The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-27
HON. ROBERT 6. COUSINS.
His Response to the Toast Grant"
Makes n Deep Impression.

His Response to the TOnst Grant"
Makes Deep Impression.
The first toast was by Representative
Robert G. Cousins. of Iowa. whose topic
was Grant" Mr. Cousins said, in part:
THE people of Carondelet. Mo-, who
bought wood of an Ordlnary-lOoking man
with trousers in his boots and wearing
old felt hat, had no reason 10 suppose that
that man 5 funeral would be conducted by
the United States OF America and that belts
would be taken off of wheels and factories
be silent as the grave at the hour Of that
wood haulers burial. Those who were
dunned by certain collector of debts I'm
the vicinity of st. Louis something over
half a century ago, and those who sold
hides TO a tanner near Dubuque, Ia, Just
before the civil war. had no idea that in
honor of his funeral Westminster Abbey
would resOund with the echoes of special
hymn and that the sweetest SOlOiSt of earth
would go from Paris to London, like bird
OF song. to send her matchless, mournful
melody across the wide, sad sea, from con-
tinent 10 continent And yet such was the
honor finally paid him who at thirty-seven
years of age had not yet known renOwn."
Continuing through the early victories of
Grant the speaker. coming to the siege of
Vicksburg, made this graphic picture:
Then he went into the impossible. He
began TO weave a web of war in the
swamps around the stronghold of Missis-
sippi IL locked like the studied prepara-
tions for suicide.
ssThe intricacies of great plans always
seem absurd 10 bewidered minds There
was profound silence for many weeks. The
Ir-cceSSion Of victories seemed 10 be inter-
kIptede There is often appropriate 81
pee just before great success. The
Nprth began to despair. The authorities at
Washington began TO grow impatient. In
the meantime the existence of a nation
trembled in the balance More than that,
the first test OF the problem OF free govern
ment was being made Besides that. civili-
zation waited upon the result. The dream
of eighteen hundred years and all the fu-
ture was at stake. In the dreary nights of
doubt and disappointment slavery and lib
erty were peering through the gloom,
watching the feet of the worn and weary
sOldiery of America trying TO find a place
10 stand The swamps had no bottom. The
heights were guarded by the cannon of the
enemy Thousands and thousands of
proud American citizens said Give il up
What's the use? Let secession take her
States and go. Let our boys come home
KEPT AT WORK.
but progress, civilization, free govern
ment, the genius OF perseverance in the
mind of the great leader said No and kept
at work. Trees were felIed and bridges
built. This place was tried. then that. a
century OF hope was thinking out a way TO
cross river, with no place TO embark and
no place TO land. An army was living in
the swamps. Sometimes success must
crawl. The Army of the Tennessee did ev-
erything: II dug it trenched il crept, it
swarm. 1t could not afford the luxury of
night, so IL carried candles to light 1t
llTOuE0 the water ana the gloom. 1On-
tagion joined the weird procession. Malaria
marched with the boys: but they never de-
SPARED. They had leader, and that lead
er had purpose. He was part of human
prOgress-a fixed determined man. Nobody
ever amounted TO much in this world unless
he had 20. All, America. civilization! how
they wayered and how near they came TO
yielding in that awful hour. Can nation
be weaker than the spirit OF man? Some
times.
THE days and weeks passed by while, by
the most difficult and intricate and danger
Gus maneuvering known to military his
tory. Grant and his army finally landed be-
lew the fortified capital. and from the LIST TO
tie 18th of May, 1858. this invincible leader,
with less than forty-three thousand men,
reclaimed four hundred miles of the Mis-
siSSippi river, fought and gained nve dis
tinct battles. captured over six thousand
prisoners marched one hundred and eighty
miles. drew the net of victory around
NicksburS. and then. with the gentleness OF
a father for his children, dictated the terms
of surrender to Pemberton and his forty
thousand troops In their own chosen
stronghold. The site of the siege of Vicks-
burg has been preserved as national park
and should be dedicated TO the memory OF
the leader of the greatest military cam
paigDs of modern times"
UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER.
Referring to Grants memorable utter
snce. Unconditional surrender" the speak
er said:
Grant was the first to tell the enemies OF
this government what they had to do. and
he was the first 10 make them feel he had
power to compel them TO do it. He had
stepped out and tapped the COnfederacy on
the shoulder and now IL recognized his au-
thority. Its heart began 10 sink at the fall
OF Ntcksburg- As Grant went up the rebel
Hon went down. and within two years from
the time America really knew she had
Grant the banner OF the stars was shining
on the continent. the stars and stripes were
floating over Richmond"
Coming TO the administration of General
Grant as President of the United States,
Mr.. Cousins said:
Common sense. intelligence serves well
in any vocation. The perils OF "A peaceful
era, the rocks that hide their treacherous
heads beneath tranquil sea. require great
courage and fine judgment. Providence has
never left America with victory alone.
More often that the people think. perhaps.
integrity and wisdom occupy high places.
In everything affecting our national integ-
rity and prosperity the judgment OF Pres
ident Grant was exercised for the best as
verified by time. When ponderous debt
pressed hard upon the national resources
and perhdy proposed TO do in peace what
bleeding herOism would not do in war.
when temptation made the proposition OF
Reputation thai would have stained the
honor OF the living and the dead: when the
weak and vacillating present proposed TO
sacrifice the future by Initiation, let it be re-
memhered-espe specially I'm these times-that
the craftsmanship OF him whose sword had
placed the scattered stars OF States back
Into the constellation Of the Union refused
10 compromise the Nations credit and her
honor. but left IL. as he left her flag. STAIN
less and secure.
''Then ne became a simple citizen again
and that position had for him far greater
II you buy one OF Kruse & Dewenter's
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