Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-05-31

optimistic. A military commander OF
such sweep Of concentration that NO
army could be SO vast that he could
not weld 1t and throw all its parts into
harmonious concert in action. Ever
calm and quiet and never disconcert-
ed, modest almost to the appearance
of timidity-yet, his plans formed, In
executing them his courage was as I'M
fiinching as Gibralter, his speed that OF
the thunderbolt His splendid mill
tary genius was only equalled by
the depth of his patriotism; his
love for his country, his country
men and their governmental insti-
tutions. In military genius, the
equal of Alexander, Caesar or
Napoleon. But, unlike Alexander, he
painted not for foreign conquests; UNI
like Caesar, he fought not to over
throw the institutions of his country,
but to preserve them; unlike Napoleon,
he craved not glittering crowns Of i'm.
perial diadems. He sought not the es.
Establishment of royal dynasty In his
family. To him pomp, splendor and
self-ag grandisement were vanities. In
war he was Mars, yet in his friend
ships as tender and confiding. as a
child. His only mistakes can be
traced to his confidence in friends
that proved unworthy Of his confidence
However, all those mistakes were in
civil life, for cannot recall where, in
the army during the war, he made any
mistakes in his assignments Of officers
to duty.
Not After Civil Honors.
Gle sought no civil honors, except
through the orderly and peaceful meth
DDS prescribed by our constitution and
laws, and which 1t is the birthright Of
every native born American to seek.
In that way he became president of
the republic. Illustrious In war, he
was scarcely less illustrious in his per-
Torrance of the duties that devolved
on him as chief magistrate.
"As the commander O four armies, he
sought only the overthrow Of the
forces that were seeking the disrup-
ton of the nation; as the chief magis-
trate he sought only the welfare of his
countrymen under their free, republic
can government Ever generous, new
er revengeful or malignant or little, on
Lees surrender at Appamatox, he pa
rolled Lee and all his army, and told
the men to go home and take their
horses with them; that they would
need their horses in putting in the
crops In his letter Of acceptance,
when first nominated for the presiden-
cy, he used the memorable words,
Let us have peace The words were
bare In his great, human heart the
same great love OF country and his
countrymen that Lincoln laid bare in
his heart in his speech at Gettysburg.
"And then General Grant, supple
mented by Sherman, a broad minded
and courageous commander, adroit and
skillful, and who could be trusted to
carry through successfully any CAM
paign that he might be instructed in
and that he might be entrusted by his
chief to lead and commando Grant
what Ney was to Napoleon; by Sheri-
dan, whirlwind and by Thomas, in
telligent and clear in plans, slow but
Eeverlastingly sure in their execution.
tell you, when Lincoln found those
four men and they were assigned to
their proper places, in ability of COM
manders, the south was out-classed. In
them, Lincoln had quartet of gen
erals unsurpassed in military annals.
Grant, the chief, the others absolutely
loyal to and never jealous of him. Do
not think that by my especial men.
ton of the four intend any disparage.
ment of Others for there were Mead,
Hancock, Logan, Mcpherson, Hooker,
Burnside and great many others
whom the country should and will for
,r,;+I ~
lection for their splendid, patriotic
service. But the four first named are
now and will go down in history as
stars of the first magnitude.
Certain people among us-I have
heard them, SO have you-seem to de-
light in extolling the abilities of the
southern commanders. We can read
lily agree with them, SO long as they do
not in comparison disparage the great
abilities Of our northern commanders,
OF course, General Lee was great
general,--in the worlds history he has
had but few superiors in martial abili-
ties, but he has had few superiors,
and Ulyssis S. Grant was one of them.
1t makes my blood tingle,-I would get
mad had l not some years ago sworn
off getting mad, let happen whatever
may-when hear a northern man say,
or intimate, that General Lee was a
greater general than General Grant, or
that Stonewal Jackson was, as gen
eral, superior to Phil Sheridan, or that
either of the Johnstons was superior
to Sherman, and so on down the whole
list. 1t Is right enough for the south
ern people to hold and cherish such de-
lusions, but neither you nor would de-
prive that people Of the comfort they
get from them. But entertained by a
northern man, spoken by northern
man, to northern man, they are IA
tiguing.
The Men Behind the Guns.
1--WE owe it to the memories of our
great generals of the Union army to
see to it, that their illustrious and his
toric deeds shall not be disparaged, or
their splendid abilities moderated, at
least here In the north. Yet, much as
we love the memories of the great
| commanders, we must say they only
planned and directed, you men who
carried the guns, who made the long