The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-22
General Grants Administration.
IRON, the NJ Y. World.

If General Grant were as wise as he is fortu-
nate, he could do much to tranquillize and
reassure the country. But TO accomplish this
be would need to have a definite policy and
support it with great steadiness and modera-
tion. The silence under which he has thus
far yelled his intentions is not bad omen
nor yet very good one, unless there is soms-
thing behind the veil worth concealing If he
has no higher aim than merely to fill the
offices and let things drift, passively perform
ing only ministerial duties, he will fail to
appreciate opportunities such as have seldom
fallen to the lot of high officer. The sense
in which his reticipce is favorable is the
absence which it displays of frothy elaton at
his success. We wish it might turn out
that this freedom from foolish vanity is the
consequence of a manly estimate of the value
OF substantial power, when it can be exerted
for the public advantage. We should be glad
to believe that he wishes to make his Presi-
dency remembered in some other light than
as reward for his military services. If he
desires to make his mark on the civil history
of the country, and signalize his administra-
ton as the dawn of great era, he must set
out with policy and use the great authority
OF his Office to insure its success.
There is, of course, certain kind of fealty
that General Grant owes to the party that
elected him. We suppose he will regard him
self as bound, in honorable fidelity, to stand
by the reconstruction measures, since he knew
perfectly we'll what they We're when he ac-
cepted the nomination, and their stability
was the fundamental issue on which he was
elected. But beyond this, he ought not to
feel that he is bound. If Congress attempts
to proceed further in the same direction, and
oppress the South by new exhibitions OF
rigor, the new President is perfectly free to
dissent. And he may legitimately do all in
his power to soften the harshness of recon
struotion" in its practical operation. He
should avail himself of his fresh popularity,
as yet unwOrn by any sttrition with Con-
gIess, to sound such a keynote, at the be-
ginning of his administration, as will put an
end to the malignant hostility 10 the South
which has thus far been the impellipg spirit
Of the Republican party. While the great
mass Of Offices are undistributed, his magma
nimity will be more patiently borne than IL
would afterwards, as none of the countless
host OF aspiraDts, including all the most
active men in the party, will be anxious to
tind grounds Of ceusure while they are in
expectation and suspense. We wish we could
believe that IL is with some such wise design
that he is SO carefully holding them all at a
/ distance.
"But what" it may be asked, "can General
Grant do, If he acknowledges himself bound
by the reconstruction measures ?" Enough,
If he rises TO the full height of his opportu-
mites, to turn back the tide of vengeful
domineeripg passions which has so long surged
against the South. Enough to show that, in
has wish ana determination at least, bygones
are to be hygones that the old quarrel is at
! last ended; that he means to make good the
! only memorable thing in his letter of accept
spce, the exclamation "Let us have peace"
Mere professions amount to little, and we
should be sorry to have him fill his inaugural
with canting palaVer. We want him to show
his faith by his works, which he may easily
do if his aspiration for "peace" is sincere and
genuine. But how
First, then, he ought, in filling the Federal
Offices at Washington and the consular and
diplomatic appointments abroad, to make an
equitable distribution of them among all sec
tions OF the country as was done by our for
mer Presidents previous to the civil war. Par
tieipation in the Rebellion should be no bar,
provided that he is satisfied OF the present
loyalty Of the appointees. Fidelity to the
party that elected him and to his implied
pledges would prevent his appointing any
who do not abandon all further opposition to