The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-11-07

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| prestige interposed between them aud ruiu IN st
| they willingly took him as candidate without
| policy, and practically conducted the whole
canvass on their side without connecting his
| name with single prominent issue. When.
| ever he was alluded TO, 1t was not in oonueo-
! tien with the discussion either of principles
or pelicy. No candidate for office was ever
| more completely dissooiated by his supporters
| from both. His name came in only as We
catch the flourish of tfumpets in the pro-
| gress of play, to divert the public attention
| from too searching an inquiry into the actual
| situation.
If he proves to be a man with small regard
| for the lasting opinions of his country men, h.
| will oppose no views or purposes of his OW
TO their predetermined plans. But II high
sense OF self respect and aprofounder sense
of public responsibility rule his character, We
have proclamation made in advance by the
cOeriers Of the party that there will be trouble.
AS he processes to bs patriot and as he will
have solemnly sworn to ''protect aud defend"
the Constitution of his countrv he cannot
abandon that safe ground to follow after thu
movements Of dreamers, dogmatists, and revo-
lutionaTy expermenters. Policy or no policy,
the time will surely come when General
Grant must take his position, and maintain
IL, either within the limits of the COnstitu-
tiOn or without them. We know too
well where the Radical leaders are; time
alone will fix the place of tbs President elect.
If the Tenure of-ofice restriction is continued,
it will practically matter little who is the
Executive; and it may come to that, under
radical rule, by.and by, when it will be of
little Importance whether we have any Exscu-
tive at all. And it, on the other hand Con-
gress unties the Presidential hands, it will by
that act convict itself of gross psrtisanship in
its previous conduct, and thus second time
commit an open outrage on the sense of the
~
course that body may elect to pursue, the
people will expect General Grant, made Presi-
dent by their own votes, to administer the
Government within the full limits of his con-
stitutional authority, and to execute their will
as it is embodied in the organic law.
When a citizen of one OF this sisterhood of
States becomes the President OF the Federal
republic, he is theoretically lifted above the
platform of all parties, and from that hour
represents the majesty OF the united people.
What man would do as the Executive of
State he might be utterly opposed to doing a
Executive OF the nation. That is the theory
on this matter which has become the estab-
lished one. Therefore for ourselves we pro-
pose to apply to the policy and conduct of
the next President those rules of political
criticism which are cOnsOnant both with
his high position and with cur
changed relations to its occupant He
becomes from private citizen. from a Gene
raj of the armies, the President of the United
States. His administration is yet to be
opened. A place is preparing in history for it
when completed. Whatever he shall do in
conformity, first, to the spirit and meaning of
the supreme law, that we shall never hesitate
to approve ard support; and whatever he may
do to cOntravene that law, to overlook it, over
ride it, or undermine it, we shall not omit to
combat and condemn. That law shall bs our
standard of Judgment still. 1t is the very
hrlt rorlr aud dot. Df
ties, and no man speaks even slightingly of it
who knows genuine freedom we'll enough to
recognize the BARRIERS and stronghOlds, and
intrepchments. The more devoted a President
| is to the Constitution, the more devoted we
promise to be to him.
The temptations of the dominant party to
| continued excesses are likely to be multiplied
| by their present success, Hence the greater
| need of the very restraints which are consti-
| tutionally appointed General Grant cannot
| be more than human; and, allowing that Con-
| gress consents to give him the full enjoyment
of his Office, he will do no more than the most
| illustrious in the line of Presidents have done
before him, in submitting unreseryedly to the
| distinct terms on which he becomes the high
est officer OF the Government. And in doing
that, he will by the same act demand that
| Congress shall keep to the legislative province
| alone, encroa hing neither on the Executive
nor the Judiciary, and performing no more
than the offices of its original creation. On
every side are to be- found limitations. TIE
people had full power on Tuesday; that day
| they gave away again only that part which
they have themselves deemed necessary to
promote their highest interests. II the Presi-
dent elect as he approaches the place OF
power, shall show that he accepts this simple
and primal principle of our republican govern
ment, he will not fail to satisfy the full expec-
tations of the American people.
We have now a right to expect peace, re-
union, equal rights, equalized taxes, a sound
currency, the revival OF industry, the diminu-
| tion of the public debt, a tightening of taxs-
ton, the steady rise in the public securities
the resurrection OF commerce, and the return
of general prosperity, on the strength of the
reiterated professions and promises of ths
| still dominant party. Their journals claim to
| have met these very issues in the recent can
vass, and satisfactorily. Then they are to bs
held to their word. All that they have under
taken they must religiously perform, more
especially as they have freely denied to theil
political opponents the capacity for success
fully handling such matters in practice. Ii
the political administration of the Govern
ment we shall wait willingly for such public
acts as we can consistently approve. We
shall be glad to give the new President
fair opportunity to establish a fame, as
civil ruler, far above anything he has hlthert,
achieved as a military commander. Ia hi
prospective career he will receive our fre
approval on the same grounds with ou
criticism. We shall judge his administrs
tiOn on its merits alone, looking, in common
with the people Of the country, for the inau
guration of public measures to uphold tn
rule of law, and to again build up the genera
prosperity.
A Blunder.