The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-28
WHEELER EULOGIzES GRANT.
HE WAS THE GUEST OR HONOR AT
A PITTsBURG DINNER.

-
Famous Charactcristics-Adm
SchIey Also Spoke-Wheeler Wants
to Go 10 the Philippines.
Pittsburg, Pa, April 27.-Politics gave
way TO patriotism at the annual banquet
at the Americas Republican Club in honor
of the birthday of Gen Grant tonight
and instead of the names of such promi-
nent Republican leaders among the speak
ers as Mckinley, Harrison, Reed and
Sherman, the army and navy had the call
and the guests of honor were Gen. Joseph
Wheeler and Admiral Winfield S. Schley
The dinner was held at the Hotel Schen-
ley and in many respects was the most
successful ever given by the club. Covers
were laid for S65 and had there been room
probably twice this number of tickets
would have been sold. ..
Preceding the dinner, the distinguished
guests held reception, which lasted more
than an hour. and it was long after the
time fixed for the banquet when the guests
filed into the banquet hall to the inspiring
strains of the Stars and Stripes. Hoa c.
L. Magee was chairman at the dinner ia
BILE. and Clarence Burieigh. city attorney,
was POSTMASTER.
Gen. WheeIer's Speech.
Maj Gen. Wheeler responded to the
toast Grant" He spoke, in part, as fol-
lows:
''Long ago in a message TO the people
| of the United States, he used words which
seemed a mockery. There was then peace
which was worse than war, but peace has
| come throughout the land; peace in the
| North and peace In the South. The coun-
try is one again, in heart and thought and
| hope. The great soldier who faid in blood
the foundatio of this second and more
| enduring union is now at rest. Let US
| have peace, he said years ago, and peace
| his people have In their hearts and minds,
| in this time of peace, there is naught but
regard and regret for him for whom strife
| and disquiet are no more. The good will of
ALL whether heretofore friends or not, was
| his in his agony and will abide with his
name forever.
GAS an echo the Southern papers all
wrote of the man who twenty years be-
| fore had compelled the surrender of their
| armies and the crushing of the cause
| freighted with all their hopes. And South
| ern cities tolled their bells in token of
| their mournfuf sympathy
1.-TWO years ago President Mckinley, at
| fully and truthfully said of Gen. Grant;
"a great life never dies great deeds
are imperishable; great names immortal.
| Gen Grants services and character Will
continue undiminished in influence and ad-
| vance in the estima ton of mankind so
| long as liberty remains the cornerstone of
free government and integrity of life the
| guaranty Of good citizenship
But sorrow endureth for night and
I joy cometh in the morning and now that
grief and mourning have claimed their tri-
| butte we meet tonight to. celebrate the
| birthday of Grant, the nlagnanimous,
whose memory we delight to honor and
reverence, recognizing him as one Of the
| nations immortais.' whose memory will
be cherished together with that Of the
| father of our country"
| After speaking of Grants early life and
| history Gen. Wheeler continued:
| ION April 70, six days after the fall of
| Fort Sumter he had gathered g company,
| began to drill them and offered himself
| to the Governor of Illinois. So modest
| and unobtrusive was Capt Grant that
| his old service seems for a time to have
! been lost sight of. The story, Of his mil
| itary career has been rehearsed over and
| over All are familiar with his success in
| the West, and there first looms up the
generosity of his character. When seek
| ing 20 establish the United States in pos
session of Kentucky. he proclaimed:
"I have nothing to do with Opinions
and shall deal only with armed rebellion
| and its aiders and abettors'
"At Vickshurg, his order was:
-" The garrison will march tomorrow
Instruct your commands to be quiet and
! orderly as the prisoners pass by and make
| no offensive remarks III M
e"At Appomattox he quietly hushed all
noisy demopstrations of victorious joy with
the words:
I" The war is over; the rebels are our
| countrymen again. and the best sign of
| rejoicing after the victory will be to re-
frain from all demonstrations in the
| field
"And his generosity to his defeated
| countrymen has made it's indelibIe mark
on the character of the American soldier
| as shown by their conduct in the war with
| Spain. when their treatment of the enc
my's wounded and prisoners gained world
wide admiration. It was the generous mag
nanimlty of Grant after compelling the
| surrender of the Confederate armies, that
did more to bring about the reunion of
| the states, than 100000 of troops could
| ever have accomplished.
1.-THE modesty of Grants character was
most singular, and In this day of sham
| and pretense most wonderful Evidently
his early life and its hardships and deprI-
Hdh tdhSht lile true balance
of earthly things. After reaching the dig
| ~ nights of fame, and in his Journey
around the earth, standing as their eounl
| among the crowned heads Of the world
honored and applauded, he remains as
unobtrusively retiring as when he entered
| upon his great career. and II is the utter
absence of all shadow of egotlsm that
makes his memoirs so unique a produc-
| tion.
Ia closing his remarks, Cen. Wheeler
painted the personal character Of Gen.
Grant. whom he spoke OF as loyal 20
Cod" 10 country, TO friends. 10 all his
undertakings" His determination was
uncOnquerable his spirit oongenial to-
wards those whom he trusted Two names,
said Gen Wheeler would 20 down 10 ages
yet 10 come side BY side. Grant, the
leader magnanimous In victory; Lee than
whom no Greater ever survived defeat.