The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-03-05
pRRsIpENr aRANT,s INAUaURAL

dent trant IN tuII rs reporter Dy Telegraph,
Making proper allowance for errors occur.
ring in transmitting and transcribing il, as
a piece Of English composition it will fail 10
elicit general or even partizan praise. -
Whatever may be the peculiar merits Of
President Grant writing pure English and
terse sentences cannot be claimed as one Of
them. In this respect there is a marked
contrast between him aud his immediate
predecessor for whatever may have been
thought Of Johnsons administration or bis
political opinions, no American, we suppose,
has ever been ashamed of the composition Of
his official communications. We very much
fear that as much cannot be said Of Gen. |
Gran, at the close Of his administration.
The style Of the composition, however, is
one Of the least objections to the address,
for it IS not impossible that a President may
write very poor English and yet possess
many admirable administrative and execu'
tive qualities. We indulge some hope that
this may be true Of President Grant.
Considering the long unbroken silence
which has sealed the Presidents lips both
before and since his election, on the leading
questions Of public concern, the inaugural
comes very far short Of public expectation,
It's non.commttalism on important ques
tons Of difference between the two great
parties OF the country is one Of its promi.
ueut features. It is, however no less re.
markable for this than for the position as.
sumed on the questions Of paying govern.
ment bonds, and the constitutional amend.
ment imposing negro suffrage on the States
These are the only two questions upon which
the President takes positive ground, and his
position on these questions is on the suf.
rage question inconsistent with declarations
made by him before the White House doomed
up in the prospective Of his ambition, md
on the financial question singularly absurd
and on both un'enable.
The question Of reconstruction, which is
far the most vital of all others with which
it will be the duty or privilege of the new
President TO deal, is evaded. II cannot be
said in excuse OF this evasion that Congress
having enacted laws on this subject which
are now merely to be executed and not to
be discussed and it would have been use
less for HIM to acquiesce IN or dissent from
them. The character Of the liability o
government on ls bonded indebtedness, !
equally fixed and settled by law. No con
struction Of its obligation is needed, an,
unless it is the desire and purpose Of Con
gress, as has been eyinced by the Senate, &c
extend the liability Of the government and
make new contract with the holders Of it,
bonds, nothing need be said on this subject
Yet the President goes out Of his way
to commit himself to the absurd position
that the public debt shall be paid in gold
unless otherwise stipulated in the contract
There is no reason, sounding either in goo,
conscience, morals or law, why this distinc
ton between government bonds and private
contracts should be made in favor of bond
holders. The law of private contracts, as
made by Congress and interpreted by the
Courts, is just the reverse of what is de.
manded BY the President in behalf of bond.
holders, VIZ that all private contracts may
be discharged in United States treasury
notes, unless it is expressly stipulated other.
wise and it has only been since u decision
by Chief Justice Chase at the last sitting
of the Supreme Court, that contracts ex
pressly payable in gold could be enforced.
President Grant thus commits himself and |
his administration fully and explicitly to the
odious policy Of gold for bondholders and
paper for laborers and the uses oF commerce.
Capital as against labor and enterprise. at
last has representative in the White |
House, and Notwithstanding his expressed |
determination 10 enforce strictnccountabiIty |
10 the treasury for every dollar of public
revenue collected, and the utmost degree of
retrenchmeut and economy, he cannot be
relied on to do either where the re
suit would be the curtailmeut OF the
fullest revenues which the most lib,
eral construction Of government bonds will
allow to their holders. He is fully indoctri-
mated with the idea that loyalty to the gov.
eminent requires a subsidy to those who for
the purpose of enriching themselves loaned
the government during the war, forty to
sevonty.fve cents, and received bond for
one dollar in return.
Ia the matter of the borough system OF
Congress in controlling the Southern States,
the new President will evidently yield him.
elf entirely to the behests of Congress, and
will execute their will in as obnoxious and
oppressive a manner as shall be demanded
Of him.
Ii he has any settled convictions or views
in reference to the settlement of our con.
troversy with England, he does not express
them, for his intimatlons Of foreign policy
are Of such a general and non commttal
character that no shade of opinion on that
subject will consider itself combatted.
We shall wait with some impotence for
the Presidents first message to Congress,
wherein he will probably express some posi-
we view" on questions OF public policy.
anu, as ne promises US, urge them unon tho
consideration Of that bo1r