The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-02-15
FIRST EDITION
THE PRESIDENT ELECT.
OOnamepte OF the New York Press on Hts
fastest speech.

fastest speech
The N. Y. Herd d editorlally stys:-'lt is
short speech, but full Of matter as an egg Is OF
meat. He pI0n0unces In favor OF honesty,
economy, and retIenchment. Good. He VIII
cast about him for honest assistants, ana IL tney
prove unsatisfactory he will not hesitate mo-
ment in appointing other men in their places.
Excellent. He had intended, on being informed
officially OF his election, to make come an
nOuDcements OF his Cabinet; but he had since
concluded to keep his own counsels I'LL ms
Cabinet selections are sent to the Senate. All
right He thinks that II he were to make them
known beforehand there would be some squa0-
bling between the friends OF this man, that man,
and the other man, TO have new deal. Very
good, General. Mr.. Dana and other Cabinet
makers can now go ahead again. Mr.. Pruyn,
the Deme cratic member of the official commit
tee, II SCENE, was the happiest man on the occa-
s0p. He thinks, from General Grants opening
Off cla speech, that all tie Democracy may
come over 10 his side, and we shouldn't wonder
II they do. Why not W
The N. Y. World makes the following editorial
COmments:-
This certainly is no great display of intellect;
but candor consuains US to say that 1t is no
ordinary exhibition OF character. General
Granl's resoluie decision OF character will save
him from a great deal OF importantly and an-
noyaDce, and perhaps from some opposition.
Some moralist has remarked that II Is wonderful
how space clears around Il man when 1t comes
10 be seen that he possesses a very decided VIII.
H. as is 30 often said, money is power, 1t ls more
emphatically true that chordcter IS poUer; and
2hateycr may be the wisdom or uhwisdom OF
General Grants administration, it seems
tolerably certain that he will impress his own
mark upon it. His methods may not be the
best methods, but they are pretty likely to be
1t deserves to be remarked that he says no
word, and gives no hint, that he cares any
thing for the distinctive principles OF the
Republ can party. He ignores its peculiar
dogMas entirely. He says be Will bend his
efforts to secure, economy, retrenchment,
faithful collection of the revenue, and pay
ment OF the public debt" The spreadeagleism
OF equal rights the current glorhcation OF the
negro race, the justice and necessity OF uni
versal suffrage, are topics which ne passes
over in silent contempt. How different an
address would Mr.. Sumner or Mr.. Wade have
made in the same circumstancesl Mr.. Pruyn
was doubtless too sangulne and cOmplaisant, or
at least little premature, in promising General
when be has not yet delivered his inaugural
address, IOr shown his hand in mis- appoint
ments; but he was certainly correct in assum-
ing that Democrats will ind nothing to object
TO. and much to approve, IN the tone temper,
and topics of this speech. II General Grant
should as carefully weed Republican fauaticlsm
out OF his administration as he has out OF his
speech, Democratic opposition would have less
ground to stand upon.
The President-elect not only withholds his
Endorsement from the Republican party, but he
continues to withhold his confidence from the
Republican leaders. He tells them that nobody
VIII be permitted TO know what he intends to do
until he has actually done 1t, when their advice
and suggestions will come too late TO have any
influence. They are just rs mueh outsiders as
the leaders of tine Democratic party, we, OF
course, have no complaint to make OF this;
indeed, we are great deal better satisfied
10 have General t1rant, who has never been
Republican, follow his own Judgment than
accept any advice from the party that
elected him. Whether they feel as much
satisfaction with his coutempmous indepen-
dence as we do, Is question which they arc
competent to decide. General Grant inumates,
plainly enough, that he does not wish to be
hampered by the Tenure oil Ohce law. He says
he means 10 turn out his own appointees as
,I,o ooth Mo n1ncac NJ hpu do mt
suit him; and he thinks 1t may be necessary, in
some cases, to try not once but twice, and even
several times. before he gets the right man in
the right place. Now, the theory OF the Tenure
of Office act is, that he may try once, but his
liberty of choice is then exhausted. That law
permits him to select Cabinet, but 1t
secures them their places for tull four years
pnless the Senate shall be pleased to have il
otherwise. There is no more reason, in the
nature of the case, why the law should be
repealed in relation to the Cabinet than there
is Tor the repeal of the whole of it. The
President Is no more responsible for the Cabinet
than he is for all the other executive officers.
The heads OF departments he can watch; they
are constantly under his eye and subject to his
personal influence; but he can restrain distant
revenue officers only by the terror OF removal.
He is more likely TO have to try several times
before he gets the revenue honestly collected,
than before he GETS dutiful Cabinet. The
great burden of his speech is virtual demand
for the repeal of the Tenure ,-odice act. Will
his demand be complied with? II it Is not
complied with, Will not the new administration
start With mutual want Of con 6dence between
the President and the Republican Senate? ? And
can the Republican party stand the shock OF
sueh q collision. Nous UPrrons.
The N. Y. Times says:-
il will not escape attention shat General
Grant did not even refer to what Senator Nor
ton had DESIGNATED as the chief ends hoped tor
from his administration, or TO what certain
school of politicians proclaim to be the great
end that remsins to be accomplished. Mr.. Nor
ton bad said that the country expected that,
under his administration, 'the work of recon-
struction will be completed and the wounds OF
eivil war healed" General Grant, in his response,
ignOSed the tact that there Rad been a civil
war, and did not presume tnay anything OF
reconstruction was inc0mp etc All that has been
Betted by existing laws The war is closed.
He himself has received the surrender of the
Rebel army, and Congress by legisla'lou has
settled the terms and prescribed the methods oil
re obstruction. These things, therefore. bel )ng
10 the past, and will not enter into the elements
aud disturbing forces of the coming adminie
tration. Nor did he refer IN any way to what
Mr.. Sumner and his school declare 10 be the
great question, and the only question OF the
Immediate future-the establishment by national
authority of universal suffrage in all the Staies
and The admission 0f the negro TO CIVIL political
official and social equality In every part OF the
United States. ---.--
General Grant indicated his purpose to direct
his administration TO the accom- plishment o
practical results, rather than the establishment
OF political theories, 10 securing ECONOMY, re
treDchment, faithful collection OF the revenue
and payment OF the public debt" And he
declared that he should appoint to Office "5uch
men onlg as be thought would carry out these
prinslplee." This, then. is TO DE the KEY note o
Ae eadm'Disiration-thIe is the leading principle
snd purpose by which Its conduct will be