The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-04-28

Standing before his humble birth
place, amid the surroundings or his
obscure boyhood life, one doubts IL
three quarters Of a century ago any
one should have sought here for the
military chieftain of a century. We
have not a few, even today who
think smalltown vision to be pitt
fully circumscribed. and yet this
little Clermont county furnished in
Ulysses S. Grant and Henry &. Cor
bin two of the thirteen lieutenant
generals who have been commits
stoned in all our history.
Had Unpromrsino Beginning
Grant had even less of likeli-
hood to eminence than his unprom-
Using and unprophetic beginning.
There was the suggestion of medic
Gritty in his development, and N
the steadfastness of his early man
hood was stamped with failure. But
there was the inheritance of quail
", and he dwelt and grew rugged
in the freedom Of democracy.
1.-The seizure of opportunity, more
to serve than to achieve made him
victor. and the quiet man, garbed
in failure at Galena, marched to the
surprising heights of military
glory. All conquering in command
and maguanimouS in his triumph,
the world saw the soldier and the
man. the soldier adored and the
man beloved.
Many an incident of the war,
many a revelation of his sturdy
character showed that his face was
set on the one supreme achieve.
ment-union and the preserved ark
OF the American covenant OF liber-
ty.... He fought for a preserved
union and restored nation And
succeeding generations are richer
because of his example. One may
guarantee the security of this re-
public so long as leaders among
men. put the country's good above
personal and political advantage"
Nations Eyes On Point Pleasant
Point Pleasant, Ohio, April 81
The nation turned today to this lit
tie hamlet snuggled at the base of
to celebrate the one hundredth
birthday Of one OF its presidents
and greatest military leaders, Ulys-
ses S. Grant
Up the river from Cincinnati
came a fiotilla of river craft, bring
ing the president, the wife of the
president congressman high nation
al officials. uniformed military Of
ficerS, soldiers, state officials, men
prominent in civil life and hundreds
OF other citizens.
After viewing the place where
General Grant was born-only the
lean to of which still exists here,
the house proper having been re-
moved to the state grounds at Co.
lumbus-President Harding was to
deliver an address from a small
platform erected near the site of
the Grant home. Sound amplifiers
will make the presidents voice au
dible to all in the village and to
crowds that are expected to assem-
BILE in Lyttle park in Cincinnati, 80
miles away.
This is the second Grant celebra.
ton here. The first was in 1907
when cannon was mounted in
front of the site of the Grant home.
1t did not bear the national aspect,
however, which the present one
bears.
The Day In Washington
Washington, April 27.-The ma
chinery of government was halted
today by executive order of Presi-
dent Harding in order that thous
ands Of federal employees and Of
ficialS in common with visitors and
the citiZenry of Washington might
do honor to the memory of General
U. S. Grant at the dedication OF
the bronze memorial in the Botanic
garden on the centenary of the
birth OF the great union soldier and
president. At the same time the
memorial services were being held
here, President Harding was parti
cipating in similar exercises at
Point Pleasant Ohio, the birthplace
OF the union leader.
4 half holiday was granted to
federal employees, the public schools
were closed, the city bedecked in
flags and bunting and men and
women were marshaled from all
sections OF the country to form an
| Impressive parade in homage to
the memory of General Grant.
Vice President Coolidge and Sec
rotary Weeks were on the program
for the pricipal addresses while
Chief Justice Taft and all associate
justices of the supreme court
members of congress and other
high officials of the government
| were present.
President In Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio, April 27.-Presi-
dent Harding's train arrived at the
Central Union station at 9:12 this
morning.
President Harding was given a
hearty welcome on his arrival here
today on his way to Point Pleasant
Ohio, to take pact in the centenary
celebration this afternoon, of the
birth of General U. S. Grant.
A large crowd greeted the presi
dent when his train arrived. At the
Gibson hotel the president and Mrs.
Harding held a reception.
Afterward the president and Mrs
HalIing embarked on the govern
ment boat Cayuga and began the
journey to Point Pleasant.