The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-03-24
General IT, s. Grants
Loyalty to His Friend,
prom the Kansas city star.

From the Kansas City Star
And that reminds me- said Gov
ernor Crfttenden. of what was to me
one OF the most interesting and touch
ing stories ever heard. having its orr
gin prior TO and its sequel following
the war. II was told me by Samuel
ties The other person involved in
the story became during and after the
rebellion one of the greatest charae-
tiers OF the century. Churchill resid-
ed in ST. Louis prior to 1860. He was
State Senator. and some time IN
1870 he returned to Kentucky and
was chosen Secretary OF State His
Associates in St Louis were Edward
Bates. Hamilton Gamble, Samuel T.
Glover. Gratz Brown. Frank Blair and
gentlemen OF that class I much doubt
II there is one reader Of the Star who
ever knew him or ever heard OF him.
unless il be Judge John W. Henry or
Colonel Van Horn. whose knowledge
and memory OF Missouri cover many
years and many stadia of history;
and still he was one Of the prominent
political and social leaders in St
Louis and Missouri In those days
genial cultivated. brave as a man Is,
soft as a woman He was in afflu-
eut circumstances and he was never
forgetful OF the obligations Of wealth
Prior to the war there was living
near St Louis a man in the most
humble circumstances. Though a
soldier by instincts and education. and
a graduate of West Point. he was
daily engaged in selling and deliver.
ing cordTood to whoever would buy
small quantities from a small. time
worn wagon. drawn by two horses of
inferior grade. This man was. in ad-
dress above his business There was
something about his appearance in
dicating that he was more than an
ordinary man. He often sold Church
III his email loads and was often told
by him that when he failed TO sell
TO others before night to drive his
load TO his woodshed. throw IL in and
call for hrs pay next day. By that
association the two became well ac-
QGainted, one always delivering good
wood. full measure. and the other
ever prompt. polite and liberal In his
payments, besides extending other
Inequalities so well understood and
cultivated between gentlemen OF tn ,ir
class
The rail splitter, the toiler on the !
tow path and the cartman Of today |
may. in the fuilness OF time. become
the President Of the United States. |
There is no bottom rail now. all are |
on top. Time in its ceaseless course
dr1fted us on and on from that early 1
day and soon, from the very nature
OF our government. civil war sprung
MP in all its wild passions and devas-
tation. embittering friend against
friend. dividing the benefactor from
the beneficiary and causing the world |
TO stand aghast at the conflict. The
temperaments of those friends, the
man OF riches and the wood seller. led
them far apart Cor more than four
years. One cast his destiny with the
South, the other with the North. As
the war progressed this young wood
seller gradually unfolded the qualities
OF great military leader and was ad-
vanced from grade to grade. from Sec
ton TO section. from Island No. 10 to
Donelson. from Donelson to Shiloh.
from Shiloh 10 Vicksburg. from Vicks-
burg TO the Potomac. from the Poto-
mac TO Richmond and from Richmond
TO the presidency. ever equal to any
demand or emergency. This man
was Ulysses S. Grant. one of the
greatest military men the world has
ever seen. one whose greatness Of
head and heart increased TO the ut
most limit of life. whose dying words
fell from has pen
Like roses from the lips OF Angelo.
And angels might stoop 20 pick
them up.
AS the war progressed this wood
yender became greater and greater
and his antebellum friend became
poorer and poorer. his property be-
ing seized. sold and confiscated.l so
that when the cruel war was over
he had no place for his weary feet
Some years after the surrender OF
General Lee. Churchill concluded TO
return 10 starting again in life and.
II possible. gather mp once more the
lost threads and regain the lost dol
lars. In going homeward from Rich
mond he passed through Washington.
where from the politeness Of his ma
ture he felt st TO be his duty and
pleasure 10 call on his old friend
Grant who in the strange legerde-
main Of politics. fate. brains and for
-une, had become president. Church
II said he approached the White
House with fear and trembling. not
knowing how he would be received
Z, indeed. he were received at all.
This apprehension showed he cid !
LOT know the rich qualities OF head 9
md heart OF his old friend. The re- G
'eption room was full OF senators.
and others awaiting
heir time and turn on the outside.
o be called into the presidents
Dom. This alarmed him that much
more. fully confirming his belief that
Ie would have 10 leave without see 4
. -