Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1922-04-27
HARDING HONORS GRANTS MEMORY

! freedom. He did not seek to punt!
or destroy; he was fighting to sa'
and reunite. In his heart were
drastic terms of surrender;
craved the blessings OF peace r
stored.
THE other day / received a lie
Ger from an old gentleman now III
ing at Annapolis, Nd, James Y
Owens, who. at the age OF 50,
still practcing law In Maryland
capital city. He related an iDcidei
i'm his own career that was so cha
acteristic of General Grant that
was worth repeating. He told m
that he was a soldier in Genera
Lees army, surrendered at Appc
mattox. and returned 10 his home I
Maryland. There he was confronte
with an order of the Union genera
commanding the Department G
Maryland. which required that a
paroled Confederates should TAX
the oath of allegiance. Mr.. owen
in his letter to me explained:
AS Dick Taylor and Kirby
Smith were still lighting, de-
cliDed and was put in prison.
and released on condition that
would leave the State. 1 went
with an exiled comrade to see
General Grant. We left a note
explaining our Punishment. and
he Immediately issued an order
saying that in accepting the
surrender of General Lee he
had made It a condition that
the paroled men should return
to their homes, and there re-
main as long as they observed
the conditions imposed. Not
designating n loyal or disloyal
State, General Grant directed
that the general in command in
Maryland should rescind his or
der. accordingly returned
here. and here 1 am yet. at the
age of so. We veterans of the
Confederacy have only a feel
ing of good will for his memory.
Il wonder sometimes If the mag
lanimity of Grant, the logged, per-
sistent. unalterable Grant in war
'are - the Unconditional Surrender
not be helpful in the
world today. The great world strug-
sle, which we might reasonably
designate the Civil War OF western
and in which we so
and helpfully participated,
eft peoples and nations PROSTATE,
lardly knowing which way to turn
or restoration. can not help but
elieve that something of the spirit
Nth which Grant welcomed victory,
omething of his eagerness 10 return
o peaceful ways, would have speed
d the restoration and fastened the
eturn to prosperity and happiness,
Tithout which there can be no abid-
lg peace. He perpetuated no re-
eminent OF war. Perhaps he felt
is own wounds which came of
alumny, recalled how he was hui
Inflated through misunderstanding,
nd menaced by jealousy and ham
cred by politics. But he chung to
is vision OF union restored, and be-
eyed the shortest route TO peace
D be the surest way of lasting tri-
mph.
MANY an incident OF the war.
many a revelation OF his sturdy char
cter showed that his face was set
n the one supreme achievement
lnion and the preserved ark OF the
american covenant OF liberty. No
lurting heart. no rivalry. no triumph
" other commanders. no promotion
" the aspiring or deserving. could
'emove his gaze from the great end
fought. He wrote Sherman, in
srant-like simplicity and sincerity,
hat he would serve under him as
as over him, to attain pre-
ierved union. Out OF such conse-
ration, out OF such unchanging de-
,otion, came his signal victory.
ut is not hard to understand ef-
'ective endeavor and inspiring lead
,rship where men are consecrated to
iervice. He was not concerned
bout his individual fortunes, he was
,attling for the Union. He was not
self-promotion, he was fight
ng for the Nation. Rivals sought
lis removal and disgrace, but he
,ept on fighting Lincoln repulsed
lis enemies. 4 can't spare this man;
ay He fought for a preserved
Union and restored Nation, and. sue
ieeding generations art richer be-
ause OF his example. One may guar
Lntee the security OF this Republic
o long as leaders among men put
he country's good above personal
nd political advantage.
TT is not TO be said OF Grant that
Ie sought to preserve political or
ocial order. or even government.
which had especially favored him.
Te was too little favored by the ex-
sting order. Nor can 1t be said that
e sought personal OF political pop
larity. These things were apart
-om his early life.
1T is conceivable that men are
rejudiced in their attitude toward
reat problems by their own expert
ices-more by their disappoint-
ents than their successes. Grants
vn experience in life might have
d less deliberate character TO well
me an upheaval. or disunion, or
~ reversal to the government. But
is silent man did not appraise his
'untry by the scale of his own mis-
rtunes.
He had seen much Of the Repub-
:. In boyhood he drove often TO
Incinnati and saw the developing
ty. much as he saw st. Louis later /
a, in his early married life. Be
veen these two periods OF observa- |
on he had graduated from West |
ONT. he had served creditably in 1
he Mexican War. and was stationed /
5 a military officer on the Pacific !
cast.
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