The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1868-06-03
Chairman Fir. pi.tr;e, Congressional Committee



In his letter Of acceptance Gen. Grant
enunciates for him self new ard novel doc
,rine Of Executive power and policy
He says: :" If elected to the Office
Of President of the United States, il
will be my endeayor to administer all ,telaw
st-,ci siaase tna foise.io" 60,
where. In times like the present Il is impos.
sihle, or, q. least, eminen " improper, to Ia,
down policy 10 be adhered to, right or
wrong. During an administration of iour
years new political issues not foreseen are
constantly arising, the views of the public on
Old ores are constantly changing, and pure
administrative officer should always be left
to execute the will of the people. | slways
have respected that will, and always shall! 7
That Is the most original and important dec
laration of Executive policy ever made by
en- American statesman. Newton saw tie
apple TALL to any thoughtful mind il would
seem the interecne would easily follow that
the smaller body is drawn towards the larger
but 1t was Newton alone that thought il.
And It may have been easy enough Ia 90
steadily west across the ocean from The
shores OF Europe, but i. was Columbus alone
that dld t. So it mar be easy enough 10
conclade, that since. in this Democratic
Government, the public officer is only lie
people agent, the sill Of the people should
a!ways control in administration. bnt Grant
"a The first Of American statesmen to apply
that doctrine practically. From Washing.
ton down every President has ruled the
country in the assumption that the President
was fonr-year king. And the neople Of
all parties have sanctioned the assumption.
tn each case there hes been more or less
soothing ard Dissatisfaction a,)ou, The presi.
dent policy, but Grant is The iirs, American
10 see and say that the President has M
sasht TO policy al all. Kings have right
10 policy, Emperors have. but an Amer.
can President has not That SO plainly fol-
lows trom our theory Of Government that i
seems now, the greatest Of oil wonders that
everybody didn't see II, and everybody .ar
H. and every President and pahlic Of
heer follow il in administrator
10 most readers i, may appear that there
Ism much in Grants letter Of accordance
Bat Judged by its original political sivni6.
canoe II Is the most important written cnun>
ciation Of political doctrine in his co,ntrv
during the present century. And even e
drant were defeated, he will still 20 into b;s.
tory as The most original and crea,iya s,o,ee.
man Of the first hundred years of the govern.
neat nj. In the hereafter, when the NH.
losophlcai historian writes the philosophy al
American history, lie will pass from the pe-
clara'ioa Of Independence aud The orsaoiza.
tion OF the Government to Grant. anp,.;a
uon OF his democratic theory OF the dn,ie.
ana limitations of the Executive, as The uert
greatest advance made in The devs,onner,
ana Application Of the popular prinein,es
'n'ea are Inc genius and essence CT ous eoy>
eminent.
TOT Whatever be;idee Grant, his doctrine
WIN remain power in American nol,,;cs
ana from line publication OF HIS lo,.a- Iii
date growing determination a,ona
ereasinsly large party of tbinsnv and mo
kfessl'e men not TO rest until the aoctr;ne :
applied in the administration Of ,ha
States. n'sea
hat what will be The result of ;ty H.
WIN IT work? Gran, says that xbs,ever Nv
oe 'ne eonv'eliens of the President :, o,,,..
o'heer'ss az individual or whatever ,ho
~ "n'cn ne was eesed, he is bound 10 orr.
out the popular will as the peonle TO- -.
70 time determine. That will vol !, ''''
revolution IN parties and will be ,ha -.
o. new leaf N American political b;s,o,1
eu. IT IS Democratic, and Repabl;can a.s
right. foo'ieah, ana
> ven, Grant give, bis cordial ss.s,, ] j,
Republican platform. That /, - = me
onee-seeker and rolitieian-i, !, -, i, ,aefe
easaleo declaration Of an aa,isb, 's's.
true Republican. 81 man aud
'oiinx' letter is sound, $780,.
sh' ana every way good. A.. !, ss''e~fi'
J 1s :, VII bear reading lust he, 80 ssas'u-
II I'd re mad been no Itana,.,..
sisverf w,aid to-day cxss III haasn party,
over THE Repa,Iie. Ef fh<se b.a f -. spassw
pnbiicm party free psass AMI r. - no ~
voaid - - ankno~n from he Po,a.n.s sp e ca