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Literary
September 5, 1908
The Lake County Times
Hammond, Lake County, Indiana
What is this article about?
Edwin A. Nye's essay reflects on how adversity forged the moral courage and greatness of Presidents Grover Cleveland and Ulysses S. Grant, highlighting their triumphs over personal and political challenges.
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Heart to Heart Talks.
By EDWIN A. NYE.
Copyright, 1908, by Edwin A. Nye.
CLEVELAND AND GRANT.
Sweet are the uses of adversity.
It may not seem so sometimes.
To him who is exercised thereby the chastening may be not pleasant, but grievous, yet "it works out a far more exceeding weight of glory."
Which is proved again in the career of Grover Cleveland and by the career of every great man.
There was a time in the life of Grover Cleveland when he had to decide between the demands of his party and the demands of his conscience—on the one hand the tumult and the shouting of the captains, on the other the whispering of the inward monitor. And, treading the wine press alone, he shut his ears to the shoutings and listened to the still, small voice.
Grover Cleveland had his failings, but he will always stand in the recollection of his countrymen a superb figure of moral courage.
He faced detraction and slander. Some of it he lived down. Some of his detractors he won over. There are those who believed to the day of his death that going into office poor he came out a millionaire. It remained for the probate court—when this stubborn patriot was in his grave—to show the world that he was not a rich man.
Adversity made him great.
It was dark for him when the commandant of that lonely post on the Pacific coast gave Grant notice that he must reform his drinking habits or resign.
And Grant did both.
Vicksburg was not the first great victory for Grant. Down on that little forest farm near St. Louis he laid siege to his fell lust for liquor and conquered it.
Like Cleveland, he was greatly abused by his fellows. To this day there are many who believe he was a drunkard.
Nor was Appomattox his latest victory. It was when he was old and broken in fortune, mortally stricken by disease, fighting death with broken sword, he rose to the full height of real greatness and sent to all his countrymen his dying exhortation:
"Let us have peace!"
Cleveland and Grant are far beyond the reach of partisan rancor and censure of the multitude, their grand figures lit up by the pure sunshine of merited fame.
Adversity made them great.
By EDWIN A. NYE.
Copyright, 1908, by Edwin A. Nye.
CLEVELAND AND GRANT.
Sweet are the uses of adversity.
It may not seem so sometimes.
To him who is exercised thereby the chastening may be not pleasant, but grievous, yet "it works out a far more exceeding weight of glory."
Which is proved again in the career of Grover Cleveland and by the career of every great man.
There was a time in the life of Grover Cleveland when he had to decide between the demands of his party and the demands of his conscience—on the one hand the tumult and the shouting of the captains, on the other the whispering of the inward monitor. And, treading the wine press alone, he shut his ears to the shoutings and listened to the still, small voice.
Grover Cleveland had his failings, but he will always stand in the recollection of his countrymen a superb figure of moral courage.
He faced detraction and slander. Some of it he lived down. Some of his detractors he won over. There are those who believed to the day of his death that going into office poor he came out a millionaire. It remained for the probate court—when this stubborn patriot was in his grave—to show the world that he was not a rich man.
Adversity made him great.
It was dark for him when the commandant of that lonely post on the Pacific coast gave Grant notice that he must reform his drinking habits or resign.
And Grant did both.
Vicksburg was not the first great victory for Grant. Down on that little forest farm near St. Louis he laid siege to his fell lust for liquor and conquered it.
Like Cleveland, he was greatly abused by his fellows. To this day there are many who believe he was a drunkard.
Nor was Appomattox his latest victory. It was when he was old and broken in fortune, mortally stricken by disease, fighting death with broken sword, he rose to the full height of real greatness and sent to all his countrymen his dying exhortation:
"Let us have peace!"
Cleveland and Grant are far beyond the reach of partisan rancor and censure of the multitude, their grand figures lit up by the pure sunshine of merited fame.
Adversity made them great.
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Patriotism
Political
What keywords are associated?
Grover Cleveland
Ulysses Grant
Adversity
Moral Courage
Presidential Greatness
What entities or persons were involved?
By Edwin A. Nye.
Literary Details
Title
Heart To Heart Talks. Cleveland And Grant.
Author
By Edwin A. Nye.
Subject
On The Moral Courage Of Grover Cleveland And Ulysses S. Grant Amid Adversity
Key Lines
Sweet Are The Uses Of Adversity.
It May Not Seem So Sometimes.
To Him Who Is Exercised Thereby The Chastening May Be Not Pleasant, But Grievous, Yet "It Works Out A Far More Exceeding Weight Of Glory."
"Let Us Have Peace!"
Adversity Made Them Great.