The Meridian times., 1920-05-21
GRANTS HONORS
WORTHILY WON
Great Soldier viii Always Be Re-
membered as the Savior
of the Union.

.. MAN who sleeps SO
IN peacefully in the
= liz splendid mauso=
~SAsauuuS~ leum on the banks
of the Hudson-Ulysses S. Grant-de-
serves all the fame that has come to
him, and all the gratitude that has
| been showered upon him by his fellow
| countrymen.
In 1861, as appeared also to be the
case in 1919, the great determining
factor was force-the armed might of
| the nation.
| In the attempt at a settlement of
the difficulties between the northern
and southern sections of our common
country everything had been tried in
the line of discussion, argument,
| pleading and prayer. On the hust-
ings, in legislative halls and senate
chambers, everywhere, earnest efforts
were made to reach the compromise
which would avert the danger which
! threatened the nations peace, but all
was in vain, and presently grim-vis-
aged war was upon us with all its
horrors.
The brothers were at each others
throats and the supreme question was,
"Shall the Union be preserved?"
| With malice toward none and with
charity for ALL" Mr.. Lincoln, as the
executive head of the nation, resolved
that the Union should be saved. To
that proposition he dedicated himself
body, mind and soul, and with the
energy that was commensurate with
his patriotism the great man prepared
the armed might which was to carry
his purpose into effect.
But American was fighting Ameri-
can. The best blood in the world
ran in the veins of the fighters on
both sides of the conflict, and for a
long time the issue of the mighty
struggle was in doubt.
1t will be remembered how general
after general, with large and splendid
Iy equipped armies, crossed the PotO-
mac, fought with characteristic Ameri-
can valor, and came back without vic
tory.
Patterson, Mcdowell, Mcclellan,
burnside, Pope, Hooker, failed to
bring Lincoln the victory he sent them
out to win for him; and the great man
in the White House was "sorrowful
nigh unto DEATH" He never despaired,
but God alone knows the agonies he
endured in his silent soul.
Had Lincoln lived he might have en-
abled US, by reading between the lines
of his story, to learn something of
what he suffered during the dark and
gloomy period from Bull Run to Get
tysburg; but even as it is we know,
from his intimate friends, that the
good man came as near despairing as
1t was possible for one of his large
faith to come. ..-...-
However, in the moving back and
forth of destiny's shuttle, it came to
pass that the man from Illinois was
intrusted with the stupendous task of
beating the Army of Northern Yirgi-
MIA with Lee at its head.
1t was that army that bore up on its
bayonets the fortunes of the Confed-
eracy; and If that army could be de-
feated the victory would be won and
the Union saved.
With the common sense and direct
ness that always marked his thought
and action, Grant. Immediately after
the assurance from the president that
he was not to be interfered with in
the formation and execution Of his
plan, started out straight for Lees
army. Not Richmond or any other
place was to be his objective, but only
the Army of Northern Virginia.
We know how he went about his
work, home he stuck TO that work, and
how, at last, he finished IT.
The advance from the Rapidan, the