The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-04-06
FIRST EDITION
The Presidents Message.
Opinions of the Press.
Prophecy of the War.
Secret History Of the Empire.
The Joint High Commission.
@tCss Btcss BGc.s Etcss Estc.
Secret History of the Empire
The Joint High Commission.
THE PRESIDENT AND SAN DOMINGO.
New York Press Opinions.


The Tribune says
These explanations were not demanded: even the
persistent efforts to misrepresent the personal mo-
tves influencing the President and his agents in the
negotiation did not render explanation necessary.
And yet the message will be heartily welcomed as
showing how trivial were the foundations for reports
and accusations which unquestionably affected for
brlef tlme-now happily ended we trust the morale
and efficiency OF the Republican party. The mes
sage is plain tale which will put to rest many mali
clOus stores.
The World remarks;-
The message is the most extraordinary document
ever signed by an Amerlcan President. The apollo
getic tone which runs through the whole of it, and
the spteful fings and innuendoesiat Senators sum-
ner and schurz, show how deeply the President is
wounded by their exposures. But he acts an
dignihed part IN taxing on the bandages and ex-
preposterous and uDdignifed as is his method of
doing it, General Grant abandons his pet project,
and promises not to advocate 1t any further SO this
vaunted project of annexng Santo Domingo ends
in the triumph OF Sumner and the undgnided re
treat Of General Grant.
The san has the follOwing:---
In his message President Grant fuhls the promise
forced out Of him by the danger of defeat in CON
necticut He sends in the report OF the San Do.
mingo Commissioners without attempting any argu-
ment in fCvOr Of annexation, and without asking
that it should now be carried through. SO far as
can recoect, this is the first time that General
Grant has turned and retreated since he resigned
from the army in California in 1884, tt avoid worse
conclusion 1t must have been hard for him to
yield to the viii of the people, andet San Domingo
slide.
The tone OF the Presidents message is frank, sim
fail to characterize conscious integrity of purpose
The Judgment OF the President has been ratified by
the investigation OF the commission. He has been
actuated by other consideration than that of ad-
vanciDg the general good by methods to be approved
by the people themselves.
The Times remarkS:-
II the caumnies circulated with so much vru-
lence have ever changed the belief OF any honest
citizen in the purity of motive and integrity of
duct the part OF the President, the terms OF this
message must re-establsh it. II the President has
been more IneXibe in this matter than strictly
polite, he fuds an apology which every high -princi
pied man will appreciate in the bitterness and
unfairness with which his motives
have been misrepresented. Of
strong will and conscious rectitude does
not bend readily to diplomatic shifts aud eXpedients.
Accustomed to straight and vigorous advance in
what he conceives to be the line OF duty, he may
even undeTrate the Importance OF deterrlng circum-
stances, and of claims that are really more compre-
hensive than the special question at Issue. II the
President has fallen into any such mistake he is
cbargeable with 1t no longer He may safely despise
the calumnies of the slanderers in the press to
whom he refused office, and who follow him with
every species of pitiful malice.
The Herald ays:-The Emessage with which Pre-
sident Grant accompanies this report Is the mOst
important document of the batch. 1t is, in few
words, manly, soldierlike review of his action IN
the Santo Domingo matter, plain straightforward
history of his efforts to annex the island, and firm
disavowal of any intention to enforce his policy in
the matter against the viii Of the people.