The Washington herald., 1922-04-28
PRESIDENT SEES
WORLD PEACE IN
IDEALS OF GRANT
Oontinsed from Paae One.

Continued from Page One.
In the conclusion Of his report TO
the Secretary OF War some months
after Appomattox, he first paid his
tribute to the valor OF the armies
he had commanded. and then con-
cluded with this sentence:
Let them hope for perpetual peace
and harmony with that enemy whose
manhood. however mistaken the
cause. drew forth such herculean
deeds of valor.''
he saw union follow disunion, but
II was not his to live to see COM
plete concord. where discord had
hourished. ! wish that he somehow
might know that in the more than
a third of century since his one
and only surrender, the indlssoluble
ties OF union have been more nrmly
riveted. and in the shared burdens
ana triumphs Of American progress
we have indeed continued at peace
at home.
Nation Now Ceemnted.
The war with Spain consecrated
North and South to a common cause.
and the sacrifice 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
frightful cost and suffering, would
rejoice TO acclaim the republIc of
today
l do not mean 20, say that every
where in our land we are all in com
piete accord about fundamentals Of
government or the basic principles
upon which society Is founded. But
the sectionalism OF Grants and Lees
time has been effaced, and the geo
graphical divisions which hindered
the formation OF the Union. and later
threatened its disruption, have given
way to the far less menacing diyi-
sions which have challenged all civ
ilization. and which make the fer
ment out OF which all progress comes
We are today incontestab.y one peo-
pie with a common purpose. uni
Versal pride. nation wide confidence.
and one nag. The contentious which
beset us are not ours alone, they are
the irritants to civilization through
out the world. They are not to be
ignored, but they have never halted
the human procession, and will not
hinder the progress Of this firmly
founded republic.
Grant had even less of likelihood
to eminence than his unpromising
and unprophettc beginning. There
was the suggestion OF mediocrlty
in his development, and even the
steadfsstness of his early manhood
was stamped with failure. But
there was the inheritance OF quail
ity, and he ewelt and grew rugged
in the freedom OF democracy
Other military leaders hitherto
had mounted to lofty heights in the
annals Of human history. 1t is USE
less to compare. but 1t Is bentting
to recall that Gen. Grant was not
making conquest of territory or ex-
panding empire. He did not fight
TO enslave; he only battled to sus-
tain Lincoln, whom God inspired to
bestow freedom. He did not seek
to punish or destroy: he was fight-
ing to save and reunite. In his
heart were no drastic terms of sur
render; he craved the blessings of
peace restored.
l wonder sometimes IL the mag
nantmity Of Grant, the dogged, per-
sistent. unalterable Grant in war
fare-the unconditional surrender
Grant-would not be helpful in the
world today. The great world
struggle. which we might reason
ably designate the civil war OF
Western civilization, left peoples
and nations PROSTATE. hardly know
ing which way to turn for restora-
tion l cannot help but believe that
something of the spirit with which
Grant welcomed victory. something
~ h
full ways. would have speeded the
restoration and FASTENED the return
to prosperity and happiness. with
out which there can be no abiding
peace. He perpetuated no resent
ment of war. Perhaps he felt his
own wounds, which came OF call
umny, recalled how he was humili-
ated through Misunderstanding,
and menaced by jealousy and ham
pered by politics. But he clung to
his vision of Union restored and be-
lieved the shortest route to peace
to be the surest way Of lasting tri-
umph.
Not Concerned About Self.
1t Is not hard to understand ef-
foctive endeavor and inspiring lead
ership where men are consecrated
" stINiCc. Tie was uOl COHCerntu
about his individual fortunes: he
was battling for the Union. He
was not seeking self-promotion; he
was fighting for the nation. Rivals
sought his removal and disgrace.
but he kept on fighting. Lincoln
repulsed his enemies. Il can't
spare this man; he fights" was all
Lincoln would say. He fought for
preserved Union and restored ma
tion. and succeeding generations are
richer because of his example. One
may guarantee the security of this
republic so long as leaders among
men put the country's good above
personal and political advantage.
Though he proclaimed the. doc
trine of moral disarmament at APP
pomattox. he believed in a nation
equipped Cor righteous defense. But
no aggression was in his breast.
We know his cherishment of
peace. intensified by his intimate
knowledge of the horrors of war.
l can well believe he would have
approved all that the republic has
SO recently done in joining other
nations in lifting the burdens Of