Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1869-02-12
General Grant and his Reticence.

"Wkcrc McGrcgor sits there is the
head Of the table," and General Grant
though not yet inductcd into Office,
wicIds more power and is altogether
4 more important pcrs"nage today
:han Preside, t Johnson. lie is the !
ccntrafsuu around whom party leaders
are moving like so many satellites
the oracle upon whose lips statesmen
hang with eager anticipation, and
from whose sphinx-likc uttcranccs
they arc trying to gather same clnc as
TO the principles which arc to guide
tho future policy Of the country.
King Caucns has been dcthroncd, but
his successor has not been inauguratcd.
Chaos rcigns supreme, and all the
elements Of a new creation await his
sovereign yfut to bring order out of
confusion. In the meantime the
wheels Of legislation arc stayed, and
Congress is without a policy. But
why this reticcnce upon the part OF!
the "coming man." the future law
| giver? "Why tarry the wheels Of
his cLariots ?' Party leaders and
party organs, as they have all along
been eager and anxious are beginning
70 he y little indignant, The New
York Times and tho Erening Post com
plain that the advice Of leading Re-
publicans has not been asked that
they have not been informed Of the
Generals intentions that they have
. no idea what course ho intends to
pursue, and that the future is wrap
ped in impcnctrablc gloom, and
threaten that if Grant does not con-
suit the party, and conform to their
wishes, he may anticipate the loss of
their support and his own speedy over
throw.
The National Iteligtncrr on the
other hand takes up the cudgcls for
Grant and shows that reticencc is the
characteristic genius Of the man, and
that since his election he has discussed
public matters as much as ever before
. 1t is not to be expected Of him that
he sh Guild indulge in speech making
or writing letters, and in nothing has
he better shown his good sense thai
in declining public reception. Or
many important measures Genera
Graut has expressed views in convcr
= sation which arc well known. It il
no secret that he has advised the trans
fer of the Indian Bureau to the Wa
4 Department, that he urges tho un-
8 qualified repeal Of the Civil Tenure
81 Act, and that he has expressed very
decided opinions in favor of retrench
mcnt and reform. The true grount
- of disappointment, the real cause o
compliant is, that Grant has not len
= himself in advance TO the selfsl
schemes Of party leaders, and prom
- - ised TO become their plant tool.
The retice1ce Of General Grant VI
:. regard as q most favorable omen, tha
Z. he will rise above the shackles Q
party and administer the Governpen
\ with sole reference to the good Of tn
i country, 1t shows that ho apprec
- ates the independence Of his position
- - and intends to make proper use {
) it. What is the leading feature {
that position 2 1t is that Geners
. Grant elected the Republican party
~ ~ and not the party General Grant. H
. ;. was the peoples candidate, and er
'" " throned as he was in the esteem an
), confidence Of the people, he carrie
" the party into office on his own broa
= = shoulders. To obtain his cooperate
g g the Radicals had TO. o.ignore what ws
. - most distinctive in their party organ
: ization, and accommodate their pla
=. form to etheir. nominee; instead !.
!; getting . candidate who could stan
sslapop, their platform. We have i
doubt that, General Grant fully, 81
~ adorssss the. ,Recopstruction policy; /.
y Congress and will sustain ,1niyers
suffrage and kindred measures, butg
believe that he has both the abilit
tstand honesty to administer the Cover
y, fmsnt for theg good. ofasthe. coahtr
a funtr sled sbya apaasy pledges aal
6 anbiased Yart considerations =