Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-08-18
PRESIDENT GRANTS VISIT.

PRESIDENT GRANTS VISIT.
The visit of President Grant to the State
of Maine closes to-day. We trust the
week occupied by it has been one of pleas
ure to him, as it has been of qualification
to all our people who have had an oppor-
tunity to meet the President upon our own
soil. We are very sure that he must have
better knowledge of this eastern part of
the country after seeing it than he could
obtain in any other way, and we are equal
ly certain that our citizens will cherish
warmer and more kindly feelings towards
the President because of having met him
as they have during the past week. He
has seen us as we are at our homes, and
we have seen him acting himself as a pri-
yate individual. so that the visit has been
mutually profitable. This is the third time
he has been within the limits OF the State
No President, except Polk. ever visited
this city before.
There are some who are inclined to crit
else President Grant for indulging in visits
like this. They maintain that he should
keep his post at Washington the year
round. They seem TO be afraid that if he
ventures away from the capital few days
the government will be endangered. They
think it improper for the President TO seek
relaxation or the enjoyment of society, or
to put off the magisterial airs of Office for
the agreeable familiarity of man among
his fellow men. We are pleased to know
that President Grant is not governed b,
such critics or fault-finders, but takes
more sensible and proper view of his du
ties and relations to the people.
The first President of the United States
the great and good Washington. believed
that it was part of his duty as Chief Elk
ecutive to visit the various parts of the
country as much as he could, and make
himself personally acquainted with the
people and their circumstances. He had
no fears that the government would sink
during his absence, or the Presidency be
less respected if he shook hands familiar
ly with the yeomanry of Georgia OF New
Hampshire, or trod measure in the dance
with the fair daughters of Massachusetts,.
In the first years of his administration
he made tour into the Eastern States,
coming as far as Portsmouth, and familiar
ly meeting the people everywhere. His
journey was made without parade or os-
tentation. Again, in 1890 he visited
Rhode Island, being absent about ten days
on the trip. The next year he made a
tour through the Southern States which
occupied about four months. Speaking of
that journey he said at had enabled him
to see, with his own eyes, the situation of
the country, and to learn more accurately
the disposition of the people, than he
could have from any verbal information y
"He hac looked around him, in fact" says a
distinguished writer with paternal eve,
been cheered as usual by continual DEM
Onstrations of a nations love, and his heart
had warmed with the reflection how mucb
Of this national happiness had been won
by his own patriotic cXertions." This
was the example set by Washington, and
this was in the time when stage coaches
were the means of conveyance and the
mail the medium for transmitting intelli-
gence. Had the Presidents presence then
been needed at the capital when he was alb
sent in Savannah, New Orleans, or
Portsmouth, weeks must have elapsed be-
fore he could return; but with the tele,
graph the President now is in daily and
hourly communication with the capital let
him be where he will in the country, and
the railway will carry him there from any
point in few hours or days at the most.
Washington did not escape censure for his
course any more than Grant, but the peo-
pie approved it and it added to rather than
detracted from his popularity.
Since Washington no President has
been SO familiar with the people AS Grant,
not excepting Jefferson and Jackson, who
were as democratic in their tastes and
manners as any. If he shall succeed in |
fe'iVhg the custom of the first President
80 'na' iature Presidents may continue
H. the country win gain by it. 1t
IS good thing for the President and
his people to meet face To faee +, ooo,al
equality. Especially is it pleasant for the
soldiers who fought the battles against tho
rebellion to clasp the hand Of The bonored
commander who led them Manv hava
improved the opportunity which this v,s;,
afforded Even his political opponents
have manifested pleasure at meeting the
President and Joined heartily in the hon.