Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1869-03-12


| Ia commenting ON this importar
paper. We shall try not to exceed il
length. l, is \ model Of breyity an
good sense, and leaves much still ,
be said when the proper time sha
come. But 30 far as it goes it is p.ai
and unambiguous, and will give gcnel
al satisfaction. !, deals directly Wit
only seven suhjcc,s,-the duties of
president. the security OF the citize
in all parts ofths country, the pay men
Of the public debt. the collection am,
disbursement Of the revenue, our for
eign policy, the Indian aud the sui
frage question.
Gen. Grant declares that while b,
will recommend laws and veto bill
according TO his best judgment, h,
viii enforce all exciting laws; adding
Significantly, ~ know no method e
secure the repeal Of bad or obnoxious
laws so effective as their stringcn,
execution" 1t does no. need the
assurance Of his word. however, to lei
us know he will not play the foolish
and wicked part that johnson has
taken. The security Of all citizens,
whatever their color, and without
regard to local prejndices is the next
point touched upon; and it is clca. he
means TO exact justice at the south,
and maintain peace between contend
ing factions.
Half the inaugural is given to the
public debt and the question of reve.
nue. ;and here the trumpet gives no
uncertain sound. Those who have
been trying to white down the debt
by some measure ofpartial reputation
are met point blank by these words Of
the new president, ITO protect the
national honor every dollar of govern.
ment Indebtedness should be paid in
gold, unless otherwise expressly s,ipu-
lated in the contract. Let it be under.
stood that no repudiator of one far.
thing Of the public debt shall be trus
ted in public place, end it will 60 far
towards Strengthening . credit which
ought to be the best in the world"
This does not sound much like one Of
Gen. Buffers speeches, but it will be
and acted upon when
hose are forgotten. Incidentally the
president goes on to cay tina, no more
Pacific railroad subsidies should he
granted until "a dollar Of obligation
% pay, secures precisely the same sort
If dollar to us now" That is q felicit-
BUS statement Of the case, and We
lave no doubt that the country will
zee fit to take such good advice.
The new foreign policy is not stated |
ave in very general terms, bu. it is
certain Gen. Grant will yield nothing
o other nations save what they are |
airlv entitled to claim. He SAYS
'othing about England or Cuba, in
while evidently having
hem in mind. He is equally general
n his statement of his Indian policy,
nth one exception it must tend to
heir "ultimate citizenship,"-a matter
rhlch our government has too long
1T out Of sight 10 its dealings with
be Indians. In regard to suffrage
here is no doubt where he stands.
lie definitely recommends the ratitica-
lon Of the fifteenth article of amend
neut, just passed by congress, on the
round that the suffrage dispute can
ot be settled, $50 long as q portion Of
he citizens Of the nation arc excluded
rom this privilege in any state"
That covers the whole question, and |,
5 the basis on which reconstruction
must finally be established. In its styls
bis remarkable document is strong
md simple, though unexpected in its
equence and method Of statement. |
I is the greatest possible contrast to |
|ohnson's turgid and egotistic rhetor-
c, and thus affords another considera-
lie reason for rejoicing that we have
exchanged the chief mischief maker
or the chief acknowledgement