The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-25

was the assistant secretary of the navy,
Theodore Roosevelt.
The war with Spain was the turn
ing point in the career of General
Grant. After his return in the spring
of 1893 from Vienna where he had
served through President Harrison
administration as United States min
lister to Austria, General Grant con-
feSsed to feeling somewhat embar-
raised. No career seemed to be open
to him. Enforced economies were
very quiet and simple domestic life.
He went about among his friends ask
ing frankly if some place could not
be found for him. He confessed the
need of securing an income and was
ready to take any honorable occupa-
ton which would meet that necessity
BY the unexpected political change in
New York city which led to the cleo
ton of the fusion candidate, William
L. Strong, as mayor of the city in
1894, an opening was found for Gen
eral-then ColoneI-Grant. Represen-
tations were made to Mayor Strong
that it would be very gratifying to the
friends of General u. S. Grant if some
official place could be found for his
son. Mayor Strong, after comforting
with members of the committee of
seventy, who had made his nomina
ton for mayor possible decided to
appoint Colonel Grant one of the po-
lice commissioners, saying that he had
already decided to appoint Theodore
Roosevelt president of the police
board.
the police board to join the admins
tration of President Mckinley as as
slstant secretary of the navy. A change
in politics restored the Democracy to-
power in New York city in the fall
of 1897. through the election of the
Tammany candidate for mayor, Judge
Robert Van Wyck. And again Colo
mel Grant thought it necessary to look
around for business opening.
Unexpectedly came the war with
Spain and the offer to Colonel Grant
of the colonelcy of the Fourteenth
regiment of the New York National
Guards. Colonel Grant did not fail
to perceive that active service of this
kind would undoubtedly open the way
for his restoration to the United States
army. And if he could again enter
the service of the government as an
officer he realized that his career was
made and that there would be COM
Portable provision both for himself
and in case of his death for Mrs.
Grant.
The military ceremonies at the fun
eral of General Grant on Friday will
be impressive, and where his father
really hoped his mortal remains could
be deposited, at the cemetery at West
Point all that is mortal of the son will
be placed.
Three Noble Brothers.
The dignity and heroism with which
Isidor Straus faced death upon the
deck of the steamship Titanic are quail
tiles which his life as we'll as the ca
reers of his brothers would have JUS
titled any who knew him in expecting
him to reveal in that moment of su-
preme tragedy. The history of Ameri-
can families contain number of strik-
ing examples of the ability, high man
hood, civic courage and religious faith
revealed by three or more sons of a
family. But it is without precedent
that three brothers of the Jewish faith
have in the United States so strongly
typlhed the dignity. kindness, learn
ing and broad humanity as we'll as
the business ability that have been
characteristic of the Great Hebrews of
history as the three brothers Straus
have done. All of. them have achieved
greatly as men of business. Their
fortunes have been gained without any
harm having been done to any one.
Their wealth has been expended in
works of great philanthropy. Isidor
StrauS, who went down with the I'll
tanic, was a man of scholarly attain
ments who had a profound under
standing of the fundamental principles
upon which the American government
is based. Oscar Straus is one of the
ablest living masters of diplomacy
and is an executive of very great ca
paclty, revealing that gift While serv-
ing as member of President Roose-
velts cabinet. Nathan Straus, the mas
ter mind which directed one of the
greatest mercantile businesses of the
United States, has expended not only
a great deal of money but also much
time in scientific philanthropy. Just
as the news of his brothers death |
reached the city came also reports of
new philanthropies which he has es-
tablished in Germany, and it is I'M !
questioned that the marvellous decrease
i'll the infant mortality statistics in |
New York city which has been record |
ed In recent years is due in no small |
measure to the skillful philanthropy |
based upon real science which Nathan |
Straus created and which he still car |
ries on. HOLLAND.