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

What OF the Republic itself? It |
will not be unseemly to say that |
American example and American con-
ception Of justice and liberty since
then have influenced the world lit
tie less significantly than Grants ser
vice to the Union shaped the course
of our land.
Worst Enemies Are at Home.
"a score of new republics have un-
furled their flags and democracy has
opened new avenues of liberty and
made justice more secure. Civiliza-
ton meanwhile has made such ad-
vances that there has seemed a di-
vinity pointing the way. And yet that
very civilization. more advancing
than entrenched, was threatened by
the World War, and in wars after
math established order has been a.
saulted and revolution has threaten
ed throughout the world. In our own
land the enemies within have been
more threatening than those without.
Greed and anarchy have menaced.
But calm survey gives every re
modern civilization could. not have
been builded on foundations which are
false. A century and a half of graft
flying American achievement dates
from the sacrifices of the founding
fathers, and their firm structure was
preserved by the patriots whom
Grant commanded. and will be held
secure by the patriotic citizenship of
the Republic today and the grateful
Americans Of the morrow"
Though he proclaimed the doctrine
OF moral disarmament at Appomat-
tox. he believed in a nation equipped
for righteous cause" Mr.. Harding
declared. But no aggression was in his
breast"
Declaring at the outset that ne had
pondered over the attributes OF the
character OF Grant. the President said
the Union leader looms majestic In
the blend OF them all-hts fame is Sc
cure"
Development of His Genius.
One must revere his military gen
ius. even though Its development was
one Of those miracles OF grim war IT
self" he continued mo one would
have picked him In youth or early
manhood. or IN his earlyz career as a
regular officer. for the great command
er. Responsibility and necessity set
ablaze the latent genius. Donelson was
flash OF daring, Vicksburg his trophy
/ Cf courage and unalterable determine
| lion, Petersburg the revelation of his
genius. At AppomattoX he was Grant
the magnanimous, who spoke for re-
union as he had fought for union, and
turned from grim warrior 10 the am
bassador Of peace. He could neither
hate nor humiliate, and IN the very
| glow OF SURPRISING triumph. he could
| not be ungracious or inconsiderate
in that supreme moment Of victory
with Union saved at unutterable cost
he seems 10 have surveyed the many
| disappointments, the measureless sac
rifices and the indescribable sorrowe
He felt the assurance Of the nation pre-.
served. and yet the one sweeping ut
terance from his great heart was lie
us have peace
Lightened Work of Reconstruction.
Undoubtedly the task Of reconstruc
t!on was lightened because OF Grant,
! moderation. I cannot but fee
that there is for us a lesson in tn.
concluding sentences of the note II
which he proposed to receive the sur
render OF the army of Northern Vir
g.nia. Those sentences read:
" The armies, artillery, and pub
lie property 10 be parked and stack
ad
appointed by me to receive them.
This will not embrace the side
arms of the officers, nor their pri-
vate horses or baggage. This done,
each officer and man will be allow
ed to return 10 their homes, not
to be disturbed by United States
{ authority so long as they observe
their paroles and the laws IN force
Z where they may reside
ITO that he added the verbal agree
ment with General Lee that every ma
Of the Confederate Army who claim
9 ed to own a horse or mule should /
-, permitted to take the animal hom
General Lee observed that these cor
-. ditions would have a happy effect upo
:. his army. In making such cor
dition, in thus recognizing the val
s difficulties OF consolidating the peac
> won through years of suffering an
privation, there spoke the great, trl
: heart Of the man who could see int
the future and realize it's problems.
= Many years later, when his Iii
was ebblng. and he struggled TO IL
end OF his memories, all the Amer
a can people knew OF his brave figl
- and the inevitable outcome. and u
r man OF magnanimity found himse
the recipient Of a genuinely matte
] wide sympathy = =.
His One and Only Surrender.
HE saw union follow disunion, b
s it was not his TO live to see compile
concord where discord had fiourishe
/ wish he somehow might know that
the more than third OF centu
since his one and only surrender, q
1t indissoluble lies OF union have be
more firmly riyeted and in the shar
burdens and triumphs of Americ
:. progress, we have indeed continued
se peace at home. Geographical sectio
a alism Is only a memory now, a
Id Mason and DiXon's line remains or
a historical record, where an al
he biguity in the Federal CONSTITUTE
was wiped out. and the Nation resum
is the onward march on it's deetir
Way