The New York herald., 1870-03-04
Ono Year Of General Grant's AdministrH-
tiOn--Tho Prospect.

One year, the first of General Grants ad-
ministration, closes about Doon this day.
What have been its fruits and what does it
promise? In the inaugural Of March last,
and in certain ontgivings before 1t, we were
promised policy OF economy, retrenchment
aud reform; religious redemption Of the
obligations involved in the national debt the
nifty in our foreign relations; faithful exc
cution Of the laws, and that the Executive
would have no policy of his own to urge
upon Congress in opposition to the will of the
people. In his inaugural, too, General Grant
cordially endorsed the proposition then pend
ing for the establishment in tho national con-
stltu.ion of impartial suffrage, without regard
TO ''race, color or previous condition Of scr
yitude"
Such were the promises and roreshadowings
of General Grants administration one year
ago. What has followed and how stand the
record and the promise of their fulGlment to-
day? The laws Of Congress for the
reconstruction Of the lately rebel States
have been faithfully carried out, and,
excepting some few remaining formali-
ties in reference to Georgia and Texas,
the political work Of Southern restoration
is finished. In the important matters of
economy, retrenchment and reform the
Treasury shows a clear gain Of over a hum
dred millions of money Gncludlng ninety eight
millions reduction of the debit for the first
year Of Grant over the last year of Johnson;
and the premium on gold has been reduced
from its fluctuations among the thirties and
fortes to the narrow gambling margin between
fifteen and sixteen cents the fifteenth amend
ment has been ratified by the required three
fourths Of the States, and its proclamation as
part of the supreme law Of the land we are
now expecting every day.
In tue meantime so thoroughly has tho doc
trine of civil and political equality, regard
less of race or color, been the ruling idea
of General Grant, that he has appointed men
of African descent to various responsible
Offices, including revenue collecting and diplo-
matte appointments, and has recognized, with
the enthusiasm of a missionary devoted to the
cause, the fitness under the new order Of
things of an African representative at Wash
ington Of the African republic of Hayti To
crown this edifce OF equal civil and political
rights gentleman of color in 1870 occupies
the seat in the United States Senate left
vacant by JEFF Davis In 1861 for the
purpose of assisting in the establishment of an
independent Southern confederacy on ''the
corner stone OF African slavery" It was in
full view from the national Capitol, was re-
m owed with the abolition of the slave trade in
the District Of Columbia; and now behold In
the Senate the consummation of the mighty
revolution which has followed that small begiu-
Ming by Henry Clay!
The first year of General Grants administra.
ton thus becomes memorable in history as
marking the complete abolition of tho civil and
political disabilities of the African race In the
United States, and as marking the beginning
Of the new dispersation Of impartial Suffrage
under the supervision of Congress. On the
Fourth Of July next the President, 1t appears,
is to assist at celebration of the fifteenth
amendment in a grand mass meeting in Con-
necticut, which is not bad idea; but il fur
ther appears that he wishes . comparatively
short session of Congress for the long term, in
order that be may return to the refreshing
drives, surf aud sea breezes of Long Branch in
June and this wish, II may be said, is sugges-
tive OF growing disposition to DRIFT along
To-,
luck for safe landing.
Here we touch the weak point, the vulner-
able heel, Of Grants administration. With all
the work Of reconstruction accomplished,
Of our foreign relations beyond the policy of
peace for the present, leaving the future to
provide for itself The course which this
administration has pursued and is pursuing in
reference TO Cuba is satisfactory only to Spain;
the policy Of General Grant in reference to
Mexico is apparently that Of perfect inlfer-
ence touching The uever-e ending but still-begin-
ming demoraizatons OF that beautiful hut
wre:ched country. He has shown something
Of the spirit OF manifest destiny in certain
ITOCetuiHSs iOohiuE W we auieHdbiCu OI
Dominica but even these initial proceedings
will most likely, end in smoke. He has
despatched an expedition for survey of the
fsthmus Of Darien, in view or a ship canal,
which is something; but he has consented to
an indefinite suspension Of the prosecution Of
those Alabama claims, from which the opinion
is beginning to spread that they will end in
nothing.
In each and all these things it appears that
while the President has no definite policy TO
sugges. to Congress, Congress has no definite
policy to urge upon the President. Hence
upon oar foreign affairs nothing is done and
nothing is promised. Tue prospect on this
side is not encouraging, while upon the great
money question ii is very good. Upon the
whole, the administration Is too quiet, too dull
and inactive to satisfy the country, and accord