Great Falls tribune., 1922-03-24
The HQSkin Letter . 1t1ess.ss %ssz
GRANT, THE UNOSTENTATIOUS.

GRANT, THE VI
Washington, D. g.. March 21-The
hundredth anniversary Of the birth OF
General Grant win be celebrated in
few weeks-on April 9th, to be exact.
The recognition this event will get in
Washington will be the unveiling OF
memorial at the foot of the capitol on
the west side. work on which was COM
menced years ago.
To the great majority Of Americans
Grant is merely what they have learned
and read Of him from the printed page.
The men alive today who knew Grant
when he was at the forfront OF those
making American history are few and
far between. Prominent among this
dwindling number is "Uncle Joe" Can
non, Oldest member of the house OF rep.
resentatives in years and in point OF
service. Mr.. Cannon's first hand recol-
lections Of General Grant are as fresh
as if he had parted from the famous
soldier but week ago.
Grant forced recognition of his ability
as a military genius, according to Uncle
Joe. There was nothing flashy, moth
ing dramatic in General Grant. 1t is
deplorable fact, but true, that brother
officers in the union armies did their
utmost to give credit for victories and
military feats to others, often to them
selves, when success actually was due
to the ability and brains Of Grant.
In April, 1851, this man presided at
a union meeting in a small Illinois town,
unknown even to majority Of his neigh
bors," Mr.. Cannon points out. 'In
April, 1865, he presided at that famous
union meeting Appomattox, when armed
resistance to the union ended. He had
not come to this success and distinc-
ton through political favoritism or fav-
orable publicity, unless we accept Gen
eral Bragg's epigram on Grover Cleve
land We love him for the enemies he
has made"
What Uncle Joe calls the political
generals" and the literary generals" all
opposed to Grant, and envied him. But
in spite Of the criticisms and abuse
aimed at him, he compelled recognition
Of his military ability until Lincoln, be-
fore he had ever seen Grant, made the
recently unknown soldier commander
Of all the northern forces.
Had No Enthusiasms
General Grant was perfectly nor
NAL man." says the Illinois political vet
eran. "He had neither enthusiasm nor
passion, and no hysterical development
Of any kind. He had no sense Of the
dramatic, and failed to do those things
which instantly appeal to the public
eye. He was SO calm under all cir
cumstances that he seems to have com
municated some of his unexcitable ma
ture to those about him, even to the
horse be rode. Who ever heard of Grant
or orho
even the artists who are ever looking
for the dramatic and picturesque have
always pictured Grant sitting quietly
on horse standing on four feet. as
quietly as though just unhitched from
the plow"
Mr.. Cannon recalled that at Vicks-
burg, General Grant sent Logan to take
formal possession Of the city when
Pemberton surrendered. On the his
torical occasion at Appomattox. Gen
eral Grant refused to appear otherwise
than he usually did, and wore his ordi-
nary service uniform. Grant saw no
dramatic climax in this occasion. AS
soon as it was over he hurried back to
Washington to arrange for disbanding
the armies under his command. and
sending the soldiers to their homes.
This same Indifference to dramatic
demonstrations and situations followed
him through lfe," Mr.. Cannon recalls.
4 recollect in reading in the papers
Of his trip around the world how he
met the crowned heads. statesmen and
plain people with the same simple
manner. He surprised the Germans by
walking from his hotel to the palace
to call on Prince Bismarck, and the
prince. we are told. met him at the
door. instead of waiting to receive him
in state. He met the queen of Eng
land, the czar Of Russia, the emperor
Of Japan and the king of Siam In the
same way. conforming to the etiquette
Of the courts, but for himself never
dropping the role Of the plain Ameri-
can gentleman. He might have ap-
peared in the courts of Europe and
Asia wearing the four stars of a gen.
eral, worn rightly by no man from
Washington's time to his day, but he
refused to appear in the uniform which
gave him the greatest distinction in
the eyes Of the world"
Target of Many Critics
Hordes of critics leveled their shafts
at Grant from the time Of his advent
on the national stage until his death
on Mount McGregor, Mr.. Cannon says.
These critics could see nothing good
in Grant-no military ability, no pa
triotic devotion, no moral courage in
the soldier while his battles were in
progress, but were forced to join in
the praise heaped On him when his vic
tories were won.
General Grant refused to have the
surrender at Appomattox commemorate
ed in an historic painting representing
him as receiving the sword of Lee, as
General Gates is represented in the
surrender Of Burgoyne at Saratoga, in
the monster painting which hangs in
the rotunda of the capitol here. Mr..
Cannon is authority for the statement
that the federal government has never
commemorated in monument or picture
nf eYnense will dnnhfless oro,x, sxz;4L