The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-02-25
G H "A r l. E S TON
THURSDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 25, 1859
The Executive and the Coantrv.

| General Grant is in ill odor on account
Of the practical character of his speech
replying to the official announcement of his
election. At time when political ques-
tions claim the first consideration, when
political services demand fitting recon-
pense of office, when the people are simply
the constituency of Congress, the Presi-
dent elect foolisbly proposes to consult the
public welfare. No wonder that there is
uneasiness at Washington. clamor. al
ready breaks forth. The storm is brewing
which will soon fall upon the luckless,
simple soldier who repeats, now a. days, the
traditions of the fathers of the republic.
We smile, as we think of the opinion the
Radical leaders must hold of an Executive
who announces that economy, retrench-
"ment, the faithful collection of the reve-
s'nuc and the payment of the public debt"
will be the cardinal principles of his ad-
ministration. Little do Sumner and Butler
and Schenck and Garfield and Cameron and
Forney core for these tribes The govern.
ment they sustain is that not Of country,
but of section; the good they seek is that
not OF the public, but of party; the Pres
ident they want is not beneficent ruler. but
an obsequious servant. But whatever
their opinions may be and their private
ends, it is unquestionable that General
Grant has struck a key mote which reverbe-
rates and awakens harmonious response
throughout the republic. The politicians
may rage against him, but every man
ground down with taxes will bid him God
speed. .
Nor does the avowed desire of the Presi
dent elect to please those who elected him
necessarily Indicate any deviation from the
policy he has marked out. The objects
which he has in view are of the first import
ance, and he needs Republican support for
their attainment. That he should break
with that party is not desirable for himself
or. for us. Mr.. Johnson, with the best mo.
tivss we doubt not, tried the experiment
The result is shown in the distracted snd
dlsorganized state Of the country. He un-
derteok to make new road for Ai.nselr and
US, tnrouga the tangled wilderness, and the
result was that he got lose; he failed to
direct US safely; snd the best we can saw
of him is, that his aim was good, that he was
not absolutely swamped, and that he will
get on solid ground by tho end of his Pres
identlal term. But new, both the North
and the South expect from General Grant
something more. We have peaoen
already; we want security we want relief
from our burdens we want such a state 10
public affairs as will afford scope for ;ndns.
Try and enterprise, as will allow intellect
and character and blood to tell.
The longer the present condition ~
things continues the less have we been dia.
posed to attach any special Importance to
political measures. Little do we heed tho
fantastic tricks Of the speech. makers Of
Coinmbia, who seem to fancy that the ewes
OF the whole State-nay, Of the whole
world--are fixed upon them. Let them
:" fret and fume their little hour upon fhe
stage" When the substantial citizens 80 m.
State have fair chance, they will ask no
favers. They can do their work indepen-
dently Of all the politicians. They can
recover their ancient prestige. With their
cotton hbres that foat on the winds, they
can weave white plume Of guidance, Of
glory and Of victory, like that which Of old
s"urged on "the helmet Of Navarro" An
that we want Of General Grant is that he
shall settle the policy of tho country. we
cant manage an anarchy but any settled
form Of government, from q despotism 10 4
republic, we en- control. And that satt,a.
ment Of public policy we anticipate,
from the disclaimers than from the
determinations Of our new prcsideR /.