The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1901-04-27
U. S. GRANT.

1t is fashion not peculiarly American to seize up
the anniversary of the birth deathoften bothof d
tinguished individuals as suitable occasions for ndugr
wise morallzngs upon the subjects life, for drawing l.
sons for youth from his The occupation seems
possess fascination for many while the practice is TO
by the observance of such days by various assoc
tons and the making of holidays of them by govern
menls and states
Next to Washington comes Lincoln, in America
point of the extent to which his birthday is observes
There seems to be in this cOuntrY-and it probably
keeping with our democratic deas-a peculiar char
about the of who has risen from the ranks
high position by sheer force of inherent ability In Lii
coins case this has been tremendously enhanced by
tragic close of his remarkable life the manner and tim
OF which saved him from the assaults which would hav
been made upon his policies by the vicious magnlty q
Stevens and his kind and made martyr of one who 9th
erwlSe Would have run the dangerous risk of being
sdered merely hard headed opponent of his partys plans
Next to Lincoln comes Grant, whose chief claim to tn
place he occupies seems after ALL to rest merely on th
fact of his having the ranking general of the arme
that Saved the unon No dsinterested critic has eve
claimed for Grant the possession of any transcenent mill
ary genius SKILL he oyercame superior nnmber
by superior ability surmounted great obstacles with
poorly fed. poorly equipped army. That Grant was
man with kind heart and charitable nature none has
denied; but when made president through the acct
dent of he allowed his natural instincts to be too offer
smnheed by the hatred of others for the South and
hble weaknesses OF which truly great character Womb
not, could not, have been guilty
The recurrence of this date the seventy ninth
sary of Grants BIRTH has provoked the usual number Of
estimates" and tributes and the usual number Of refor
ences to incidents In ns military The date is bnt
few days removed from the event Of his
.lz.A
career; the surrender to himt rather surrender tn
nature than to mortal man--of the man whose military
poWess and submey exalted character have become the
admiration of the world Around this incident have grown
lr innumerabe stories illustrative of Grants
y and kindness Of heart That Grant was his natural
elf and at his best, that occasion his whole
EASILY shows. Yielding to the i'm pulses of naturally
generous nature he endeavored save his great
lst ana the men under him. far as possible the bn
nHatlon-as 1T Is generally caed-of their surrender
lie also acted upon General Lees suggestion and ner
ned the paroed soldiers to retain what stock thew had
mere was no room IN Lees great soul for bitterness but
MS heart was tu for his and his country and b al
ot fail to appreciate Grants thoughtful and oonoro,a
onduct 1t has, however, always seemed foolish 70 toll
bout Lees having been saved Humiliation" on this oc
asion How could such have been bumil,atad,
VI course IL Is impossible In dlscoursng upon the oan
rous spirit exhibited by Grant on this occaeon fr L.
AoS " "'o A"i'0u =" u"oi the sword
cldent Ihe long life which this story has enioved Int
lustrates how hard it is to dslodge from the mill
ind the most apocryphal of tales If il but annoI -
lie popular Imagination Even Mrs Jefferson Douo
ian whom there are few persons better posted tooh;
the incidents OF the great conflict assists in norno+
ating this popular story In recent trlbue to CT,
laracter, she says
"A soldier might we'll have forgotten all but tho do.;.
possess the sword of Lee, that precious svmhoI ~
lighhood of the nineteenth century Gen Gn - JHe
1t keep 1t as trophy, but respectfully retnrni w
9 hand which had made its fame rs deathess % 49,
Excalibur." oSS as mat
Concerning this alleged incident Grant bimseIf = l..
Fersona memoirs" has the following to saw: "Tho
nch talked OF surrendering of Lees sword ard 49,,
ndlng 1t back to him. this and much more that b 49,
ID ABOUT Il Ii the purest romance. The word su,o, =
e arms was not mentioned by either of M until w..
in the terms. (Where the reference was to the ODD
subordinate Ofhcers) There was no premed;tot;o 1
II ala not occur to me until the moment vvrot "a
Wn. II had happened to omit It, and GenaroI ~
called my attention to IT. should have mt Il :; a.
ms precisely as acceded to the provision ohon.
ders retaining their horses" 'ne
however, as military genius, conceded bv all I'M
Tics place IN the foremost rank of the worlds oraa
1lers; as Christian gentleman of the Ioftiest vet
. cnaracter In the perfect blending of all the ott.;
es which can cont bnte at once to greatness
" MANI IN al these things considered toOetbr %
may 40 comparison be instituted hatvoos not
ut but none is permissible between Lee and Ice and
the WORLDS military leaders This for the ; Osn9r
on tnat thus Tar the world has produced Inn npie
}. and Lee is confined to "a class in which 10 que such
ssocate. "'Ou no YET nnds