The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-12-07
The Presidents Message.


public; when o Presidents message hat
something OF the significance and impor
tunce OF a speech from the Throne in the
constitutional monarchies which the paro.
doxical American both envies and derides.
Then, the words Of the Chief Magistrate
were carefully weighed and deliberately ut.
tered, and Congress, looking to the good oi
the country and not to the salvation Of party,
lent respectful attention to the matters oi
pith and moment which were submitted to
them. Nous aoons change tout celia !! The
Radical revolution in the practice OF the gov
ernment; the concentration of power in the
hands OF factious Congressional majority;
the change from men like Monroe, Jefferson
and Adams to taciturn nediocritieS OF the
Grant variety-these account for the little
respect which is now paid to the vaticina-
tions and speculations of the Executive head
of the State. No wonder, then, that Presi-
dent Grants inaugural prattle about "the
"strong box locked up in the sterile noun
'tains OF The Far West" Of which he was
symbollicaliy forging the key" should have
caused litter at both ends of the Atlantic
Gable; or that his message Of Monday last
poking fun at the Revenue Reformers, should
cause no other sensation than broad grins
and feeble applause. The public understand,
however, that Congress will do what it
may choose, and they care very little for the
jest or earnest of his Excellency, President
Grant.
Yet, in some respects it is passing good
message The country asks for the aboli-
ton Of the franking privilege, and reform
in the civil service. But the reform should
not be restricted to ''the mode of appoint
'sing subordinate officials" The public ser
vice requires reforming all the way down, be-
ginning with President Grant. When we have,
once more, q President who, by his dignity
and ability and the spotless purity OF his
official character, is worthy exponent OF
the thought and yigor of the country, then,
and not before, will the Presidents message
be accepted as something loftier and better
thaa an expression OF the whims and fancies
of knot of scbeming politicians.
The most pregnant portion CT the message
is that which relates to the Alabama claims
and the fisheries. Taken in connection with
the speeches of General Butler in The East
and OF General Hooker in the West, and
with the significant circumstance that the
war speech OF General Butler has been SENT
in pamphlet FORM, to all the foreign minis
tiers uuder the frank OF the State Department,
the recommendations OF President Grant in
dicate, with sufficient clearness, q desire to
convince the people that they have sub
stantal grievance for which they must ex-
act full reparation.,. The proposition that
he be allowed to suspend certain laws, at his
own sweet will and pleasure, is what might
be expected from President who has wit
messed the course Of Radical reconstruction
in the South, and has nobly done his part in
violating the law and the constitution. We
doubt, however, that Congress will be will
ling to entrust so much power to vain,
weak man, and we know that, whatever the
temper of the Radical politicians, the masses
Of the people oppose war and love peace.
The Radicals cannot more surely nail down
the lid Of their political coffin than by squilt-
ing at foreign war.
The President seems to be ignorant OF
what the people desire. They do approve Of
the abolition OF all restrictions upon the
ownership Of forcign-built vessels. They do
desire revenue reform But they so farther
than this. They ask that the expenses of the
government be reduced; that the tariff be
arranged for revenue alone, and that this
generation be not called upon to pay war
debt which was contracted-according to
the Northern idea-for the benefit of poster
ity, anG which was heaped up-according to
the Southern idea-during the process Of
overrunning and subjusating the fairest
States OF the South. Honesty, Economy,
Low Taxation-these are what the people
demand, and. what they do not hope to OBJ
tain from any administration Of which Pres
ident Grant is the leader and responsible