The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-01-14
NEW YORK HERALD THURSDAY JANUARY lsea-TRPLE


Tho shadow Of Coming Events-Grant and
Congress.
The vicksburg campaign gave birth to q
new popular leader; for it brought into promi-
nent notice the commander of the federal forces
to whom had been entrusted the task Of cap
turing the key point of the rebel line of de-
fence, Vicksburg. In the face Of all military
counsel General Grant staked his future upon
the success of movement whose very bold
ness made it irresistible. He soon after re-
paired the misfortunes Of General Rosecrans
and defeated the army Of General Bragg.
Everywhere infusing his indomitable energy
into the troops under his command, he finally
headed the Army ofthe Potomac, and with the
objective point, Richmond, before him pushed
the great force upon the rebellion, constantly
grinding against it like gigantic milestone
from the Wilderness to Appomattox Court
House.
In Peace, as in war, the man was tested.
Generous to those who had drawn the sword
against the government, through patriotic yet
mistaken zeal, he at once, and even upon the
last field of battle, showed his appreciation
Of the problem Of reconstruction by
the liberal terms granted to the van
quished. He robbed no honors from
those under him; he gave them their Just
share Of praise, for they were of his own
naming, and to have them do well was to re-
feet back upon him for his good judgment in
their selection. The people tried him in the
civil administration Of the War Department,
and the results were an immediate and i'm
mense reduction of its expenditures. Thus
the man made his mark wherever he was
placed. He did well, stamped his own char
acter upon his work and pleased us. For this
we have elected him our President for the next
four years. His capacity for war, upon which
we have touched, is quiet force, valuable for
those persons to consider who do not feel dis
posed to accept certain results which have
been reasoned into practical existence by the
sabre. His generosity to the foe was the best
proof that he understood that the South repre-
scented vast and well-populated territory;
that Il possessed high-spirited and vigorous
people, full Of future power and wealth that
these facts must be recognized as powerful
existing force to be harmonized Is rapidly as
possible with the elements against which they
had been clashing in four years desperate
contest. His concessions to merit gave the
people proof that the cormorants who infest
all public places would be forced from
their prey; that men would be selected for
their fitness to al the Offices entrusted to them;
that whiskey rings would be crushed out, rail-
way and other jobs cease to plumber and sap
the energies Of the people; that in foreign
countries we should no longer be represented
by men who disgrace US, for through them we
cause other nations to take us at the estimate
which we place upon ourselves. His economy
In the War ONCE showed his desire to reduce
the burden Of debt under which the nation is
now staggering and from which, If unrelieved, Il
will shake itself free by reputation. It showed
that in every department Of government it was
his desire to institute that military exactness Of
administration In public expenditure which Is
alone suited to country at the moment 1t
emerges from great war covered with it's at
tendant corruptions.
In unison with Grant the people considered
that tho reforms and policy here embodied
were necessity TO the future well being of
the nation, and, looking for their best exponent,
elected as President the man who
had proven himself, above all others, to be
most fitted for the chief executive Office Of the
government.
Through General Grant Congress has imme-
diately felt the strong hand of the people. The
shadow they had been watching constantly
increased in intensity. Congress had usurped
q transient power in tho struggle with an imbe-
Gle President whom, by the Tenure Of ONCE
bill and other restrictions, they wound up In q
web from which, despite all effort, he could
not break. Now, however, Congress bends 10
the irresistible mandate Of the people and
restores the power usurped from the Execu-
tive. By this 1t is proven that Grant, as o
newly elected President, governs in all great
issues from the day of his election. The forty
seven Representatives who cling TO the past
will be buried with II. Those men who, headed
by Butler, have the brains to measure the tenn
per of the nation and accept its wishes as law
are opening the way to solid and beneficial
legislation. Under the leadership of Grant and
these men we expect general restora-
ton Of our lettering fortunes for we
have great destiny before us, whose
mandate 1t Is folly to disobey. We want
Legislation shaped 10 the fact that we
are making ourselves, by our railway and
telegraph systems, more compact as q nation
than the State Of Massachusetts, was AZ
province in 1880. We want Congress to recog-
nize that we face between six and seven hun
dred millions Of people In Asia, and that there
are thirty-fve millions Of people south Of us
calling upon us for commercial intercourse.
On this Continent we occupy the commercial
centre Of the world, and all maps now
illustrative Of the lines Of trade place North
America in the centre, with Europe and Asia
m aifhor hand