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

war and among which hatreds an'
prejudices still exist.
That thought was that the resent
ments of war must not be per-
petuated II peace is to prevail
Il wonder sometimes" said the
President. 'if the magnanimity OF
the logged. persistent. unalteraole
Grant In warfare-the Unconditional
: Surrender Grant-would not be
/ helpful in the world today.
Il cannot help but believe that
something of the spirit with which
Grant welcomed victory; something
OF his eagerness 10 return TO peace
full ways. would have speeded the
restoration and fastened the return
to prosperity and happiness, with
out which there can be no abiding
peace. lie perpetuated no resent
mepts OF war. But he chung TO his
vision of union restored. and be-
lieved the shortest route TO peace
to be the surest way of lasting tri-
.umph."
Praislng Grants 'cherishment OF
peace. intensified by his intimate
/ knowledge OF the horrors of war
Harding said he felt certain 'ha g,a-
eral would approve Americas recent
action in joining with other nations
TO limit armament and to promote
understandings which make war less
likely.
II know he would approved" said
the President eloquently, because we
gave up none of our nationality for
which he ught, but we have furth-
cred the assurances Of peace, whlch
was the supreme yearning OF ms
great. brave heart"
America. Harding said since
Grant "garlanded victory with mag
nanimity" had welded great IN
nuence in the world.
The President said;
my Countrymen: The military
hero of the Republic; a command
ing figure in the military history OF
the world: the surprising exemplar
of magnanimity OF all times; the
most striking example Of the POSI-
bilitles in American life; the CON
fident and relentless commander IN
war and the modest and sympathe-
tic petitioner for peace after victory
IAN of these may be said, most
befttingly. OF the great American
whose hundredth birthday annivers-
arv we are met to commemorate, TO
whose undying fame we ADD rresn
tribute of memory to-day.
an that Inevitable contemplation
Incident TO the preparation OF an
address for this occasion, nave
Wondered again and again, what as
tinction. or what attribute. or better,
what attribute and achievement OF
Gen. Ulysses S. Grant appeals TO me
most He looms majestic in the
blend OF them all--his fame is Sc
cure.
zone must revere his military
genius, even though its development
was one OF those miracles Of grim
war itself. No one would have
nicked him in youth or early man
hood, or in his early career as
regular officer. for the great COM
mander. Responsibility and neces-
sitv set ablaze the latent genius !
Donelson was a flash Of daring, !
Vicksburg his trophy of courage ana
determination. Peters
hurr the revelation of his genius.
But AT Appomattox he was Grant the
Nagnanimous, who spoke for re-
union as he had fought for union
and turned from grim warrior to the
of peace He could !
neither hate nor humiliate, and In
the very glow of surprising triumph |
he could not be ungracious or incon-
siderate.
I'm that supreme moment OF vic
tory. with union saved at unutterable |
cost. he seems to have surveyed the |
many disappointments, the measure
less sacrifices and the indescribable |
sorrows He felt the assurance OF |
The Nation preserved, and yet the
one sweeping utterance from his
great heart was Let us have peace
'Undoubtedly the task OF recon
,triiction was llghtened because of
Irant's moderation. At the height
If the struggle he would accept the
,apltulatlon of Fort Donelson only
N conditions OF unconditional sur
.ender;" but when the lighting was
yer, he changed from severity 20
moderation and generosity. In the
onclusion OF his report to the Secre-
airy of War some months after Ap-
omattox. he first paid his tribute 10
he valor OF the armies he had COM
handed. and then concluded with
his sentence:
Let them hope for perpetual
peace and harmony with that
enemy, whose manhood, how
ever mistaken the cause, drew
forth such hercuiean deeds Of
valor.
II cannot but feel that there is
or us a lesson in the concluding I
Of the note in which he ]
20 receive the surrender OF |
he Army of Northern Virginia.
Those sentences read: g
THE armies, artillery, and G
public property to be parked
and stacked, and turned over 10
the officer appointed by me 20
receive them. This will not en- ,
brace the side arms OF the off,
GERS, nor their private horses
OF baggage. This done, each
officer and man will be allowed
to return 10 their homes. not to
be disturbed by United States
authority so long as they OBJ
serve their paroles and the laws
IN force whore they may reside.
ITO that he added the verbal
agreement with General Lee that
every man OF the Confederate Ar<y
who claimed TO own a horse or ,/ile,
should be permitted TO take the ami
NAL home. General Lee observed
that these conditions would have a
happy effect upon his army With
In a few hours after the capitula-
-. L.. H.. |