The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-11-17
POPULAR sentiment NAV be an unrela-

POPULAR sentiment may be an unrelia-
BILE index of the right or the wrong in UNI
important affairs of personal, or even pub
lie character but when questions arise, |
which are of grave concern to the |
welfare of the people and State, and
these have been publicly presented to them
by press and speech, and their calm judy
ment invoked, their verdict unerringly vim
dicates the right and reprobates the wrong.
We do not go so far as to affirm the max
i'm true--oor populi, ror Del it is true
in degree, but only so far as the God-given
intelligence we possess, leads us to Just
conclusions from presented premises.
The late elections in Northern and Wes-
tern States are strong examples of popular
sympathy with right and justice, and equal
ly strong rebukes to those who are so tim
orous as ts universal suffrage; proving, as
clearly as any proposition admits of proof,
that evils flowing from extended suffrage,
are wholly chargeable to the indifference of
the intelligent voters, not to the numbers
and activity of the ignorant or corrupt.
OF this latter proposition, New York pre-
sents striking illustration. Tammany
and Tweed gained their corrupt ends by
the culpable neglect of intelligent and other
wise honest men but when the frauds.
which were no secret years back to many
who had even direct personal interests at
stake, were presented to the people for
their judgment, they showed by their votes
they understood the matter, and Tammany
fell. g
In other States, local issues have not
been so prominent as in New York. Ma
tional issues have divided parties; the ad-
mnistration and its policy have been on
trial President Grants course has been
commented upon, critically examined, de-
nounced by his opponents, defended by
his friends.
The popular verdict in these States is as
emphatic as in New York, and President
Grant, who was the peoples candidate in
1883, and not the choice Of trading politi-
clans, looms up as the peoples candidate
for certain reelection in 1872.
While his every public act and even de-
claration of foreign or domestic policy has
been held up for public scrutiny, and fire.
quently basely misrepresented by political
opponents, and some who, while in gene
raj politics Republican, are his opponents
on personal grounds, he has been tri-
umphantly sustained by the people, while
Democrats and assistant Democrats have
been utterly routed.
The reason is plain. The people APP
prove honest fulfilment of pledges, and
firmness in performance of executive du-
ties. ~s
When elected, General Grant found the
government fast drifting to disloyalty. Re-
bellion was treated as the poet sings of
vice:
First endure, then pity then embrace
His predecessor had endured, piticd, and
was rapidly being seduced to embrace re-
bellion, and discard loyalty. President
Grant ruled as he fought in war, and as he
pledged himself in peace, and routed the
legions of honey-lippcd traitors, who
crowded the Capital with their false pro-
misses of fealty and their loud clamors for
place.
He found a gigantic debt, heavy taxation
to meet the demands Of public creditors,
yet growing extravaganza in the collection
and management of public finances.
lie pledged himself to an economical and
honest administration, and the reduction of
our national debt. While taxes are being
yearly repealed, the per centage of loss by
expenses of collection and misconduct of
officials bear annually a smaller proportion
to the gross levy-proye to the people he
has kept faith with them.
He found a foreign policy embarrassed
by complications, delicate and Serious
Now not cloud is leftto excite our doubts
or fears the United States is at peace, her
just demands promptly acceded to, and her
friendship courted by the most powerful
nations of Europe. He found more diff
cult task in domestic than in foreign affairs;
a task which would have tried the ability
of an Alfred or Washington.
While events have not always shown that
the one best course was adopted in the re-
construction of the political and social fabric
of the States late in rebellion, one idea has
pervadel every act and recommendation
ready leniency to the misguided, but repen-
tant; unwilling harshness to reckless, per-
sistent disturbers of public peace, and i'm
FINGERS of private rights.
Having exhausted every ordinary means
of establishing peace in the States lately in
rebellion, he has been compelled to use the
sword to cut the Gordan knot, but even
this weapon is only welded by the strong
arm of the law-and no blow descends to
infict merited chastisement, unless the eul-
prit disrcgards alike warning and threat,
and continues to skulk disguised assas-
n night PROVING Ku-Klux. That the peo-
pie at large approve the administrative acts
of President Grant is clearly evidenced by
the result Of late elections at the North,
that his continuance in executive position is
not desired by Secession Democrats South,
or their Tammany allies North, is as clear