Life of U.S. Grant (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1885 Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XLIII. GENERAL GRANT'S LATER YEARS. WELCOMED HOME. THE return of the first American citizen to the land of his birth was anxiously awaited by the American people. The heights around San Francisco where he landed were thronged with a populace that pressed to be earliest in its greeting. He was regarded not only as a great soldier and an honored magistrate; but pre-eminently and typically an American; one who exhibited in his history the possibilities which our American civilization alone affords of rising from the humblest beginnings to the realization of the proudest hopes. Nowhere else on the round globe could a man born in a cabin expect to reside in the White House or to be received as an honored guest in the palaces of kings; nowhere else could a man who had failed to achieve distinguished success in gaining a livelihood as farmer, tanner, woodrseller, real estate broker have opportunity to become the chief object of a nation's thought and care. President Grant had demonstrated that in this country a man, once put upon the right track, who had faith, persistency, and courage, was certain to win fame. To some extent, indeed, he was made by circumstances, but the difference between him and other men, similarly situated, was that he was prepared to take advantage of circumstances, to make the most of accidents, and so the people sought to welcome him back from his journeying to the land whose history he had helped to make, and where he had his place in the hearts of all and his home in their affections. He received wonderful ovations in California, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and, indeed, wherever he went. He also made a tour of the Southern States, which was of great importance to the welfare of the country at large, for it did more, than any ef...