p. 480 | A Parting Tribute by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 6, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 30.

A Parting Tribute.

By Editor

AS MANY of our readers take up this number of the SIGNS to read it, it will be the day of General Grant's funeral. We have already referred to his death, and as this is the last issue of the SIGNS before his burial, and the last occasion on which we can so appropriately do so, we wish to add another slight tribute to his greatness. The London Telegraph referred to him as "the greatest and most successful general that the United States has produced," and our American journals seem to be willing to accede as much, but to us that very faintly describes the position of U. S. Grant, among generals.

We state it as our opinion, and firmly believe that history will justify it, that Ulysses S. Grant was the greatest general that any nation has produced, in ancient or modern times. He successfully commanded more men for a longer time, than did any other general known to history. As Lieutenant-General of all the armies of the United States, he directed the movements of more than a million men, for more than a year, and never made a false move.

However, to speak of him thus simply in respect to his generalship is by no means all. But we only have space to refer further to that supreme moment at Appomattox, when a conquered foe anxiously hung upon his word to know what their immediate future was to be, he expressed all and more than we can say, when he said, "Let the men keep their horses for they will need them in tilling the soil." It is impossible to imagine Napoleon in such a scene. Nor was it the least mark of his greatness that, at such a moment, such a general should turn his attention so entirely to the arts and blessings of peace. Take him as a man amongst men, concerned simply in the affairs of men and nations, we shall never look upon his like again.