The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-04-28

fields. he sawed wood. he broke colts. Every
few weeks some periodical or minister cries
out in apparent agony. What shall we do
TO keep our boys on the farm My answer
is. nothing Rather would l ask what
can we do TO get our city boys on the farm,
where they can learn 10 work and reason
with their hands and minds. Had the coun-
try boy remained on the farm we would
not have had Grant, we would not nave
had Lincoln, we would not have had Sheri-
dan. we would not have had Logan, nor
scores of others, whose energy, tact, per-
sistency. genius and common sense have
given the brightest ulster and added the
prOudest laurelS To the American name.
The field, the groves, the running brooks,
the free air constitute the nursery OF our
immortalS.
THE American volunteer soldier-he was
Grants thuaderbolt. He was then, is now
and always has been an individual soldier,
an intelligent soldier. Recognition or patti
cite duty drafts him and his best recon-
pense is the success of the cause for which
he pledges his life. When the American
volunteer steps into the ranks he repre-
sents the keen edge Of pure conviction and
enlightened genius. There has never been
an hour in this Republics life when he was
not its guarantee and shield. lie mas not
much reverence for the science OF war-he
Is after results. Throw a trained officer
and the volunteer soldier together and give
the volunteer time TO get some of the Of
ficer's discipline and give the officer time
to absorb and appreciate the volunteer s
caring and eagerness 10 achieve, and. with
his Nation aroused in a good cause, you
have legions from forty-five States that
would wrest the sword from the world.
How incomparably great and gentle he
was in victory. Buckner surrendered UNI
conditiOnally at Donelson and late that
night Grant sought him out and talked
over West Point days and then divided
lis money with him. That surrender at
' lcksburg was the most momentous up to
that time since the invention of gunpowder,
and yet that great army marched out
and stacked arms without so much as
a cheer from the threats of the victors.
Grant had asked them TO refrain from the
demonstrations that would add to the hui
initiation Of the conquered. And when the
last gun had been fired and the foe was IN
the dust of defeat Grant was that foes
best friend. Grant gave him rations. Grant
told him he could retain his horses as he
would need them to cultivate the crops.
Johnson proposed to arrest Lee and try
him for treason. when Grant told him
that If he did it he would resign his COM
shortly after the war proposed a great
painting i'm the rotunda OF the Capitol
representing Lees surrender Grant killed
the proposition. stating that he was unwill-
ing that anything commemorative the vic
tory of one section OF the country over
the other should be perpetuated in the
Nations CaDitOl. Great. mighty, modest,
thoughtful Grant.
A GREAT PRESIDENT.
'Grant was a great President. No man
can read the history of his two admins
trations and not sanction the statement
that he was a great President. He always
had definitely declared policies: his were al
ways carefully prepared campaigns. He
could outline a policy in a single sentence.
and some OF those sentences have con-
gealed into imperishable history. Let IT
be understood that no ~repudiator of a
farthing of our public debt will ever be
trusted in public place. That utterance,
at a critical period In our Republics life,
rang around the world and gave the stamp
OF gold and honor and glory TO every
dollar of the Nations debt Foreign COM
plications threatened. an@ in answer. to
the question as to what would be his for