The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-05-05
GEN.P0RTER' SSPEECH
His ELlogy of Grant a Master
full Grafton.
TRULY A WONDERFUL CHARACTER.
The Now Dead Hero Saw the Future
and Pointed II Out In Prophetic
Manner-His Generosity to the Nations
Enemies at the Close of the War.

"Ulyses ;. Grant sprans from the
loins of the American peoi le and de-
rived 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 affec-
tiOns. Even when closed with the
robes of the master he forgot not that
he was still the servant of the people.
In every great crisis he was content to
leave the efforts 10 his countrymen and
the results 20 God.
"As commander of men in the field
he manifested the highest characters
tics of a soldier. as evinced in every
battle in which he was engaged from
Palo Alto to Appomattox- He was bod
in conception, fixed in purpose and Wig
Orous in execution. He never allowed
himself to be thrown on the defensive.
but always aimed to take the initiative
in battle. He made armies, not cities,
the objective points of his campaigns.
Obstacles which would have deferred
another seemed only TO inspire him
with greater confidence and his soldiers
soon learned to reflect much of his de-
termination. his motto was, when in
doubt move 10 the front His sword
always pointed the way TO an advance !;
its hilt was never presented TO an
enemy. He once wrote in letter TO
his father, Il never expect to have an
army whipped, unless il is badly
whipped AMI can't help it, He en-
joyei the physical constitution which
enabled him to endure every form of
fatigue and priEation incident to mill
tary service in the fed His unassum-
ing manner, purity of character and
al solute loyalty inspired loyalty in
others, confidence in his methods and
gained him the devotion of the hum
blest of his subordinates. He exhibited
a rapidity Of thought and action on the
field which enabled him TO move with
a promptness rarely ever eJualed, and
which never failed 10 astonish and
often to battle the efforts of les vig-
orous opponent.
"a story of his martial deeds in
spires Us with the grandeur of events
and the majesty of achievement. He
did not fight for glory. but for national
existence and the equality and right
of men. His sole ambition was his
country's prosp arity. his victories
failed TO elate him. In the dispatches
which reported his triumphs there was
no word of arrogance. no exaggera'iOn,
no aim at dramatic effect. With all his
self-relIance he was never betrayed into
immOdesty OF expression. He never un-
derrated himself in battle. he never
overrafed himself IN a report he could
not only command armies, he could
command himself. Inexorable as he
was in battle, war never hardened his
heart or weakened the strength of his
natural affections. tie retained n singu-
lar sensitive nature, rare tenderness
of feeling; shranK from the sight of
blood and was painfully alive 10 every
form of human suffering.
"While his career as a soldier echpsed
by its brilliantly his achievements as a
statesman. yet when we sum up the
events of the eight years dur ng whici
he was president of the replbhc. their
magnitude and Importance chall nge
comp lrison with those of any otler
chief magistrate since the Inauguration
Of the government. When he took the
helm of state the country was in a con-
ditlon of fomant and disor rgaaizatlon,
which Is always consequent u9On a
long continued civil war. The fifteenth
amendment TO the constitution had not
yet been ratified by the states. In the
south secret societies and armed bands
of lawless men were creating terror and
defeating the ends of justice. The
prosperity of the country was still lag
ging. the public debt was oppressive
and infiationists and repudiatOrs were
weakening the national credit. Our
merchant marine had dwindled to a
mere shadow of its former self, politi-
cal rancor had envenomed whole Sec
tions of the country, In iian wars were
brewing, unsettled disputes with for
eign powers threatened the n stioual
pea and the new chief magistrate
was confronted with problems so for
miCable that they were enough to ap-
pal the stoutest heart and di lurage
the most hopeful mind. In the letter
of acceptance of his nomination for the
presidency he uttered one of the sub
lImest ntences ever penned by states
mems hands: Let us have p ace OF
all the many apiorisms which eman-
at d from him this has been deem ri
the most fitting TO engrave indie lbiy
over the portals of his tomb Ii is tYpi-
cal of his nature, emblematic OF the
eternal peace enjoyed by ms soul. He
began his administration vigorously
an firmly, but he declared that he
would have no pol cy of his own to en-
force against the will of the people
'In his first inaugural address he
urged measures TO strengthen the pub
lie credit aud give to the world an un-
quest ionable pledge of financial hon
esty. His early experience among the
Indians while he was serving on the
frontier had eminently fitted him for
inaugurating practical methods fOr
improving their condition. He took
mp honestly the cork of civilizing and
Christianizing them, placing them on
reservations, re treating them as wards of
the nation. and fitting them for uiti-
mate citizenship. and thus avoided
wars and saved vast sums of money.
Under his administration the fifteenth
amendment to the constitution was
ratified, and all the states were read
mitted to the Union. In 1870 he rec
ommended the refunding of the ma
fIonal debt. and an act was PASSED
soon after providing for bonds at 4 PEE
cent, a much reduced rae OF interest
and they were successfully negotiated
For the first time in our history he
brought abort genuine reform in our
civil service and in the face of the
Iost persistent opposition organized
the first civil service board. By bring
ing to swift justice the chief offenders.
he succe 'ded in suppressing the armed
bands that were spreading terror
throughout a part of the sta es. and
compelled absolute obedience to the ma
tional authority. In the third year OF
his administration amnesty was de-
clared ard nearly every person in the
south was again clothed with all his
civil rights. The soldier had become
the pacificator, the destroyer had be-
come the restorer In his foreign policy
he manifested his sense of justice when
he proclaimed. Il would deal with ma
tions as equitable law requires indi-
viduals to deal with each other
would respect the rights or all nat ons.
demanding equal respect for or own
He evinced his firmness when by IN
tiring effort he secured firm foreign
powers ample apologies and reparation
which had long been Withheld l. He
brought about a settlement OF the Ala
bama claims and the San Juan bolnd-
ary question. proclaimed thereby his
dislike for war, inauguratel the p:in-
ciple OF peaceful arbitration in national
disputes and taught the world its
grandest lesson in modern diplomacy.
When the craze for the imitation OF our
national currency had unsettled the