The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-05-02
AS SOLDIER AND PATRIOT
GEN, U. s. GRANT DISCUSSED FROM
THAT POINT OF view.

the Inspiration of Such Life in the
Present National Crisis, and Since the
Birthday of the Hero Was So Recent.
This was the theme upon which DR..
Gilbert spoke last night at Trinity
church. 1t had special timeliness, since
the birthday of the hero was so recent,
and in view of the inspiration of such
life in the present national crisis The
church was appropriately decorated
and number of veterans were present
In the course of his remarks he said:
1.-THE age of heroes is not in the past
alone We have refuted the allegation
that a republic could produce no genius
only dead level of uniformity. In
the great struggle for the nations life
two providential men emerged. They
sprang from the old New England
stock, modified by the free and rough
training of the west. They were men
of the people, unpretentious, democrat
ic.
Had Lincoln died sooner or Grant
fallen on the field the result might nave
been different. Grant was schooled In
poverty, raised from failure in obscure
and unimportant pursuits to brilliant
success in positions requiring genius
and bravery He could not boss slaves
or talk up real estate, but he could take
Vicksburg and Richmond. There is no
disputing his military pre-eminence. IL
is INDICATED by his unparalleled sue
cess. At first he had only raw troops
and unframed officers and was ham,
pered by jealous superiors. AfterWard
he accomplished what neither Mellow
ell nor Mcclellan, Hallock nor Pope,
Burnside nor Hooker could do. A mil
lion men moved as one man under his
orders. Lincoln thanked God that at
last he had found a general and gave
him free hand. Yet at first, so great
was the pressing of politicians for COM
mands he almost despaired of a regi-
menti Through him and the martyr
president we have our national unity.
At Lincoln's order Grant hacked away
with his sword the manacles of slavery.
BY his victories he saved the Union
cause when the political foes of the adj
ministration were threatening it's over
throw. Afterward as president he led
in the reduction of the debt the repu-
diation of imitation and the resumption
of specie, the humane policy with the
Indians, the arbitration of information
al disputes, the reform of the civil SER
vice.
He was great because of his simple
manliness and adherence to duty He
cared nothing for 1sshow business" He
~ Ia Ala no Y,riIa
himself on good looks, good clothes, ball
room manners. He had no fuss and
feathers He ignored receptions. He
preferred fighting to spouting. He took
the same hardships as his soldiers
rough fare, rain, mud, exposure. He
was thoroughly modest, never writing
exulting letters or dispatches. He
worked and fought, but left it to Dana
to telegraph and correspond. The SOL
diers and people felt that he was one of
them. They loved the wood-hauler and
the rail-splitter.
He was strong because he dared to
follow his own independent judgment.
He listened to the advise of others, but
always decided for himself. His sue
cess vindicated him when others were
unanimously against him or doubtful.
He did not study historical campaigns
and had few books. By his own gen.
ius he worked out his simple but great
plans. Then he had faith in himself
and his course, as Sherman said, like a
Christians faith in his Savior. He in
fused his own confidence into all 9TH
ers, men and generals. He had ire
mendous executive ability, always be-
ing ready, always pushing ahead, I'M
mindful of temporary checks.
His was an undauntable will. He
was incapable of comprehending the
meaning of defeat. He took the right
measure of the rebellion and set out to
crush it if it took all summer or many
years He could hang on with a bull
dog grip. He would not compromise
with treason. There were no terms for
it but unconditional surrender.
His was also sublime courage. He
seemed insensible to fear. He exposed
himself almost recklessly. The COM
mon soldier caught his spirit Wheth-
err on the battlefield or slowly dying of
cancer he never showed the white
feather.
He had the abaility to keep his own
counsel-a trait we greatly need in
these days. He was silent, but not
from taciturnity. Yet though no ex-
temporaneous speech maker, he was
captivating conversationalist, terse
and graphic writer. In his memoirs he
seems inspired by but one motive-to
tell the impartial truth.
His magnanimity was unequaled in
the list of the worlds conquerors He
allowed no exaltation at Appomatox.
He sympathized with the sorrows of
Lee and his soldiers, gave generous
help and mitigated the fury of the
non-combatant. He protected the
leaders. The south, expecting nothing,
got everything. No pillage, rapine,
humiliation. The eulogies of former
enemies are his best tribute. His old
foes visited him when dying and car
ried his bier to the tomb. He did more
than any other, by his life and death,
to reconcile north and south. He had a
prophecy of the day which we now see,
of the determination of Federal and
Confederate. 1t is fitting that on the
south porch of his magnificent mauso-
leum his great words should be carved:
LET us have peace"
He was a man very tenacious in his
friendships. He might be betrayed and
was, but this did not cure him. He
trusted men almost blindly. He at
fra cted to himself hosts of personal