Weekly Trinity journal., 1870-10-01
A Year and a-half of Grant.


Grants administration, and we venture to say,
that the expectations of his most sanguine sup
porters have been fulfilled. The thoughtful man
who sits in the White House, while a candidate
before the people, may have rid himself OF inquis-
tive impertinence by talking horse" to trou-
blesome bores, but no one, not even the most
malignant Democrat, can avoid admitting that
President Grant, if not able to form correct
opinion upon any other subject knows whose
advice to take and whose judgment to follow.
It will be remembered that Grants cabinet are
of his own selection, no one of its members hav-
been forced upon him as it were by the success
ful party Grant in this way asserted his inde-
pendence Of party dictation. Yet while main
tanning the dignity appertaining to the President
of the American people, he nowise forgot who
saved the nation, and placed him at the head Of
affairs. The task before him was one that no
statesman, however eminent, could justly be
blamed did he shrink from il. tremendous
civil war was just ended, victory perched upon
the Federal banners at the price Of immense ex-
penditure of blood and treasure, and the disor-
ganzation of the industrial, commercial and f.
nancial interests of the country. Iu addition, the
treacherous Democracy of the north, although in
full sympathy with their brethren in the south
by their duplicity and apparently halfway oppo-
sition to treason, were capable of hamperng
greatly the efforts of patriots to garner the fruits
of dearly bought victory. 1t was under these
circumstances that Grant assumed the Presden-
tial mantle. Belttled of course, by the Demo-
cratic press many Republicans unacquainted
with the man, dstrustful. From the first,
Grant has shown that he intends to make his
own record, and relies mainly OIL his own good
sense. In every instance the wisdom of his
course has been justified by the event. 1t can
lot be denied that no administration aside from
the one in which the rebellion was inaugurated
had such difficult questions which it was neces-
esary to determine. Reconstruction was unac-
complished and bitterly opposed. The weight
Of taxation was felt to be unnecessarily oppres-
sive, while the people well knew that the public
revenues were nefiiciently collected and cor
ruptly disbursed. The people hardly dared
hope for better from this new and untred states
man. All the States are now in the Union and
reconstruction is no longer an unsolved problem.
The promulgaton of the fifteenth amendment de-
claring that servle labor was forever abolished
followed fast upon Grants Inauguration and was
FASTENED by every means within his power
The common sense of the nation in spite of a
sympathy for the insurgent cause compels an in
dorsement of his course in relation to the Cuban
imbroglio 1t will be remembered that the in
augural promised much in regard to financial
matters. The people submitted for years to an
unexampled rate OF taxation. They did SO
cheerfully through patriotism but with the ces-
saton of civil war the occasion of its necessity,
they were entitled to relief. brief compare
tive statement Of the receipts and expenditures
of the United States government for the last
eighteen months of Johnson and the first egh-
teen months of Grant, ought to satisfy the most
halting in opinion For eighteen months from
September lst, 1867, to March lst 1869 the re-
ceipts from all sources were $556,3l5,2O3 02.
From March lst 1869 to September LIST, 1870
the receipts were $643, ,52S, 9Gs 62. Increase of
revenue $s7,2l3, 765 60. Expenditures for the
year and a.half under Johnson 1928, 765 ,G89 80.
Under Grants administration $245, ,0l2,6l IL.
Decrease of expenditures $S2, ,O6O II. BY
the foregoing statements it will be seen that the
amount gained by increase of receipts and de-
creae of expenditures has been as follows
From increase OF receipts $s7 2l3, ,765 co. From
decrease of expenditures $s2 1858 ,06O II. Total
gain, $l7O ,O66, 1926 81. Is it strange that the
opponents of the Republican party have so little
to say about the management of the national
finances. Their mouths are stopped by the
above array Of fgGres Nor il this ALL In the
matter of the reduction of the public debt the
showing is equally satisfactory.
The reduction of the national debt from Sep
tember lst, 1867 to March list, 1863, was
| 81 1888, AGO g. From March lst, 1869, to March
lst, 1870, $50 ,934 1882 81. For the six months,
from March lst, 1870, to September LIST, 1870
$s2 ,4O7 1926 76. Total decrease in the debt, du-
ring the eighteen months, $l69, ,442 ,lO9 60. The
amount of interest which will hereafter be saved
ON the debt actually paid nnder Grant is about
$s,745.596 os annually, mostly in gold. These
are facts for taxpayers to consider the figures
cannot be disputed.
Our relations with foreign powers were never
upon better footing. The governments of the
Old World impressed with the fact that the
Chief Magistrate of the American people is moi
a man to be intimidated or cajoled. The United
States aever before had as much influence abroad
as to-day. Our form Of Government is held NJ
as model and our flag commands respect il
every cline. AS the President of the American
Nation, the opinions of General Grant weigl
heavily with the crowned heads of the other con
tinent. Could the issue be made to-day the peo
pie wonld not change their Chief Magistrate foi
any man in the nation. Never in the history OF
our country has so much been accomplished il
so short time. Europe looks ON with an ad