np ,vhtoh
this verdict has bccn rendered. Lee
was allowed to keep his sword; his
soldiers were allowed to march to their
homes and there was an end to the
matter. Grant could do no more: no
less. Upon any other terms there
would have beer no surrender and the
remnant of Lees band would have sold
their lives on good terms Of two to five
for one. Grant for q time will pass
for q great soldier by the men on his
side OF the great issue: but after
awhile and not O great while, but when
another generation has come Upon the
stage Of thought and action, the YER
dict will be modified. That verdict
must inevitably be that, Grant was not
q great commander, with three times
the men OF Robert e. Lee, ragged,
tattered and tired with ten times his
resources in all material and appli-
ances Of war. Lee held him at bay
during 1864, fighting him at every
turn, his lieutenants a. p. Hill,
Longstreet, Anderson and Hampton
never suffering disaster. Grant may
be apotheosized, monuments may be
reared to pierce the skies, but there
are monuments moro lasting than
brass and the truth Of unbiased and
unprejudiced history will fix who
were the heroes. Grant was not an
unkindly man not a military genius;
not a success considering his esource
and the worn thinned and weather
beaten ranks he had opposed to him.
AS q President bad men made q
military despot Of him, and while he
~tyranized the South we will excuse
him as a weakling under evil infu-
ences. Let the North make q God of
him. King Stork was once crowned.
We rejoice that the South had no
great conspicuity in the great pageant
of last Tuesday.
Every soldier who stood in Lees
thinned lines knows that ordinary mil
itary skill and a half hearted army
could any day have shattered and
broken Lees lines. There is but one
way to make q great soldier Of Grant
and that to make every nan in gray
facing his lines a demigod or an Achil-
les.