The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-25

an individual, conspicuously honest, is rea-
Oily forgiven for occasional blunders; while
everything done by persons Of equivocal in
tegrity is looked upon with suspicion and
distrust.
ECONOMY is the first and most conspicuous
fruit of honesty. An honest legislator, like
an honest trustee, will no sooner squander
than he will pilfer: while it is not upju nor
uncharitable to assume that he who would be
deliberately guilty of the one would not holi
back from the other. No party, therefore which
is not economical will be deemed honest, and
cannot expect as it does not deserve, to have
a long lease of power.
Economy, which is always q duty in gov
ernmental administration, is the supreme
duty now. The enormous debt incurred in
the prosecution of the war is felt to be q
heavy burden by the people. And its weight
will seem the more oppressive as the patriotic
enthusiasm of the period when it was incurred
fades away. If this heavy burden is increased,
or if the money which should be applied to
lessen 1T, is recllessly or unnecessarily
diverted by the party in power, no human
agency can preserve it from speedy; dishonor-
able, and iTredeemable defeat.
General Grant will enter upon his admins
tration with sincere purpose to do right.
No man was ever elevated to the Presidency
less trammelled by pledges or promises or
embarrassing associations. No man or set of
ment in his behalf. He was called to the high
position he has attained not because of what
others said of him, but because of what he
did himself. He has, therefore, no "enemies
to punish" and ''no friends'' but the people
'to reward" Although unused to civil SER
vice, he knows what that service involves
and although unacquainted, practically, with
many of the sources of demand upon the
public treasury, he knows that the principle
of rigid economy may be safely applied to,
and is imperatively demanded in, every de-
partment of the Government. And he will
apply this principle with unsparng severity,
strike whom it may and where it may. This
in substance, he has said, and this the people
believe he will do. They know him to be
honest, they believe him to be wise, and they
have faith in his promises.
All, therefore, that is needful to ensure to
the Republican party long lease of power, is
the cooperation of its Representatives in Con-
gress in whatever measures look to q practical
enforcement OF the principles of honesty and
economy. If these principles are earnestly
and persistently acted upon, everything else
needed will follow. All that is involved in
reoonstruction-civil equality, impartial pro-
lection, and the:supremacy of law-are guar
anteed by the election of General Grant and
Republican Congress. No new victories will
be achieved by pressing these issues into fu-
ture contests, because, if not already dead,
they are dying. We must look to other issues
and other principles for inspiration fer our
future conflicts with the Democratic party;
and we will find these issues and this ins pira-
tion in the measures of an administration
whose mission it should be to inaugurste a
policy which will as SURELY ultimate in wipine
out the national debt as the persistent vslol
of its Chief resulted in crushing out the Re-
bellion.
We are not so credulous as to suppose that
General Grant is to have an easy task in en-
forcing his ideas of honesty, economy, and
accountability. Extravagant habits, in pub
lie as in private life, have become too firmly
rooted to be easily eradicated. But when il
shall come to be fully understood that the
upon a rigid application of the principles
enumerated, we shall expect to find them en-
forced with a steadiness of purpose which viii
challenge the approval and attract the suf
frages of the people.