The Portland daily press., 1870-03-07
The First Year or Gen. Grnnps Ad min.
fafrafiAn.

The First Year or Gen. Granps Ad min.
fstratipn.
1t must be gratifying to Gen. Grant to be
able to send to the people of State where
an election is pending at toe end of the first
year Of his administration such a message as
he sent by Mr.. Dawes of Massachusetts to
the people Of New Hampshire this week. In
the course Of his opening speech at Nashua
Mr.. Dawes, upon whom the Democracy
chiefly rely to convict the government of ex-
travagance, declared<hat during the first year
OF Grants administration, t,oenty sic millions
ofreuenue in eress of the previous year had
been raised acith reduced taration, and that
meanwhile eighty millions Of the national
debt had been paid!
As by common consent economy was to be
the test Of the efficiency of the new admins
tration, it is difficult to see how more graf
flying statement could possibly. be made, es-
pecially since 1t came from Mr.. Dawes who
has more than once shown that no feeling of
personal kindness or respect for the Presi-
dent and no blind party fealty can prevent
his criticising the administration when it an
pears to him to deserve censure. Taxation
very materially reduced and yet the revenue
so much increased and the expenses of the
government SO much reduced that more than
eighty millions of the debt are paid in one
year! And this statement coming from a
man who more than any one else in the
country has made it his business to exagger.
alto the extravaganza of the administration
What more can the friends of General Grant
ask?
50 much for the past. And this is what
the President promises for the future at the
end Of the first year, as we learn from the
speech of MI. Dawes above referred to. He
said:
was charged, yesterday afternoon, by the
PRESIDENT himself, with this message to the
people OF New Hampshire when told him
that was coming here. He told me to as
sure the people of New Hampshire that this
exhibit have made here of the successful
collection, and the economical expenditure of
money during the present year, is an earnest
and pledge of what it shall be in the year to
come. Tell the people of New Hampshire
that during my administration there shall be
no ascending scale of public expenditures
but, whenever and wherever the closest scru-
tiny shall disclose the possibility of cutting of
dollar it shall be done.
Economy is the strong point of Gen
Grants administration beyond doubt, bu
other great interests have not been neglected
during the year. The work OF recons,ruc.
ton has gone steadily forward. the President
preserving most admirable poise when at
tackled on all sides by the advocates of differ
ent lines OF policy with respect 10 the restora-
Ton OF Rebel States. At the beginning of
Grants term, four States were still without
representation in Congress; now only one 1e-
mains to be admitted to make the Union once
more complete. 1t will be most enviable
position for Gen. Grant to occupy-that Of
tne preserver OF his country In contest OF
arms and Its restorer to unity after the con-
alct had ceased.
Let rs have peace" is an aphorism which
Tisnas and fees alike have chosen to regard
- the basis OF Grants administration. Mo-
has 1t been by any means discarded, as politi
clans frequently discard their ante-electior
professions when they are once in power
There has been marked decline in the viru
lence OF party conflict since the 18th o
March, 1862 Before that period there wa.
yet danger Of an actual renewal of attack.
upon the Republic, owing to the anarchic con
dition of affairs following the war, the heat Of
party passion and the equivocal position Of
PRESIDENT johnson. Now all intelligent oh.
servers OF events have come to the conclusion
that an outbreak OF civil war is n more to be
spprehcnded than general CONFEDERATION.
Our relations with foreign countries continue
70 be amieable, though so far as ore at least
u concerned, friendship has been bought at a
price some Of our citizens are not willing to
pay. But we have "peace" at any rate. On
the whole even the Indians have been pacific
though that fearful massacre Of women and
children in Montana comes to mar the good
record. But no one doubts the President has
done his best to pacify his dusky subjects and
val ultimately succeed.