The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-04-27

| u'ho passes around IL VIII assemble with
gratitude and reverence and yoneration.
men Of all climes, races and nationalities.
New York holds In It's keeping the
precious dust of tho silent soldiers burt
his achievements, what he aud his brave
comrades wrought for mankind are in
the keeping of seventy millions OF Amer
lean citizens who will guard tho sacred
heritage for over and for every more.
The Grafton Of General Horace Porter
followed the eloquent but brief discourse
The Grafton.
Ii Is all like dream, said General
Horace Porter i'm opening his oration.
One can scarcely realize tho lapse OF time
| ana the memorable events which have oc-
>currcd since our hero president was first
| proclaimed ono OF the great of earth The
| dial hands uEon the celestial clock record
| the hight OF more than generation since
the leglons OF Americas manhood poured
down from the hilitops surged up from
the valleys, knott upon their native soil
To swear eternal allegiance to tho Union,
| anu went forth to seal the oath with their
| blood In marching under the victorious
| banners of Ulysses S Grant Today
| countless numbers of his contemporaries,
thor children and their children : children
gather about his tomb 10 give permanent
sepulturo To his ashes and 20 recall the
record OF his imperishable deeds.
Ulysses >. Grant ho continued spran0
from the loins OF the American people
ana derived his patent Of nobility direct
from God He possessed an abiding conf
dence In the honesty aud intelligence of
his fellow countrymen and always retained
MS deep held upon their affections. Even
when clothed with the robes Of the master
he forgot not that no was still the servant
of the people. In every great crisis he was
content TO leave the efforts of his country
men and the results 10 God
Then tho orator proceeded 20 pass i'm
panoramic view the martial deeds of the
great commander and TO show that az
statesman he had achieved victories Of
peace no less glorious and bcnefcent than
those won by him on the field Of battle
His career as "a soldier, commander
president and private citizor was synpa.
thetically and exhaustiyely treated
ana In words that swayed the vast null
titude that listened To them.
Concluding his grafton, General Porter
said; In defining the qualities of public
men, ii has been said that the politician
locks forward 20 his next election, tho
statesman looks forward To his next gen.
craticn. Measured by this definition.
Grant manifested the highest order of
statcsmanship. He was naturally Of a
hopeful disposition and cheerful mind,
and entered heartily into social gaietics.
ms heart strings were attunod To strains
ol sadness. He underwent physical hard
ships and mental torturs which would J
have crushed IA character less heroic Like |
other conspicuous leaders 1t was his fate |
To suffer tho bitter experience Of detrnc. !
tlon, misrepresentation and betrayal 1t |
may be said OF him. as was said of n |
predecessor: There were times when !
10 men applied Tor the same Office and |
niter he had reached the selection he |
found that he had made 10 enemies and |
one migrate He was assailcd more
bitterly than anyone who ever sat in the
chair of state, save Washington Envy
and malice lnadc him mt times the target
Tor their poisoned shafts, but their frau-
incnts fell nc his feet, as shattered as the
regulations of those who aimed them,
ana even the wrath OF his enemies may
now be counted In his praise.
General Grant was man who seemed
To be created especially 10 meet great
IL was the very magnitude
Of the task which called forth the powers
that manifested &C. Whether leading an
attack in Mexico, debating the terms of
To countless thousands in the
war of the rebellion suddenly assuming
Snst responsibility In great crises, beth i'm
feace ara IN war, writing state PAPERS
rs Ir sident, which were tO have lasting
burning upon the policy OF the govern.
ncnt travelling through all the lands and
"a |
II Kings, who rose and stood uncovered i'm
MS presonce-he was always equal tu the
occasion and acquitted himself with the
success thar challenges the admiration of
ho world. In trivial matters he was an
'rdinary man. In momcntous affairs, he
owercd as a giant As Johnson said Of
Milton: "He could hew colossus from |
he rccks, he could not carve faces on
hoiry stones. y
Even his vplor on the field of carnage !
vas not superior 10 the heroisin he dis
lnyct when I'm his fatal ilnoss he con-
runted the only enemy TO whom he ever
His ola will power reassertcd
tsclf in his determination To complete his
lemoirS. During whole month of |
hysical torture he, with one hand held
cath at arms length while with the
ther ho penncd the most brilliant chapter
u American history.
IL was twelve years since Inc left the
wing here 20 Join the other living. COM
lonly called the dead, and the laurel on
ls brow was intertSincd with the cyyrus
Ills last words, uttered at the close of his I
& g1nizing illness were eminently charac
iristic OF his patience and consideration ,
)r others: Il bore no one will be dis.
fessed on my account Now that N ore |
tan decade has passed since ho stood
iron9 us, we can form better estimate !
his character than when he was close I
y. Time has shed clearer light upon
Is acts. lie has reached higher
ltitude; distance has brought him into !
he proper focus and the picture upon
'hich we now look appears in its true
roportions We see his traits moulded Z
lto perfect symmetry ana blended into I
,ajestic harmony. "A tree can best be
leasured when ii is down" 7
He reached the highest pinnacle Of !
unan distinction. Men have dwclt !
pom his achievements till they know
lem all 10y heart. The record of his
eods fisc Co the sublimity Of an epoch. T
he story of his life Is worthy the con e
rmplation of ages. He needs no eulogists:
Is services attest his greatness; nc did O
Is duty and trusted TO history for his !,
iced of praise The more history dis
lsses him the moro brilliant becomes
~ lustre of his name. He was natural
ader; he was born to command He
as one OF the men who marked the \
ours while Others only sound them " v
q one can rob him Of single laurel no {
10 can lessen the measure Of his rc- 6
Dwn. Ito honored the age I'm which we \
W., and future generations will be q
.umiuatpl by thp briphtness of his | "A