Year: 1877




have many national eccentricities as
well as idiosyncracies. Grant is case
IN point, and illustrates perfectly what
we have claimed since the government
begun, that is, that ii will not do TO
judge Us Americans by any known rule,
or measure us by any commonly acs
cePted standard. Sixteen wears since,
General, or Captain Grant, WAS not
only unknown and poor, but he was,
through R weakness. alas too common
in our land, unfsyorably known. A re-
tired subaltern, addicted TO the use of
too much whiskey. attempting to eke
out a precarious existence by operating
a small lanyard at Galena, Illinois. To
day be is the honored guest Of the great
commercial city OF Liverpool. and an
honored visitor to the most enlightened
and exclusive of all the aristocrscies of
the old world. What necromancy,
what juggling fests FIJI up the years
between 1861 and 1872


We would gladly leave the black cur
tain which hang. before and conceals
these mysteries, all untouched. undis-
turbed We would cease TO remember
the cries and groan., the tears and dis
tress, the destruction and ruin which
were necessary to lift Captain Ulysses
Grant from the tan-vats OF Galena, to
become the honored guest of proud
England. and the one central figure OF
military glory and success which
sdorns the age in which we live. Gen.
eral Grants distinction has been legiti.
mately won. and far be it from US to
pluck single feather from the plume
Of his glory: On the contrary, we glory
IN his advancement as illustrating in
peculiarly impressive way, the magnif-
cent possibilities existing for the hum
blest under our system, if only they
have the qualities which entitle them to
reach up as Grant did. Grant is now
one of the representative men, not
alone Of America, but OF the Alglo-
Saxon race No present or future com
bination can ever reduce him to the
common level again, nothing but his
own unworthy acts can do that, and we
are among those who sincerely trust
that he will not do anything abroad OF
at home while he lives, that would dim
the lustre of his fame nor do we fear
that he will. And yet we would not
have him accepted as sample of the
culture, refinement and learning of the
public men Of the United States. 1t Is
fortunate circumstance for him and
the nation both that great military men
are expected to be excentric, little
reticent and very much opposed to
speech-making. else these deficiencies in
the makeup Of General Grant might
become n little more prominent than
either our pride or interest could tol
crate.


While General Grant enjoys an hon
orable distinction at home, and is re-
ceiving the attentions abroad due his
eminent character, and which are so
grateful to the nation he has served so
long and so well, let us not forget the
errors Of the system by which he
climbed to eminenee, nor cease for a
moment the honest effort to correct
them Let us not forget those other
equally patriotic men, who confronted
him in the great struggle, aud who only
missed his distinction because the
weight Of numbers was against them
Let ne not forget that now is the time to
heal all dissensions. That, though Lee,
Johnston and Jackson sleep the sleep of
death, yet their fame is a priceless jewel
in the crown of our military glory.
Grant il he comes in contact with the
better classes in England and through
out Europe, will hear very often of the
tender recollections cherished there of
the brave people and cause which went
down into night when his star rose in
triumph to the zenith Of earthly glory.
May ii soften the man, and may his fu-
ture best effort be given to the crate
full task OF wiping out the memory Of
the war, and of healing all dissensions
and thoroughly reuniting our people
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