New-York tribune., 1908-04-20
TAFT HON0RS GRANT
At BIRTHDAY EXERCISES.
Secretary Tells of Remarkable Char
dctcr of TiCtOr of 1ppOmdttOr.

dCtcr OF tCtOF OF IppOWdtto|-
Secretary Taft spoke last night at the anniversary
of the birthday Of General L. S, Grant at the Met
ropClitan Temple. Seventh avenue and 18th street
OF which General Grant for many years mem
ber- The Grant pew now bears memorial taoieC'
and next Sunday night peace window to the
memory of the gueat commander will be unveiled m
the church Secretary Taft followed last night
by Andrew Carnegie and Leslie NJ. Shaw, eX-Secre-
tary Of the Treasury.
The Secretary Of War recalled the fact that his
father had been membes of President Grants
Cabinet, and that no himself had seen and heard
him speak. Continuing he spoke Of the character
istcs which had made General Grant famous. as
they developed during his career. In the Mexican
War his ability a military leader first iho"ed
itself said Mr.. Taft while it also gave him the
practical training which made him the victor AT
Appomattox,
Mr. Taft laid particular stress upon General
Grants simplicity and reserve, his instant rebuke
of any who dared 10 give expression 10 an I'M
pure thought i'm his presence. In speaking Of the
surrender of General Lee at AppomattoX he said he
thought hard for any oue'to realize the tempta-
tions which Confederate leader resisted of CON
tinuing the struggle by guerilla warfare and not
laying down and attempting to recover in
peace the ruined fortunes of the South. lie said
Take Grant at West Point. There, is nothing re-
arkabIe in his course there. He e%celled IN
afterward to take pride in saying he was frst in
there To- exce He had not before him the dream
of the future comma ader in chief But he Was
his conclusions, never thrusting hnrselr forward.
sweet tempered. slow 10 wrath but tenacious OF
at West Point 10 indicate the exceptional Qualities
which made him excel his senior officers as well
But the Mexican War showed his courage. physi-
ca as well as moral. It showed his Willingness to
assume responsibility when it came to him, and his
was compelled against his win to become quarter
| master. This experience stood him in good stead
It is said that Grant obtained such success as, a
Gtcers Over hin Possibly he did not toward the
end of the war have such interference as hampeIed
NOT man OF military genius. That depends upon
capacity for taking infinite pains, and in that re
spect Grant certainly a genius The truth Is,
thought so thar one is not bound by precedent I
think all mIiltary & anthoenles ] nave come 70 agree
Then finally came APpomattox like dwell
great American figures-Grant all simplicity and
| representing the old life and traditions | don't
think we always appreciate the temptations Lee
yielded to. and let the war continue in guerilla
In his family life Grant high example.
No was ever permitted to give expression ~
an impure thought in his presence without being
instantly reProved We can az las as Amerifans rs
all Of who would serve their country.
Following the Secretary. Mr.. Carnegie spoke upon
four great words" Let Is Have Peace He
said:
We may congratulate ourselves tnat It is upon
greatest triumphs Wa have, by agreement with
Canada. upon our inland seas only two little YES,
sells of hundred tons burden. each armed
with one S-pounde[ gun one mes tne me S[Ts ndfth a
standing the huge Dreadnoughts these the
most powerful vessels that either Britain or our
ts'ts IN ~ broyrHes Of the North American people.
never firing a shot except In friendly greeting to
each other Here lis an example Of the power OF
Another triumph occurred in South America, erica
Argentina and Chill had long fought oyer rot P9T9 r9
to settle it amicably and following the text cried
b 5}s1Gted T nede teTTt6ry they have erected
dedicated to the Prince Of Peace, which bears THIS
Sooner shall these mountains crumOe to dust
than ATsentnss h st a5 nF christ the Redeemer they
/ have sworn to maintain
! Ex-secretary Shaw spoke of the sincerity of the
! Confederates in waging the war holding as strong
/ " their belief that their cause was the right as
the Northerners did theirs.
/ H ". Knight past commander Of the L s Grant
Post Of Brooklyn. then presented a large silk
American flag to the Metropolitan Temple. which
! was received by the pastor. the Rev. Dr.. John
Wesley HILL who said:
/ The Metropolitan Temple profoundly appreciates
the patriotism and generosity prompting such a
laid av,ay i'm a dark corner be brought forth on
rare occasions l VIII keep it in this pulpit a
. patriotism and righteous citizenship What a Won
pPt, a. - &C. II means that tn. schoohousa is
the buIvV5rk OF American liberty the ballot box the
ark of American patriotism and the home the
! cornerstone OF American civilization
In the Grant pew, which was specially decorated,
were Mrs. Fred u. Grant Miss Nellie 5. Grant and
Mrs EIbert II. Gary. Among those on the platform,
in addition th= speakers. were General Fred d.
+ Grant Ulysses s. Grant Sd. Henry ". Taft and
Bishop Harzel
So great was the crowd that tried 10 get into the
Temple that the Of the Charles street sta
/ tion were sent to the church. The struggle TO get
into the building Lecame great that the doors Of
/ the edihce closed by order Of the police Two
/ women tainted, and others were uttertng eXclarna-
/ tions of alarm and sa lng that they felt III. The
women were taken home by friends. Until the
meeting ended the crowd lowered about the church.
expecting to get a glimpse of Secretary Taft and
I