Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1902-05-05
WHY LINCOLN BELIEVED IN GRANT.
After Grants defeat at the battle O

Shiloh, he said, 81 thought I was 60
ing to fall, but kept right on" 1t is
this same excepting right on' that
wins in the battle of life. After the
battle of Shiloh, nearly every news
paper of both parties in the North, al
most every member of congress-, and
public sentiment everywhere de-
manded Grants removal. Even his
friends appealed to Lincoln to give
the command to some one else, for his
own sake as we'll as to save the coun
try. Lincoln listened to these stories
with patience until the clock struck
one in the morning, and then, after a
long silence said, 81 cannot spare this
man; he fights" When the illustra-
ted papers everywhere were carica-
turing him, when no epithets seemed
harsh enough to heap upon him, when
his policy was criticised by his own
party, and the war generals were de-
nouncing his foolish confidence in
Grant, he, too, manifested indomitable
grit and absolutely refused to remove
the man in whom he had unwavering
faith.
When Lincoln was asked how Grant
impressed him as general, he replied:
''The greatest thing about him is his
cool persistency of purpose. He has
the grip of bulldog; when he once
gets his teeth in, nothing shakes him
off," 1t was "On to Richmond!" and
81 propose to fight it out on that line if
it takes all summer" that character
lied the silent general.
Both Lincoln and Grant had that
real nerve which cares not for ridicule
and is not swerved a hairs breadth
from the right by public clamor, and
they both knew how to bear abuse
and hatred.
Pure grit is an element of character
which enables a man to clutch his aim
with an iron grip and to keep the
needle of his purpose pointing true to
the North Star of his hope through
sunshine and storm, through hurri-
cane and tempest, through sleet and
rain. Even with sinking ship, and
a crew in mutiny, it still persists and
perseveres. In fact nothing but death
can subdue the highest kind of grit,
and it dies still struggling.
A man of grit carries in his very
presence power which controls and
commands; he is spared the necessity
of declaring himself, for his grit
speaks in his every act. Clear grit in
spires sublime audacity and heroic
courage in emergencies and danger.
A man of grit sticks to the thing he
has begun and carries it through; he
believes he was made for the place he
fills, and that no one else can fill it as
we'll.
An irresolute, weak, wavering man
may be nervy in an emergency, and
even plucky, but pure grit is a part
of the very substance and character of
strong men alone.
Many of our generals in the Civil
War exhibited great heroism. They
were plucky and often displayed great
determination, but Grant had quail
ity which rose above the pluck of his
generals; he had pure grit in most
concentrate form. He could not be
cajoled, coaxed, convinced or moved
from his purpose; he was self centred
self sufficient, independent, immov.
able.
No matter if the papers did call hin
a blunderer, or an incompetent; he
would simply light another cigar an6
sit in silence. No matter if they die
try to induce him to disclose his plans
for campaign; he would remain il
silence and smoke on. Nothing coul6
move him from his mighty purpose.