The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-12-04
The Presidents Message.

No man who has been elevated to the Presi-
dency ever had so much real cause for per-
sonal congratulation in his message as had
President Grant in his communication to
Congress Monday. Assailed by every means
that partisan hatred and malice could devise,
he has just received at the hands of the
American people the most emphatic vindica-
ton ever given to the Chief Magistrate of
great nation. In addition to this, no Presi-
dent ever went to Congress with such sui
stantial results of single years administra-
ton. The settlement of the Alabama claims
the favorable adjustment of the San Juan
difficulty of twenty-six years standing, 'he
treaties with European nations relative 10
naturalization the reduction OF the national
debt nearly hundred million dollars during
the year; the great reduction OF the burden of
taxation and the gradual decrease of the cur
rent expenses of the government; the improv
ed public service-in short, series of brilliant
successes and substantial fruits in every thing
he has undertaken, afforded him an opportuni-
ty for selfcongratulation of which few public
men would fail to avail themselves. But the
man who as the victorious General at Apo
mattox would not faunt the flag of victory in
the face of vanquished foe, makes no allu-
sion to his overwhelming public approval
and the humiliatiug defeat of his foes or the
signal success of his administration. On the
other hand he generously mentions the dis
tinguished services of Messr. Adams, Cush-
ipu nd nfharc in the spIqu6i1
achievements at Geneva as he did those of his
distinguished military associates on the field.
Judged by that standard which pronounced
the messages of Buchanan and johnson
models, President Grants fourth message is
a failure; but if such State paper is to be a
clear and minute exposition Of the several de-
partments of the Government and its rela-
tions to other countries, with such recon-
mendations as are deemed necessary, without
elaboration or rhetorical display, then Presi-
dents Grants last message may be taken as
model.
The remarkable feature of the message is
that while he gives no attention to the ques-
tons settled by the late election, the President
devotes large space to all those topics which
are calculated to strengthen the bonds OF
friendship between different nations and to
those great enterprises that will ensure the
prosperity of the nation. The shipping inter-
ests, and inland communication have receiv-
ed his careful consideration and the recon-
mendations are of the most judcious charac-
ter. In regard to his humane Indian policy,
the ranking privilege and the question of
polygamy in Utah, he takes the same ground
that he has advocated heretofore. He de-
clares in favor of a system of postal tele-
graphy which will doubtless commend itself to
the business community.
He has wisely RETAINED from making sug-
not made to the North. He considers that
section part of the great country Of which
he is the impartial executive. He declares
himself in favor of reform in the civil SER
vice and asks for a full and impartial trial Of
the present system. In short, in. his brief
recommendations, he squarely puts himself
on the side of the wisest, most humane and
progressive sentiment of the country.
In renewing his sugs estion for some legis-
lation respecting those American citizens
who own and trade in slaves in Cuba, we
can but notice the wide difference between
the views of President Grant and Mr.. Blu
chanan on this subject, as indicating the rev.
olution of the national sentiment on@ that
subject. The latter was its real advocate and
no longer ago than 1858 argued that the in
stitution was, under the constitution, nation
al The former denounces it as a great
wrong and an infamy.
The candor, simplicity, and common sense
ofths message together with its freedom from
partisan views will commend it to the coun-
try at large and mark new era in our po-
litical history.