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Show AN AMERICAN IOI.OIKK. If we should be asked to write the epitaph of General Sherman, who at this writing is reported to be dying, we would inscribe upon the shaft of Time the simple words: "An American Soldier." Educated at West Point for the profession of arms, he was not a mighty warrior in the piping times of peace. He was too active and restless lor tno idle me in a garrison. lie bad too much of the steam engine temperament tempera-ment of the American in him to waste his energy in killing routine duty, and so he, like Grant, resigned his commission commis-sion and struck out in the world on his own responsibility. responsi-bility. Like the typical American that he w as, Sherman never confined himself him-self to any ono thing. Ho was a versatile versa-tile genius, banker, lawyer, journalist, anything that happened to promise success. suc-cess. And when the war broke out he proved himself again a thorough American Amer-ican whose patriotism persevered in the face of the fool censors who pronounced pro-nounced him insane. Slier-nan's services in the war form an important chapter in the history of the United States. They will never be forgotten by a grateful republic, but their recital belongs to the biographical column. After the war, when (rant became president, Sherman Sher-man succeeded him in command of the regular army, with the newly created rank of general. Did he content himself him-self with the nominal duties of his lant oflice? Not long. He took part, as a spectator on the French side, in the Franco-German war.wrote his memoirs and busied himself with a hundred and one things that would have paralyzed a younger man, When the uew retirement retire-ment act passed congress it was pro posed to exempt Sherman from its operation, op-eration, but he would not listen to it, not he, the generous American. He insisted ou sharing tho fate of his brother ollicers through all the vicissitudes of the service. Retired, the general, like all great Americans, was frequently mentioned ns a possible candidate for the presidency. presi-dency. Ami like nil good Americans, also, he was a ready speaker," a favorite Bt banquets and public meetings. At times he could almost wax eloquent. He admired w omen, another American trait. Being chivalrous, just and genial, his soldiers- adored him. There was but one "Uncle Hilly" in the host that inarched through Georgia. Older than either Grant or Sheridan, ho survived them both. Ho was a great soldier and a greater American. An American soldier. |