The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-10-28
ar1n1r OF THE PRESS.
.,,,,or,aI OpinIous Of the Lending Journals
IIpon Carrent Topics Compiled Every
Day for the Evening Telegraph.
PROMISES AND PERFORMANCES.

Day for the Evening Telegraph
PROMISES AND PERFORMANCES.
From the NJ Y. Times.
General Grant has not. from the outset,
left the country in doubt with regard to the
leading points of his policy When waited
npon by the Joint committee of Congress, on
the 18th February, to officially inform him of
his election, lie announced his determination
to- fulfil the just expectations of the people.
''I can promise the committee, he said "that
IL will be my endeavor to call around me as
assistants such men only as I think will carry
out the principles which you have said the
country desires to see successful-ec economy,
retrenchment, faithful collection of the reve-
nue., and payment of the public debt" And
with these objects in view, he declared that
he would unhesitatingly change his appointees
if those first selected failed to cooperate with
him efficiently in the prosecution of this
policy. There was no room for doubt or am
bigrlity upon the subject. General Grant
had resolved that, whatever might happen,
ECONOMY, retrenchment, faithful collection
of the revenue, and payment of the public
debt" should be the cardinal principles of his
administration. His pledge was voluntary
and emphatic
On the occasion to which we refer another
promise was made also voluntarily and with
equal emphasis. Mr. J. V. L. Pruyn was
present as a member of the joint committee.
He was there as the representative Of the
Democratic element in Congress, and when
General Grant indicated the distinctive points
of the policy he contemplated Mr.. Pruyn,
promptly and in apparent good faith, thus
addressed him:-
general I'm the great principles which you have
marked out for the conduct Of your administration,
YOU will have the political support of those with
whom / am associated ready to act with you."
Here, then, are two promises-one intended
to inform the country with reference to a
matter which excited anxious inquiry, and
the other apparently intended to assure the
President elect that those who had opposed
him were prepared to aid in the performance
of his task. Has General Grant redeemed
his promise Have Mr.. Pruyns friends, for
whom as q party he spoke, redeemed theirs !?
The answer in behalf of General Grant is
clear and conclusive. What he promised he
has performed. Economy and retrenchment
are manifest in every branch of the public
service. Within six months his administra-
tion has effected saving in expenditure of
not less than 1886, S01, ,013; and the process
still goes on. The diminution of outlay has
not been effected at the cost of efficiency
On the contrary as result of in
creased efficiency and of that ''faith-
full collection of the revenue" which
General Grant promised the revenue
for six months exhibits an advance amount
ing to $19, 1850, 143. AS to the reduction of
the public debt, the record is quite as salts
factory. A single half year has witnessed the
payment of $50, 600, 900 of the principal, and
an appreciation in the value of the public
securities which will greatly facilitate fund
ing at lower rate of interest. So much for
the President. He is vindicated by his acts
The policy he foreshadowed has been adhered
to literally, and with excellent effect.
,1ad NV,
Pruyn has been disregarded by the party in
whose name he addressed the President. He
promised that in the application of his policy
General Grant should have the political sup.
port of the Democracy. The promise has
not been fulfilled. Instead of sustaining the
administration in reducing and economizinq
expenditures, in faithfully collecting the reve.
nue., and in extinguishing debt, the Democrats
have offered nothing but factious opposition.
Not content with allowing the administration
to perform the work, they have persistently
striven to impede its progress. They credit
it neither with cutting down expenses mol
with increasing the productiveness of taxa
tion they neither concede what it has accom-.
plished in the matter of retrenchment mol
accord it justice for the reforms it has intro
duced into the, public service. The magnani
nous spirit proclaimed by Mr.. Pruyn il
proved to be sham; and a reckless partisan
snip, as lndlnerent TO truth and fairness as tt
the public veal is found to be the only spiri
of which the party is capable in its aetio,
toward the President and his advisers.
The difference between General Grant ant
the Democratic party, in relation to retrench
ment, an efficient revenue service, and tn
reduction of the debt, is plain and character
istic. He has kept his word they hav
violated theirs. He has steadily and success
fully carried forward policy which will brin
relief to the country; they have as steadil
obstructed reform and misrepresented il
result. The contrast is between fidelity an
hlessness-between great duties honestl
performed and craftsmanship which recognize
neither truth nor duty.