The New York herald., 1870-05-09
The Prosident and Consress-Our Domestic
aud Foreign Afairs.

What are they doing at Washington What
has General Grant done? What is he doing
What docs he propose to do in defining the
| policy of his administration We hear such
inquiries as these from day to day concerning
the President, while In regard to Congress
the original public expectations Of various
wholesome measures of legislation have faded
sixth month of the session, all hopes of any
material relief in the matter Of taxes or bonds
or banks is generally abandoned The pre-
vailing opinion seems to be that the two
Houses will gable and fritter away some two
months more on the Tariff, the Funding bill
and the Georgia question, and on all the per-
picking theories and distractions of the day,
and then, rushing through the annual appro-
priations, including a choice assortment Of
sops and jobs, viii adjourn over to next De-
cember.
The President so far, all things consid-
cred, has done very well. In the programme
of his inaugural address he promised us
economy, retrenchment and reform earnestly
advocated the ratification OF the fifteenth
amendment and the establishment of equal
rights, regardless of race or color; fore
shadowed fair, pacific and yet progressive
American policy in our foreign relations, and
domestic policy of law and order, with as
little of harshness or coercion as possible. He
said, too, that he would have no particular
policy of his own to enforce against the
expressed will of the people, and would
endeavor faithfully to execute the laws,
whether, in his opinion, good or bad. Put to
the test of this programme, we say, General
Grant has done very well. He has done much
and reform. He has stopped many leakages;
he has broken up an extensive system OF
revenue frauds and spoliations he has
reduced the expenditures and increased the
receipts of the Treasury on curtailed basis of
taxations, whereby he has paid off over
hundred millions of the public debt, holding at
the same time over hundred millions surplus
as reserve fund. He has by this policy of
reductions of expenses, and by savings and
retrenchments, brought down the price of
thirties and forties to the narrow margin
between twelve and fifteen per cent above the
national paper dollar. Thus, in the approxi-
nation to the gold standard the value of our
say seven hundred millions of paper money
under Grant has been increased to the extent
gain of so much to the country and the people.
On his important pledges, then, in regard to
economy and retrenchment General Grant has
done and is doing well-irdeed, remarkably
well. In regard to the fifteenth amendment
and equal rights his promises have been fully
accomplished; and the same may be said of
his programme of Southern reconstruction
1t may be urged, however, On the other hand,
that the administration Of General Grant has
greatly disappointed the country on the Cuban
question: that it has given no signs Of any
disposition to enforce settlement of those
Alabama claims; that it has made no
approaches to the ultimate and inevitable
destiny of Mexico, and that upon all these
questions it has not only cast away the finest
opportunities for decisive action, but has
q
offensive contempt of the prevailing public
sentiment and wishes of the country.
Against this indictment what is the defence
of General Grant? 1t may be pleaded in his
vindication that the Alabama claims will not
spoil by keeping; that his Cuban policy has
been shaped so as not to give any quibble of
advantage to England in the reopening of the
question of those Alabama claims, and that
there is no necessity for haste in reference to
Mexico. 1t may further be said that General
Grant has sought to avoid a war with Spain
because he has been and still is hopeful of
cheaper settlement of the Cuban question by
treaty with the Spanish government, and that
if he has somewhat earnestly pushed the
Senate for the ratification of the Dominican
annexation treaty it is because the acquisition
of the island Of st. Domingo will at once bring
Spain to the alternative of parting with the
island of Cuba.
There is yet another reason why General
Grant has not adopted any decisive policy in
regard to Cuba. Decisive action there in
wolves the possible contingency of war, and the
war power belongs to Congress. But
still the President may recommend to Congress
decisive policy. Why has he, then, made
no such recommendation in reference to Cuba
Because his paramount objects are peace and
the redemption of the national debt. We
think, too, that, from the suspension of the
late agitation of the Cuban question in Con-
gress, there must be an understanding on the
subject between General Grant and General
Banks. We are also strongly inclined to the
opinion that, in relation to the future policy of
his administration, General Grant is care
fully studying the political field, in and out of
Congress, and that while the two houses are
foundering in sea of doubts and uncertain
ties ''the man at the other end of the avenue"
is quietly shaping his new programme to meet
the new order of things and the future.