The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-03-21
Frederick Haskin's | etter
Grant, the Transformations.

washington, ID. e., Marcn zO.-
The hundredth anniversary of the
birth of General Grant will be cele-
hFated in a few veeks-nn April 81
to be exact. The recognition this
event will get in Washington will
! be the unwilling of memorial at
the foot of the capitol on the west
side, work on which was eommene-
ed years ago.
To the great majority of Ameri-
cans, Grant is merely what they
have learned and read of him from
the printed page. The men alive to-
day who knew Grant when he was
at the forefront of those making
American history are few and far
between. Prominent among this
dWindling number is "Uncle joe
Cannon, oldest member Of the house
| of representatives in years and in
point of service. Dir. Cannon's first
hand reeollections 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 military genius, accord
ing to Uncle Joe. There was moth
ing flashy, nothing dramatic in
General Grant. 1t is a deplorable
fact, but true, that brother officers
in the Union armies did their ut
most to give credit for victories and
military feats to others, often to
themselves, when success actually
was due to the ability and brains
of Grant.
"In April, 1861, this man presided
at Union meeting in a small Illi-
nois town, unknown even to a ma
jority of his neighbors," Mr.. Can
non points out. "IR April, 1865, he
presided at that famous Union meet
ing at Anpomattox, when armed re-
sistance to the Union ended. He
had not come to this success and
distinction though political favorit-
ism OF favorable publicity. unless
we accept General Bragg's epigram
on Grover Cleveland, we love him
for the enemies he has made"
What Uncle Joe calls the 'polit-
zeal generals" and the 'fIiterary
generals" all opposed Grant, and
enFied him. But in spite of the
criticism and abuse aimed at him,
he compelled recognition of his
military ability until Lincoln, before
he had ever seen Grant, made the
recently unknown soldier comman-
der of all the northern forces.
Had No Enthuiasms.
General Grant was a perfectly
normal man." says the Illinois po-
litical veteran. HE had neither en-
thusiasm nor passion, and no hys-
terical 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 circum-
stances that he seems to have COM
municated some of his unexcitable
nature to those about him, even TO
the horse he rode. Who ever heard
of Grant on a prancing, rearing
war horse? Why, even the artists
who are ever looking for the dra-
matte and picturesque have always !;
pictured Grant sitting quietly on a !
quietly as though Just unhitched
from the plow."
Mr.. Cannon recalled that at Ficks-i
burg, General Grant sent Logan to |
take formal possession of the city !
when RembertOn surrendered On !!
the historical occasion at Appomat-
tox, General Grant refused to APP
pear otherwise than he usually did,
and wore his ordinary service uni
form. Grand saw no dramatic eli
max in this occasion. AS soon as
it was over he hurried back to-
to arrange for dis
banding the armies under his COM
mand, and sending the soldiers to
their homes.
This same Indifference to dra-
matte demonstrations and situations
followed him through life" Mr.. Can
non recalls. 81 recollect in reading
in the papers Of his trip around the
world how he met the crowned
heads, statesmen and plain, people