The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-04-28
General Wheeler on Grant.

Major General Wheeler responded TO the
toast Grant" In opening he said:
Calm and beautiful the morning Of July
q. 1885. dawned on Mount McGregor. All
risen sun rested upon the green hills and
mountains OF Vermont, upon the placid
waters of Saratoga lake and upon the cot,
or the Nation was slowly ebbing away.
Ulysses $. Grant was in the immediate
presence of the foe whom none may con-
quer, the only foe TO whose might the great
warrior had ever succumbed. For nine long
months had he gaZed undaunted into the
face of death. keeping him at bay with one
hand while with his pen in the other he
bravely finished the work that would make
provision for the beloved wife and children
he should lAave behind him. A few moments
after 5 O'Clock the silver cord was looSed,
the golden bowl broken and the spirit OF
the patriot-warrior had returned TO the God
who gave 1t, and ere the sun had climbed
midway TO the zenith the electric wires hac
told the people in the uttermost ends of
the earth that General Grant was dead. In
every city, town and hamlet in our land
heads We're reverently bowed and sorrow
ana sympathy were expressed In every
countenaDce."
Here General Wheeler quoted an article
printed in the Charleston, S. c., News and
Courier of July "A, 1885, In which the editor
paid a magnificent tribute to Grant. AS an
C Of this article the general said, THE
Southern papers all wrote of the man who
twenty years before had compelled the sur
render of their armies and the crushing of
the cause %freighted with all their hopes.
And Southern cities tolled their bells In
token of their mournful sympathy.
Two years ago. President Mckinley, at
the dedication of the monument, beautifully
and truthfully said of General Grant: "A
great life never dies. great deeds are i'm
~perishable, great names immortal. General
Grants services and character will con-
tinue undiminished in influence and adj
vance in the estimation of mankind so long
as liberty remains the cornerstone of free
government, and integrity of life the guar
anty of good citizenship
But sorrow endureth for a night and joy
cometh in the morning. and now that grief
and mourning ave claimed tn tribute.
we meet tonight to celebrate tn -thday
of Grant, the magnanimous. wi MEM
Dry we delight to honor and erence,
recognizing him as one OF the -Satons
'immortals.' whose memory will be cher
ished together with that Of the father of
our country"
General Wheeler then reviewed the
career of Grant. In closing his remarks the
general painted the personal character of
Grant, whom he spoke of as ''loyal to God.
to country. to friends, to all his undertake
fngs." His determination was ~unconquer-
able, his spirit congenial towards those
whom he trusted. Two names, said General
Wheeler, would go down to ages yet TO
come side by side. Grant. the leader. mag
animous In victory; Lee. than whom no
greater ever survived defeat" Grant de-
as patriot. warrior and statesman" His
family life was one Of devotion, tenderness
and love: his great desire and end after
General Wheeler concluded by recalling
Grants remarkable prophecy: AT some
future day. the nations of the earth will
agree upon some sort of congress which
shall take cogniZance OF International ques.
tions of difficulty and whose decisions will
be as binding as the decision Of the Supreme
Court is upon US" Whether this be proph-
ecy." General Wheeler said. lat least II
shows that his finger was on the pulse OF
the age"