Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-04-27

Seemingly. It was a long time in
which TO re-establish a concord so
manifestly essential to the nations
greater achievements. but the under
standing of the magnificent Lee was
not universal throughout the south.
the magnanimity of Grant was not
manifest throughout the north.
Wounds had to be healed. and par
tisan politics temporarily pronted
moro in irritation than in healing.
But the war with Spain consecrated
north and south to common cause,
and the sacrifice and nation wide ser
vice in the World War revealed the
common American soul. Grant, the
great Nationalist, who appraised union
and nationality above all the fright
ful cost and suffering. would rejoice
10 acclaim the Republic OF today.
SectionaIism All EfYaced.
| 81 do not mean TO say that every
where In our land we are all in com
plete 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 divisions
which have challenged all civilization,
and which make the ferment out of
which all progress comes. We are to-
day incontestibly one people, with q
common purpose, universal pride, ma
tion-wide confidence, and one flag.
The contentious which beset us are
not ours alone, they are the irritants
to civilization throughout the world
They are not to be ignored, but they
have never halted the human process
sion and will not hinder the progress
Of this firmly founded Republic.
Grant was himself the supreme
example OF American opportunity
Standing before his humble birthplace
amid the surroundings of his obscure
boyhood life, one doubts If three quar-
terJ of a century ago anyone should
have sought here for the military
chieftain OF a century. We have no
a few, even today, who think small
town vision 10 be pitifully circum
scribed. And yet this little Clermon
county furnished in Ulysses S. Gran
and Henry c. Corbin two of tn,
thirteen lieutenant generals VIII,
have been commissioned in all ou
history.
Grant had even less of likelihood I
eminence than his unpromising an,
unprophetic beginning. There wa
the suggestion of mediocrity in his de
velopment. and even the steadfast
ness of his early manhood was stampe
with failure. But there was the In
;, heritance of quality, and he dwelt an
: grew rugged in the freedom Q
= democracy.
:. Marched to High Military Glory.
= Even the beckoning opportunity c
n war left him seemingly unfavored b
i fate. Politically he was out OF accor
IT with the Master Martyr who becam
% his commander-in-ch But he be
d lieved in union and the nation su
e preme He brought to the armed sci
- vice preparedness to command, sturd
ness of purpose. patience and forbeaI
= ance, great generosity of soul. and
- confidence never to be shaken. Th
:. seizure Of opportunity, more to sery
- than to achieve, made him victor, an
!, the quiet man, garbed in failure 6
:, Galena, marched to the surpassin
heights of military glory.
All conquering in command ar
magnanimous in his triumph. II
lt world saw the soldier and the ma
le the soldier honored and the man b.
~ loved.
~ "Other military leaders hitherto hf
= mounted TO lofty heights in the al
- nails of human history. 1t is usele
:. to compare, but 1t is benefiting to r
=, call that General Grant was n
81 making conquest Of territory or e
;, panding empire. He was only see
nd ing TO preserve. He did not fight
lv enslave; he only battled to susta
n Lincoln, whom God inspired to b
on stow freedom. He did not seek
ed punish or destroy; he was fighting
ed save and reunite. In his heart we
no drastic terms OF surrender;