Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 June 1891 — IN MEMORY OF GRANT. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

IN MEMORY OF GRANT.

THE DEAD HERO OF APPOMATTOX, The Most Illustrious Chieftain or Modern Times, an Imposing Statue Is Unveiled —lts Site Galena, fvom Whence lie Went Forth to Fame and Fortune. The streets of Galena, the little 1111cois city whore Gen. Grant spent the years preceding his emergence from ob-

scurity Into everlasting fame, were thronged with visitors on the occasion of the unveiling of the Grant monument presented to Galena by H. H. Kohlsaat, the well-known business man of Chicago. It is doubtful if the city ever before held so large a crowd. The streets were fairly packed with men, women and children in holiday garb, each bent upon adding his quota to the great song of honor that goes forth to the dead hero of Appomattox. The .generosity of a Galena boy, now grown to be a Chicago man, has reared in the ■former home of Gen. Grant a noble .monument which is destined to mark forever the love, esteem and veneration in which Illinois holds the memory of her greatest citizen-soldier. Distinguished citizens were gathered •>from all points of the Union to celebrate the unveiling of tho monument as it deserves. Mr. Kohlsaat’s gift is a credit alike to the city Jl his birth, 1 the city of liis adoption, and to himself. The dio on tho base of the statue had 'been completed in the last few days by having cut thereon the names of twelve battles in which Grant was engaged, as follows: Palo Alto, Monterey, Molino del Roy, Chapultepcc, Belmont, Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Vicksburg, Chattamooga, Spottsylvania, Petersburg, and Appomattox. Hard by the insecure old fyouse that gave shelter to tho old commander the statuo stands—a noble bronze cast in heroic dimensions and mounted on a .pedestal of carved and glistening red .granito. Three tiers of gray granite form its base. It is in Grant Park —a •six-acre plot of ground high above tho river, purchased and given to tho city ’through the instrumentality of two ’Chicagoans, IT. H. Kohlsaat and James W.. Scott, both of whom are proud of having come out of Galena. Already tho park is graced by a soldiers’ monument and a fountain.

Sculptor Gelert xlid his work faithful* 3y and artistically, llehas given to Galena a marvelous life-like statue of the General, in civilian attire and in an attitude of meditation. “Grant, our Citizen,” is the simple inscription on the front surface of the monument. Tho total cost the statue is about 825,000. The exerei>es were begun by prayer by the. Rev. H. W. Atchison, after which Miss Paulino Kohlsaat of Chicago pulled tho cord and unveiled the statue, tho baud playing “Hail to the Chief” at tho time. Ex-Gov. Heard of Wisconsin then presented the monument with tho following •words: Xam commissioned on behalf of one of tho •distinguished citizens of your State—Mr. H. H. Kohlsaat, of Chicago, “a man whose Boul delighted in goodly deeds,’—to tender you this no--ble ■memorial of Gen. Grant. 1 need not tell you inset words of the purpose of the donor, X need net speak of tho rare soul that lies behind - this nobb gift . of hiß generosity, of his patriotism, of his abiding love for bis fellow-men and > his country. All this is a thousand times more • expressively told in the silent yet eloquent presence of yonder heroic statue. Who shall paint the rose or adequately tell of the subtle Essence of its perfume v Who shall bound by •descriptive phrase the love of a mother or define the devotion of a wife ? “A good and perfect gift’ like this, and the creative spirit of the giver, who shall hope to bear them to yojir hearts on the failing wings of J TnsHnctively now our thoughts are upon him whoewas ever our Invlnoible and unocmquervable pilot, the God-given Grant. Inseparably connected With the name of Grant will always

Stand the city of Galena. He wawyour own beiloved citizen. Here he uttered the words that were pregnant with all the after-meaning of his career Entering his store the morning after announcing the surrender of «~_±3ter, he pit on his coat and said: ’The Government educated me for the army, anA jkllliough I have served through one war I aaa sfeifl'lu debt to the Government and willing V> viteohaige the obligation.* Loyil wards; brave words, and in the light of they meant for the weal of the American nation they are sublime words. Hu re was set before him a supreme necessity —bis country's peril. He accepted bis duty, as -do all great soul#, in the white light of the simple truth. Called of God to this great missiou, U»e scawered to every summons as did Samuel of • old* 'Here am I." _ Young tuen, in the light of this great example* •and the honor and, glory the world has accorded it, how grand! v btends forth the troth of that utterance of the great Teacher: ’He the t will lose bisJife shall *ave it.* Ho* inspiring, amid all the sordid greed and —ls —fling of men in publie affairs, is the

transparent. Heart, life and purpose or General Grant. No man ever plowed himself into the conviction of his fellows without this Christlike quality of putting his, purpose above himself, The common people, rarebr at fault, always trusted him, and - he nevtfr failed them. Fortunate is that nation that has such an example of manhood, patriotism, courage, and fidelity. Citizens of Galena, receive this gift, made doubly precious by the sublime life and devotion to country of him it represents. As you have always guarded the name and fame of Grant, so guard and preserve this memorial, and round and about you shall be the prayers of all the American people, Fast ana West, North and South. Briefly accepting tho gift, Mr. K. H. McClellan, Chairman of the Board of I’ark Commissioners, introduced Mr. Depew. The famous after-dinner speaker and brilliant orator was greeted with rounds of applause. His speech was as follows:

'Jhirty years ago your city numbered among its citizens a man so modest that he was little known in tho community.; a merchant so humble that his activities were not felt in your business. Three years later his fame illumined the earth, aud the calculations of every commercial venture and of every construe. 1 vie enterprise in the country were based upon the success or failure of his plans. He was then supporting his lamily on a thousand dollars a year, aud before the third anniversary of his departure from your city he was spending four millions a day for the preservation of the Union. Oue of the patriotic meetings, commou at that time all over the North, was held here to sustain President l.imoln in his call for seveuty-flve thousand mm to suppress the rebellion. Tho ardor-end eloquence of John A. Pawling so impressed an auditor whom none of the Congressmen and prominent citizens on the platform had ever met that he subsequently made the orator his chief of staff and Secretary of War. Borne one discovered that Captain Grant, a graduate of West Point and a veteran of the Mexican war, lived in this city, aud he was invited to preside at the formation of a military company. He was so diffident that few heard his speech of three sentences, but in that short address was condensed all the eloquence and logic of the times. “You know the object for which wo are assembled. Men are needed to preserve the Union. What is your pleasure V He organized and drilled that company and led it to the Governor at Springfield. By that march Galena lost a citizen and the republic found its savior. Grant’s career will be the paradox of history. Parallels cannot bo drawn for him with the great captains of the world. Historians, by common consent, place Alexander the Great, Hannibal, Julius Ctesar and Napoleon Bonaparte in the front rank. But each of them had learned the art of war by continuous service and unequaled opportunities and displayed the most brilliant qualities at every period of their achievements. Hannibal and Ciesar had won universal fame in the ’3Ts. Alexander diod at 33, grieviDg because he had no more worlds to conquer, and Napoleon at 37 was master of Kuiope. But Grant aMJ was an obscure leather merchant in Galena. As a cadet at West Point he-had risen only just abovo the middle of his Class. As a subaltern on the frontier and in Mexico he had done no more than perform bis duty with the courage and capacity of the average vt e«VFoin ter. But ths moment that the great responsibilities ware thrust upon him and the late of his

country rested upon his shoulders, this indifferent farmer, busluess man, rueronant, became the foremost figure of the century. The reserve powers of a dominant intellect, which ordinary affairs could not move, came into action. A mighty mind which God had kept for the hour of supreme danger to the republic grasped tbe scattered elements of strength, solidified them into a resistless force and organized victory. He divined the purposes of tho enemy as well as he know Ills own plans. His brain became clearer, his strategy more perfect ftDd his confidence in himself more serene as his power increased. He could lead the assault at Donelson or the forlorn hope at Shiloh or maneuver his forces with exquisite skill and rare originality of resources at Vicksburg as the best of brigade or corps commaudeis, or before Richmond calmly conduct a campaign covering a continent and many armies with consummate generalship. His plans did not contemplate defeat. Tho movement he always made was “advance.” The order he always gave was “forward.” When Buell tol# him that the transports at Pittsburg ijtndiug would not carry away one-third of his force Grant said: “If that becomes necessary they wiU hold all there aro left.” His Vicksburg campaign was against all the teachings oi the military schools and the unanimous opinions of his council of war. A -veteran strategist cried in indignant remonstrance: “You will dux loose from vour base of supplies, and that is contrary to all the rules.” Grant .answered : “Unless we oapture Vicksburg the North will cut off our supplies." And the sorely bereaved and disheartened people were transported with joy and hope by the Pourth of July message: “Vicksburg has Burrendtred." The Western armies never knew their resistless power until they felt the hand of this master. No better or braver body of soldiers ever marched or fought than the Army of the Potomac. It lost battles through bad generalship and generals by camp jealousies and capital intrigues. Thousands of its heroes fell fn fruitless fights, but never wavered in its superb confidence and courage. At laßt it fouud a leader worthy of itself and after scores of bloody victories ended the rebellion uuder Grant. We are not yet far enough from the passions of the civil strife to do full justioe to the genius of the general who commanded the rebel army. England's greatest living general, Lord Wolseley, who served with him, assigns him a foremost place among the commanders of modern times. He possessed beyond most leaders the loyal and enthusiastic devotion of his people, and he was the idol of his army. In estimating the results and awarding the credit of the last campaign of the war, we must remember that Gen. Lee had defeated or taffled every opponent for three years, and that, after a contest unparalleled in desperate valor, frightful carnage and matchless strategy, he surrendered his sword to Grant.

The most signal services rendered by Grant to his country were at Appomattox, and in his contest with President Johnson. The passions aroused by the civil war were most inflamed when the Confederacy ooUapsed. Grief and vengeance are bad counselors. One serene intellect was possessed of an intuition which was second to prophecy and was clothed with powSr, Ha through the vindiotive suggestions f the hour that the seceded States must be admitted to the Union and their people vested with all tbe rights of American citizenship and all the privilegbs of State government, or the war had been fought in vain. He sternly repressed the expressions of joy by bis troops as Ihe vanquished enemy marched by, with Ins famous order, “The war is over, tbe rebels are omreountrymen acain and the beet sign of rejoicing after the victory will bo to abstain from alltdemoastratioDStin the field. ” He gave to the Confederates their noises and belongings and tqld them to go home, cultivate their farniß and repair the ravages of war. He assured all, from Lee to the private soldier, that they would be safe and unmolested so long as they observed their paroles.

To enter Richmond, the capital o* the Con. federaoy, whose spires had been in sight of the besiegers so long, would havs been a resistless temptation for a weaker man. But his mind was not on spectacular display or triumphal marches over humiliated foes. It was bent on peace and pacification. I know of no scene In our history so dramatic as the meeting between Lincoln and Grant at the V. bite House three days after tho surrender at Appomattox. The President, who had so loyally sustained the General, and the General who had so magnificently responded to the confidence of the President, met for the last time In their lives. Grant returned with deep emotion the fraternal grasp of the only man in the country who fully understood and was in complete accord with the policy of reconciliation and rep>ose. The work of the warrior was done and the labor of the statesman begun. Yesterday it was destruction; to-morrow it must be reconstruction. Tnat night the bullet of the assassin ended the life of our greatest President siDce Washington, and postponed the settlement of sectional difficulties nnd the cementing of the Union ftr many years. There have been many Presidents of the United States and the roll will be indefinitely extended. We have had a number of brilliant Boldiers, but onlyonegreat general. Tho honors of civil life could add nothing to the fame of General Grant, and it has been often argued that his career in the Presidency detracted from his repuiation. Such will not be the judgment of the impartial historian. He was without experience or training for public life and un. familiar with politicians and their methods. The spells system, from which he could not escape, nearly wrecked his first, administration. His mistakes were due to a quality which 1b the noblest of human virtues—loyalty to friends. Kven at this short distance from scenes so vivid in our memories party rancor has lost its bitterness aiuk bllndneßS. On great questions affecting the monor and credit of the natiou he was always sound and emphatic, and the administration of Gen. Grant will have a place in tne annals of the world for inaugurating and successfully carrying out the policy of the submission of international disputes to arbitration. The Geueva conference and tho judicial settlement of the Alabama claims will grow in importance and grandeur with time. As the nations of the earth disband their armaments and are governed by the laws of reason and humanity they will recur to this beneficent settlement between the United States and Great Britain and Gen. Grant's memorable words upon receiving tho frfedomof the city of London: “Although a soldier by education and profession, I have never felt any sort of fondness for war and X have never advocated it except as means of peace”—and they will hail him as one of the benefactors of mankind. G<v>e Orant was the product and representative the best element of our social lie. Home and its associations have been the training aud inspiration of our greatest and noblest men. They have come from the class which had neither poverty Dor riches, aud which was compelled to work for the support of the family and the education of the children. Its members are God-fearing men and loving, self-sacrificing women. It gave us Lincoln'from the farm, Garfield from the tow-path, Shermau from the crowded house of the brave and struggling widow, Bheridan from the humble cottage, and Grant from the home of the country storekeeper of the Ohio wilderness. These men never lost their sympathy with every human lot aud aspiration or the homely simplicity of their early conditions ami training. Grant was clerk in the Custom House and President of the United States, a Lieutenant in

Mexico and Commander-In-chier of the armies of the Union, numbering over a million of men, the unknown junior in a tanners’firm at Galena and the guest of emperors and kings. But the memory of the church of his mother was ever visible in his rev< rent regard for her teachings. Tlie applause of soldiers for their commander, of partisans for their chief leader, aud of the world for one of its most illustrious heroes was grateful, but the sweetest music for him was within the family circle, in the loving companionship of his wile and children and the prattle of his grandchildren. Though he received such honor anil recognition abroad and such distinction at home, he was always, whether in the presence of royalty or of the people, a modest, typical American citizen. Through tbe verses of great poets runs a familiar strain, through the works of great composers an oft-repeated tune and through the speeches of great orators a recurring aud characteristic thought. These are the germs which exhibit the moving forces of their minds. During the war, “I propose to move immediately upon your works," “Unconditional surrender, “I shall take no backward step,” “I propose to fight it out on this line if it takes all summer," are the beacon lights of the plans and strategy of Grant the soldier; at Appomatox, “Tho war is over," “Tho rebels are our countrymen again at the threshold of the .Presidency “Let us have peace”: on his bed of agony and death at Mount McGregor, when his power of speech wbb gone, writing 10 a Con-

federate General by his bedside, “Much as 1 suffer, I do It with pleasure if by lhat suffering can bo accomplished the union of my oountry,” are the indices of the labor, the aspirations and the prayer of Grant, the statesman and the patriot. Gov. Fifer followed with a brief speech. “Thirty years ago,” he said, "the experiment of free popular government on this continent entered upon its great and final trial before the civilized world. American nationality, American liberty, American character and civilization, came up to the judgment bar and hour of the God of nations. It was a supreme crisis; for, if this free govenment-fell, what other could ever hope to endure? When the great republic numbered her hosts and set captains over them it was found that Illinois, which had furnished the statesman, was destined also to iur-

the great captain or that hfstorfe crisis. He came from the people and his causa was theirs. “We are here to receive and dedlcata this monument. Such a gift Is twice blessed; it blesses alike the giver and the takers. It proves that the great principles defended by Grant live immortal in the generous breast of the donor. For this patriotic testimonial I extend to Mr. Kohlsaat the thanks of the people of Illinois, and with the thanks I voice for them I mingle the congratulations of all lovers of liberty that he has been generously moved thu9 to link his name with all that is worthy

EX-GOVERNOR WM. D. HOARD.

HON, CHAUNCEY M. DEPEW.

GOV. JOSEPH W. FIFER. and noble and heroic in the history of his country.”