The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-03-08
THE NEW ADMINISTRATION.
Grants Inaugural, His Cabinet and
His Relatives.
GOSSIP ABOUT VARIOUS MATTERS.

THE NEW ADMINISTRATION
Grants Inaugural, His Cabinet and
His Relatives.
GOSSIP ABOUT VARIOUS MATTERS.
The Republican papers are very warm in
their concentrations of Gen. Grants inau-
gural address The Tribune, which is reported
by our Washington correspondent to be the
semi. official organ of the new administration
is delighted The New York Times, despite It's
lukewarmness toward Republicanism anu III
fact, toward everything, says that 'ne en"i
terstcs which distinguish Generai uiaht'
and command the confidence winch marks MS
entrance upon the duties of the Executive, are
consn;cuons in his inaugural address. 1t is
brief clear. emphatic and to the purpose. 1t
touches great wants, indicates great duties,
and propounds great policy with a distinct
ness that leaves nothing in doubt, and the
force of true-born earnestness. Gen. Grant
lad something to say, and he has said it
strongly and WELL" The Herald sees which
way the popular breeze is blowing, as usual
and says, speaking of the inaugural:
Here, then, including economy, retreneh-
ment, and a faithful collection OF the public
tONOhuC, VIC nave bue Sailing ulIcCblOHo Va thO
the new administration. What is the general
prospect? 1t is one full of promise prosperity,
progress, development, and power at home
and abroad. And so opens the new book OF
American history.
The World, the leading Democratic paper OF
the country, perceiving some time since that
Grant would not quarrel with Congress,
sounded the toesin of war. 1t now ridicules
the inaugural and becomes as positively abus-
i've as it was during the Presidential cam
paign:
The only respect in which this empty aud
seli-confdent address is of any importance, is
in the evidence it furnishes that General
Grant does not intend to have any serious diff
ferences with the Republican party. With all
its self-assertion, the inaugural is really very
servie 1t indorses all the favorite measures
and dogmas Of the Republican party, except
the tenure of office act; and on that the party
. is known to be about equally divided. All his
independence is exhausted in the mere empty
proclamation OF it; he has not had the real
Independence to differ from his party in any
particular. Aside from its tone of ill-beseem-
ing self-confdence, General Grants Inaugur-
al is mere echo OF the tritest common-pla
of the Republican newspapers. We challenge
his admirers to point out a single idea which
he has contributed to the threadbare stock
from which he drew the materials of his Adj
dress.
GRANT AND JEFFERSON.
A Washington correspondent detects re-
semblance between Grant and Jefferson, both
being men of intense democratic feeling. We
quote:
The simplicity of their natures, their prefer
ence for quiet scenes, and their adherence of
display and ostentation, at once so similar,
will be recognized. The election of Jefferson
took place. sixty eight years ago. l am re-
minded of. it by the remark of very old gen
tleman, who witnessed the ceremonies to day:
when Jefferson was inaugurated, he rode to
the Capitol on horseback. No friends accom-
led him, aid no procession filled the streets.
was mere boy then; but l remember all the
facts. When he reached the Capitol he dis
mounted, and with his own hands tied his
horse to the fence. He then went in and ;ook
the oath of office, returning in the sane man
ner. Jeherson's inaugural was not unlike
Grants, and was about the same length. His
manner of speaking was similar. He was
no more of an orator than Grant, and his
speeches wore no longer. 1t is recorded that
ne never spoke longer than ten minutes in his
life, his tone being conversational, His ad-
ministration was carried on the principles
which Grant has marked out--honesty and
economy in the public service. He reduced the
public debt 100000 yearly during his term,
and the people will be disappointed if Grant
does not, after the promises of to-day, lessen
the debt even in greater proportion.
GENERAL GRANTS MOTHER.
A Herald correspondent says that in CONVEX
sation with Grants father he asked the old
gentleman if his wife would be present to wit
ness the ceremonies. "No," he said, 81 tried
to coax her and bride her 10 come, but she
wouldn't-I did not scold her about it, for
never did scold her, and 1 am too old to begin
now. She said, DO you think would go to
o,,5 10 = 11x,G fbo,, a,,1
people and have every stitch on me printed in
fifty newspapers? No, indeed "She need not
stay away on that account" said the old gen.
tlernan, "for she would have looked as smart
as anybody here; but she and Ulysses are a
good deal alike, and once her mind was made
up there was no use talking to her any more
about it," -
ALEXANDER T. STEWART.
The new Secretary of the Treasury is one of
the two members of the Cabinet who were
born out of the country. He was born in Ire
land and educated at Trinity College, Dublin.
He is now about as old as the century. His
New York life began as a teacher, but he has
since found other pursuits more profitable.
The best points in his life are his generosity
to the Irish during the famine in that country,
and his giving 100000 to the Sanitary Com
mission in single check. Mr.. Stewart be-
longs to the Episcopal church.
. THE GREAT UNKNOWN FROM PENNSYLVANIA.
Nobody imagined that the Pennsylvania
member of the Cabinet would be Adolph E
Borie, Secretary of the Navy. he is patriot
though not an "Hon." and gave his money
freely for war purposes, though as a retired
merchant who had made his fortune in the
East India trade and who had relinquished
his interest in politics Wien the Wing party ex-
pired he had no aspirations for office. He is,
like most of the men promoted by Grant, one
OF the personal friends of the new Executive.
THE ATToRNEY-GENERAL.
1t is singular fact that among the score OF
gentlemen whose names have been mentioned
in connection with the position of Attorney
General within the past few weeks E. Rock
wood Hoar mot George It. Hoar, NJ. c., as
incorrectly reported by the telegragh) was not
one. He is an Associate Justice of the Su-
preme Court of Massachusetts and son of
Samuel Hoar, whose adventures among the
South Carolinians In 1874 created such an in
tense excitement throughout the country. 1t
is confidently expected that Judge Hoar's as
ISOLATION with the Office of Attorney General
will reflect new lustre upon that position.
PRO TEMPoRE.
Amongthe gentlemen who are expected to
decline their Cabinet appointments are E. B.
Washburne, on account of poor health, A. T.
Stewart ON account of his business, and Gen
Scbofeld, who is expected to retain his pres
ent position only temporarily.
THE PRESIDENT AND MAST, THE ARTIST.
1t is related that Thomas Mast drew a
sketch of General Grant letting seven cats out
of q bag in the presence OF curious and gap
ing crowd, but the faces of the cats were
blank. This sketch he sent to General Grant
with the request that he would finish the pic
ture. OF course he did not comply, but it is
stated that he made very ingenious and apt
comparison of the seven cats to those of the
man Of st. Ives in the nursery ballad, so puz-
cling toths infantile mind.
SINGULAR CHARACTERISTIC OF MR. STEWART.
The New York Herald says that perhaps the
most singular characteristic of Mr. Stewart is
his alleged superstition. When he kept his
tore on Broadway, between Murray and War
rem streets, there sat on the sidewalk before it,
On an orange box, an old woman, whose osten
sible occubatien was the selling of apples
This business was, however, merely pretence;
the main object being beggary. As years
rolled on Mr.. Stewart became impressed with
the idea that the old dame was his guardian
angel of lVa1r oxR1 INN