New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-28
GENERAL PORTER'S GRAFTON
HIS TRIBUTE TO GRANT AT THE DEDlCA'
TON OF THE TOMB YESTERDAY.
AN ESTIMATE OF THE GREAT GENERALS CHAN
AcTER AND SERVICES TO HIS COUNTRY BY
ONE OF HIS FRIENDS AND CON-
PANIONs GRANT AS
SOLDIER AND AS
STATESMAN.

STATESMAN.
II is all like dream. One can scarcely rea~'
the lapse Of time and the memorable events winch
have occurred since our hero President was n,'.
proclaimed one of the great OF earth Inc u'
hands upon the celestial clock record the night vi
more than generation since the legions Oh Aiiier-
ica's manhood poured down from the hiiitops'
sursed up from the valleys, knelt upon their native
soil to swear eternal allegiance TO the OhoN' anu
went forth 10 seal the oath with their booo III
marching under the victorious banners OF Ulysses
6 Grant To-day countless numbers Of his contem-
poraries their children and their chidrens chill
dren gather about his tomb to give permaneh.
seputure to his ashes and TO recall the record OF
his imperishable deeds
II is peculiarly fitting that this memorial should
be dedicated in the presence of the distinguished
soldier who marched in the victorious columns OF
his ilustrous chief. and who now so worthiy oc-
cupies the chair of state in which he sat there Is
source Of extreme qualification and prolound
significance In the fact that there are IN ,b
here not only the soldiers who fought under the
renowned defender OF the Union cause , put tn ,
leaders of armies who fought against him. an
uniting in tcstifying to the esteem and respect
which he commanded from friend and Zoe alike
Is not mnmiXed with sadness for the occasion
brings wildly TO mind the fatal day on when ms
generous heart ceased to beat and recalls the srief
which fell upon the American people with sense or
pain which WAS akin TO the sorrow OF personal
tSar@: not ii' tine to chant requiems or display
the sable drapcres of public mourning re VINO VINO
memory; he is iyins reality He has been
signed to the chamber of death, but not 70 the
realms of forgetfuncss. our grief IS Gained by
the recollection of the blessings his life conferred
and the fame he has left to the custody OF ms ie.
low-Citizcns We Consecrate this Gay 10 q TRIBUTE
10 the memory of departed worth. The story OF MS
life is the history Of the most eventiul epoch IN
this It would seem more hitting to stand silent by
the ana r e5 hs t3 yS %itss to his
virtues should pay the grateful tribute OF tneir
brief al!usion to the achievements of his marvel
Ulysses $. Grant sprans from the loins Of the
American people and derived his patent of nobility
direct from God. He possessed an abiding conf
dence in the honesty and intelligence Of his fellow.
countrymen. and always retained his deep hold
upon their affections Even when clothed with the
robes of the master. he forgot not that he was
crisis he content leave the efforts to his
countrymen and the results to God.
A COMMANDER OF MEN
As a commander of men in the field, he mani
tested the highest characteristics Of the soldier.
evinced in every battle in which he was engaged
Palo Alto to Appomattox. He bold In
conception, fixed in purpose and vigorous In execu-
ton. He never allowed himself to be thrown on
the defensive, but always aimed to take the niti-
auve in battle He made armies and not cities the
which would nave deferred another seemed only to
inspire him with greater confidence, and his SOL
ton. His motto was. When in doubt move to the
front" His sword always pointed the way to an
He once Wroe in T' letter 10 his father Il never
expect to have an army whipped unless 1t Is badly
steal Constitution which enabled him to endure
srT form of n e cd nd s ma to
ner purity, of character and absolute loyalty in
and gained him the devotion OF the humblest OF
his subordinates. He exhibited a rapidly OF
TO move with a promptness rarely ever equalled,
and which never. failed, to astonish and often to
4 study OF his martial deeds inspires US
with the grandeur of events and the ma