Omaha daily bee., 1897-04-27

Ulysses s. Grant was born This ami
versary of his birthday win be made
memorable by the dedication in New
York of the Grant monument for the
construction Of which $4,000 Of his fell
low.c countrymcn contributed SGoDOOO.
This memorial is worthy of the great
soldier and its dedication is an event
of national interest.
The memory of General Grant is cher
ished by the American people, not only
of the north but of the south as well.
The southern people do not forget his
magnauimity in the hour of victory.
Referring to this southern paper says;
"Thi1 is the supreme felicity of Grants
famc--he so bore himself in his hour of
triumph and aftcrward that, being dead,
he still speaks from his resting place in
behalf of that full reconciliation of his
countrymen and that complete forget
fulness of their past differences which,
to use his own last words to General
Buclincr. will insure us "A perpetual
peace at home and n national strength
that will secure us against any foreign
complication This reflects the gen
eral sentiment among the people of the
south respecting the conqueror of the
rebellion and it will be attestcd today
by the participation in the great parade
in New York of thousands of men who
wore the gray. This will be spectacle
without any parallel in the history OF
nations-the reunion at the tomb of the
commander of victorious armies i'll Il
civil conflict of the men who fought with
him and against him. 1t will impress
sively illustrate the reconciliation of the
American people and the object lesson
will strengthen us in the good opinion of
the world.
AS to General Grants pre-eminence
as Il soldier there is no controversy.
There were great military commanders
on both sides in the war of the rebellion,
but a careful and unpreiudiced study Of
that conflict must result in giving to
Grant the foremost place among them.
This has been recognized by the mill
tary men of Europe whose Judgment is
worthy of consideration and it in nowiSe
diSparagcs the other illustlious COM
mandcrs on the union side or the dis
tinguished soldiers who commanded the
confederate forces. These made an en-
during place in history and their fame
will not be impaired by giving Grant
the position of pre-eminence for military
genius.
But while General Grants fame rests
chiefly upon his military achievements
his record in civil life is not to be
ignored when considering his claims to
the affcctonate remembrance OF MS
countrymen That was marked by an
earnest effort to heal the wounds OF
war and to rcpreSS the spirit OF sec
tioHaliSm. 1t was also characterized
by patriotic zeal for the promotion
Of American interests. General Grant
was an American in the best and broad
est sense Of the term. with an abounding
faith in the great destiny of his coun-
try. He came to the presidency when
the political conditions were much dis
turbed and the work of reconstruction
had to be done. He met the demands
upon him wisely and to the satisfaction
Of the best Judgment of the country.
General Grant always STOOD 1fnly Ior
the maintenance of the public credit as
he did for an honest administration of
the public service. When there were
disclosures of corruption, involving
some of his closest friends, the declara
tion OF General Grant, Let no guilty
man escape" attcsted his desire to drive
all dishonest men out of the public
service.
Unquestionably General Grant made
mistakes, the most serious one. as affect
ing his fame, being his attempt to Sc
euro the presidential nomination for a
third term, but on the whole his career
was one of which his countrymen can
be proud and which. constitutes an
illustrious chapter in American history.