The Washington herald., 1914-04-26
BIRTHDAY OF U. S. GRANT.
simon Wolf Pays Warm Tribute to
Soldier and President.
BY HON. SIM0N Wa.r

Monday the 9th Is the birthday annI-
versary OF Gen. Ulysses 8. Grant. In
these days OF stirring events. with war
impending. IL Is appropriate. independent
OF everything else. to remember one Of
the nations great soldiers and PresI-
dents. We are too apt to forget. IN our
admiration for 50 many men and women
OF eminence, those who have pre-emi-
| nently distinguished themselves in pre-
serving and perpetuating the republic
Thus geographical lines and partisan
ship have prevented the recognition Of
those who have during their lifetime
| made a record, not only for themselves.
but for the country which they so Loyalty
served, and among these none have ex-
| cited greater admiration or caused more
political rancor than Gen. Grant BY
many he is only recognized as a great
general, who was the residuary legatee
of other generals blunders. To many
others he made a failure of the ofice OF
President. and yet in my humble Judg-
ment, after a careful study of history
and a personal acquaintance, dating from
the time OF the war to the time of his
death, l consider Gen. u. S. Grant TO
have been not only a consummate SOL
dier. brave and loyal. but a great Presi-
dent whose keen insight and sincere
friendship for those whom he trusted,
But he was far more than that As
Carl Schurz said of Gen Grant, at the
time after he had been fighting him for
political reasons. Grants memoirs were
only equaled and not surpassed by the
commentaries Of Julius Caesar. This
from a scholar. author. and statesman
Of the caliber Of Carl Schurz is the high
est praise that any man could possibly
wish for: and time has vindicated the
nf
his Cabinet. Even the San Domingo epi-
sode, which at the time seemed to sound
the death knell of Grants administration,
has by recent events been justified.
Aside from all this. Gen Grant was
humane and thoroughly human. He
trusted his friends implicitly. especially
those who had slept and fought with
him on the field of battle-a most COM
mendable characteristic. He had a
heart as tender as a woman. He did not
love war for the purpose. as so many
other generals have evidenced in his
tory, to conquer or to destroy, but solely
to maintain the institutions of the
fathers Of the republic and to give guar
snty for the welfare and prosperity OF
the nations future. There was no hy-
pocrisy or posing on the part Of Gen.
Grant He was frank. terse. and ever
ready to do his duty at every sacrifice.
and in these days of attempted reform.
by virtue of legislation on the lines OF
prohibition, l am. as ever. reminded OF
the anecdote by Abraham Lincoln, when
the committee of clergymen called on
him to have Grant dismissed as general
on account Of his drinking so much
whisky. and the President humorousiy
and promptly replied. Where does he
buy il? l would like to purchase some
of the same kind and send to some OF
my other generals"
We. as Americans, whether born on
this side or on the other side OF the
Potomac. should each he proud OF the
achievements Of our great sons. whether
their names be Lee or jackson. Grant
or Sherman They were types Of that
American citizenship which has en-
nobled the past, strengthened the pres
ent. and makes the future an absolute
confirmation.