New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-06-17
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CEN GRANTS STATEsMANSBIP

Some of our contemporaries are in painful
state of patriotic apprehension and alarm lest
Gen. Grants abilities as statesman should
not prove equal to the duties of the Pres-
Dental Office. "Other Presidents" say they,
"have, in their messages to Congress, taken
"the initiative in legislation by proposing and
recommending measures; but Gen. Grant
"begins by declaring that he has no policy"
This is a mistake. Gen. Grant has not de-
clared that he will have no policy, or that he
will not perform his constitutional duty OF
recommending to Congress such measures as
he shall deem proper for their consideration.
He has declared, on the contrary, that he has
a policy, and that his policy is not to enforce
any policy against the will of the people. We
cordially indOrse this declaration as evincing, in
tho first and most vital point, a sound view OF
the functions of President under our COnsti-
tuition We further commend it as truer states
manship than many of our Presidents have
displayed. In stating that he has no
policy to enforce against the VIII OF
the people," Gen. Grant implies that his
whole energies will be devoted to enforcing
such policies as the people, through their repre-
Sentatives in Congress- shall have embodied
into law. The maintenance of peace and
order the protection of the rights of all classes
to invest and labor and to reap the fruits OF
their capital and industry, are Blooms which
through more than half the area of our country
have never been enjoyed. Gen. Grant, in secu-
ring these to the South, will add hundreds of
millions of dollars per annum to the wealth ana
prosperity of that section. The maintenance OF
peace upon our Indian frontier and the substi-
tuition of the reign of law for violence
and brute force in our mining and border DIS
tricts would immensely aid the development OF
the mineral Territories into States, and the
outward flow of wealth which the Government
and people would derive from the precious
metals toward the redemption of the National
debt The vigorous enforcement OF our revenue
laws would at once greatly cheaper the objects
of revenue to the consumer, increase the income
of the Government, lessen the burdens OF honest
tax payers, and turn out of office the tax-thieves
who now stand between all imported and
manufactured articles and their consumers, and
gorge themselves by piundering alike producers,
consumers, and the Government. In achieving
these great results, Gen. Grant will win sue
cess far more difficult and glorious than could
arise from any influence nc might cAtII o'ci
the legislative and political policies of Congress.
Nay, his success in these his proper fields OF
duty, will add power and force to such recon-
mendations as he may feel called upon to
make to Congress which they could not other
wise obtain. Andrew Johnson lost the power to
command for want of the discretion
and modesty TO obey. Gen. Grant by enter
ing upon his Office with no other disposition
than to obey, and by the steady pursuit of
that wise policy. will attain a far greater in
fuence and real power to command. So far
from such policy Attending any indication
that Gen. Grant will be a negative or weak
President, it is only the application to civil
affairs of the same quiet wisdom which has
lifted him into the supreme military power and
insured his success in every undertaking on
which he has entered.