The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-04-27

constitution was wiped out, and the
nation resumed the onward march
on its destined way.
Seemingly, it has been a long
time in which to reestablish a con-
cord so manifestly essential to the
nations greater achievements, but
the understanding of the magnifi-
cent Lee was not universal through
out the south, the magnanimity of
Grant was not manifest throughout
the north. Wounds had to be heal
ed, and partisan politics temper
arily profited more in irritation
than in healing. But the war with
Spain consecrated north and south
to common cause, and the sacri-
fee and nation wide service in the
World war revealed the common
American soul Grant, the great
nationalist, who appraised union
and nationality above all the fright
full cost and suffering, would re-
joice to acclaim the republic OF
today.
Now "One People,
II do not mean to say that every
where in our land we are all in
complete accord about fundamen-
tails OF government, or the basic
principles upon which society is
| founded. But the sectionalism of
| Grants and Lees time has been
! effaced, and the geographical divis-
| ions which hindered the formation
of the union and later threatened
its disruption have given way TO
the far less menacing divisions
which have challenged all civiliza-
| ton and which make the ferment
out of which all progress comes.
| We are today incontestably one
| people, with a common purpose,
universal pride, nation wide conf
dence, and one flag. The conten-
tons which beset US are not ours
alone, they are the irritants to civ
| iliZation throughout the world.
| They are not to be ignored, but
| they have never halted the human
/ progression and will not hinder the
progress of this firmly founded re-
public
Grant was himself the supreme
example of American opportunity.
Standing before his humble birth
place, amid the surroundings of his
obscure boyhood life, one doubts if
three-quarters of a century ago
anyone should have sought here
for the military chieftain of a cen,
fury. We have not a few. even to,
day. who think small-town vision
to be pitifully circumscribed. And
yet this little Clermont county fur
nished in Ulysses S. Grant and
Henry c. Corbin two of the IS
lieutenant generals who have been
commissioned in all our history.
Grant an Early Failure.
Grant had even less of likeli-
hood to eminence than his unprom-
Using and unprophetic beginning
There was the suggestion of medi-
ocrity in his development, and even
the steadfastness of his early man
hood was stamped with failure.
But there was the inheritance of
quality, and he dwelt and grew
rugged in the freedom of democ-
racy.
Even the reckoning opportunity
of war left him seemingly unfavor-
ed by fate. Politically he was out
of accord with the master martyr
who became his commander-in-
chief. But he believed in union
and the nation supreme. He
brought to the armed service pre-
paredness to command, sturdiness
of purpose. patience and forbear-
ance. great generosits OF soul, and
a confidence never to be shaken
The seizure Of opportunity. more
10 serve than to achieve, made him
victor, and the quiet man, CARRIED
in failure at Galena, marched to
the surprising heights of military
glory. All conquering in COM
mand and magnanimous in his tri-
umph. the world saw the soldier
and the man. the soldier adored
and the man beloved.
Other military leaders hitherto
had mounted to lofty heights in the
annals of human history. 1t is
useless to compare, but it is be-
fitting to recall that General Grant
was not making conquest Of terri