Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-29
TALGSATCRANTDINNE
President Principal Speaker at Ban
quet Of Union League Club.
TRIBUTE TO HIS PREDECESSOR
Only Military GcnIu who Under-
stood Real Problem Of war
People New Appreciate sem
umentu ef Grant and Lee.


PHILADELPHIA. April @.-President
TAFT tonight Wus the principal speaker
at the Grant his thday dinner OF the Union
league 10 this city and paid a striking
tribute 10 the soldier-presidsnt. Mr.. TAFT
was sharply criticized n year ago because
OF certain OF his references TO General
Grant. and he took advantage of tonight's
opportunity TO express anew his admirs-
ton for General Grant as a man, as a
soldier and as chief executive of the United
states.
The president reached PhilsdelphiS at
e:6s D. M. There was a delay enroute from
Washington Of nearly an hour. caused by
the breaking Of a drawhead in the coupling
Of two OF the cars on the regular New
York express. TO which bis private car
Independence was attached. The train
was not an. unusually heavy one and the
fact that the coupling gave way two cars
In front Of his own brought out consid-
cradle g~ood-natured chair for the presi-
dent.
The president, accompanied by Captain
Archibald Butt. his military aide, was met
At Broad street by an immense throng.
The way from the station to the Union
League club was lined with thousands Of
citizens, who cheered the president v%ocifer-
ously. " was the most notable greeting
Mr.. Taft has experienced since his lnau-
guration. He acknowledged the cheers and
pla udits OF the throng by constantly lift
Ing his hat. At the club house the presi-
dent held a reception for more than an
hour. some 1000 of Union league members
shaking hands with him.
speech OF President Taft.
The banquet hall of the club, where about
100 sat at the tables, was profusely decor
ated with flowers. flags and electric lights.
General Horace Porter OF New York and
James r.. Hope. president Ct the Union
league. were among the speakers who pre-
coded President Taft. The latter. following
his almost invariable custom, spoke ex-
temporaneousiy, Mr.. Taft spoke at times
in a half quizzical manner and there was
frequent laughter. as well as applause, at
his reference TO political conditions in the
south.
After making complimentary references
10 the Union leagues patriotic support OF
the union army at the outbreak of the
civil war and during its continuance, Mr..
Tar said:
1T il peculiarly fitting that this club
each year should celebrate the birthday OF
hat man who then was coming into promi-
nencc and upon whom hung. it would seem.
the whole dcstlnies Of this nation.
1T Is not fer me. in the presence Of a
gentleman who knew him, who served with
him, who ran the risk Of life and death
with him. to descant upon his life, his
peculiar virtues, or ut length attempt TO
picture his character to this company. But
there. are certain things with respect to
General Grant that today come back with
refer.pce TO our rnss'ns life. They said
49, 60 49, ..,N ~. ,.lftA.F ~o-g,,e
TIA. other generals displayed in the war
To my mind his mind and brain representa-
the Very genius e the war to suppress
the rebellion, because 1t was his mind thai
graspod the thought that until We had
fought 81 out with ,aur brave opponents ant
net item in the field and fought them
rs soldiers; until we convinced them by
our strength that the battle was hopeless
we could not expect to have a united
country, and therefore from the time rs
began In Belmont until he accepted the
surrender u Lee at AppomattoX he fought
not cities, not points Of strategy, but III
fought the enemy, and he fought and
fought and fought until he wore out Tho
opposition. because only by wearing then
out could hc hope to bring about the condi
tions In which there should be complet,
peace. tApplauscD
spirit of AppomattOx.
What | wish particularly to dwell upor
tonight IS the spirit OF that peace at APP
pomattox, represented on the one nanC
by the magnanimity of Grant and By tn
self-restraint and courage and far-sighteC
patriotism (for that IL was) on the par
of Lee In bringing the struggle to a fin
ish. That spirit at Appomattox is today
/ trust, triumphant. Between the tw'
leaders It existed when the terms OF tn,
surrender were signed, but Il was i'm
possible under the conditions that tina
spirit should control and make itself i'm
mediately manifest between the two sec
lions. The conditions were such tina
that could not be. The remnants o