The Jamesburg record., 1897-05-01

| ouiIu arches OF triumph on their passaye
To glory and immortality
AT the outbreak of the war thera ,vas
possibly no soldier who entered the arr,,,
with the rank of captain that did NOT
seem to have as good a chance to rise to
the position Of chief commander as Gen.
eral Grant. Yet every step in his career
was deliberately taken. No honor was
ever conferred upon him by mere good
fortune or through caprice. Individual
merit was the secret Of every promotion
that came to him. whether as a soldier
or as citizen. Yet that which came to
him so naturally was constant surprise
The seven years that followed his retire
ment from the army after 1854 were
years in which his name was entirely
unknown. Only those who read the his.
tory OF the Mexican war knew anything
of him. He lead the life of private
citizen, engaged in daily work that by
no possibility could bring him anv noto.
riety. 1t is to those. who know of no
greatness only as it is associated with the
blood of princes, a wonder that within
the humble breast there may beat a
princely heart. In all great struggles the
deilverer generally comes from a sourca
that was not looked for. When God de
termined to save Israel from its bondage
the man to lead the people was keeping
a flock of sheep in the solitude of the
mountain. When Fort Sumter was
fired on, our hero, was keeping leather
and saddle store in Galena, Ill. Thus
beginning at the bottom round of the
ladder, and with no powerful hand to aid
him in his ascent, with his own right
arm and strength of will and trustin G od
he mounted it until he had gained the
top.
Aud moving Oil from high to higher,
Became on fortunes crowning slope,
The pillar of nations hope,
The centre of worlds desire
Let us glance more particularly at some
of the elements of his character and see
what lessons they suggest to Us. We
have been told that circumstances make
men. But Napoleon said that he made
circumstances" The same may be said
of Grant. True, he had great war on
his hands, and great opportunity was
afforded him but in connection with that
war he made score of circumstances.
1t will not do to depend on circum stances,
to wait like Micawber for something to
turn up bnt every one who 'strives for
the mastery" must become master of the
circumstances. Such mat was Grant.
THE WISDOM OF SILENCE.
Grant has often been spoken of as "the
silent man" He first accomplished some
thing and talked about it afterwards.
But he did not publish his plans or reveal
his purposes to IA single soul Herein is
wisdom. Don't talk too much. Keep
your secrets in your own breast. Don't
give out what you propose to do. DO IT,
and it will publish itself: There is
certain reserve about all noble souls.
Grant was unusually reserved. By some
he was considered stern and severe. Yet
he was open and frank, and even genial
among his friends. But he was man OF
deeds rather than words. 1t is said that
his most important war dispatches could
have been written on a piece OF paper
three inches square. He had little to say
but he spoke at DoDelson, at SHILOH
at Vicksburg and Appomattox in tones
which shook the continen: and thrilled
the world.
His Americanism was pr0ml neht
characteristic. With Washington ana
Lincoln. be ranks, as typical American
If Rome told with pride that her Dicta'
tors came from the ploughtail, America
NAV record the answer of its PRESIDENT
who when asked what would De MS
coat.of arms. answered proudly, "A pair
of shirt sleeves" The answer shower
noble sense of the dignity of LABOR hoo'e
superiority to the vanities OF feuualisui
a strong conviction that men shou'u oe
honored simply as men, not accoiuins W
the accident OF birth.
He was great in war. The s"il' s"eei
of his conquests almost takes one
breath. How firmly he grasped the vast
aggregation of troops, set them auvan'a'
! oeousIv. and hurled them irresist'oly
against his foe. The first brilliant VIC, VIC,
torv AT Belmont, then Forts Henry ana
Donelson. Pittsburg, Shiloh Luha anu
Co,;nth Vicksburg. the battle among
the clouds, the Wilderness opo''Sy , i,"
nia petersburg, Sherman's unparaIle'eu
march to the sea, and then Appoma''oA
Rut we must claim for him al nono'