The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-03-05
p,n,Ident Grant,s InauguraI.

The Inaugural Address is a brief and
upon the whole awell considered docu-
msnt. The principles which the PREsI-
DENT lays down for the guidance Of his
next administration accord with the fun.
damental ideas Of the Republican party,
and are worthy Of all commentator.
They arc, of course, mostly generalities
such as political parties usually embody
in platforms; and their value will depend
on the sincerity of purpose with which
they are announced and the pcrsistency
with which they are adhered to. Gen.
GRANTS character for honest straight
forwardness and pertinacity is all the as
surance the country needs on this point.
He will do what he says he will. he can
not himself accomplish the great ends
aimed at; but he will do his own part, as
be promises; and if he is supported by
public sentiment and by Congress, and no
great disturbing events now unforeseen
should arise, we cannot doubt that the
programme laid down in the inaugural
will be faithfully observed and that the
next administration Of President GRANT
will be as successful and as creditable 10
him as thatwhich has just closed.
In the way OF hasly criticism We have
only this at present 10 suggest. There is
bnt-merely hint-Oi policy Of az.
grandzement and expansion. 1t is argu.
ed that modern facilities Of communities
liuus have overcome the fatal weakness
which extended boundaries has always
brought TO nations hitherto, and there is
a suggestion, quite utoplan and wild, that
the time may come when the whole world
will be ono nation and speak one Ian.
guage. This is hardly COngruOus with
Gen. GRANTS staid COmmOn.sense. Steam
and electricity have done great deal to
promote unity OF interest and correspon-
dence Of ideas among peoples and provin.
ces that were before profoundly separat-
ed by ignorance OF each other and by
mutual prejudice; but real diversities of
interest and incongruities Of character
often divide peoples whose boundaries
Join, which In the present state OF hu-
man enlightenment imperatively forbid
any attempt to unite them under one gov.
eminent. The object should be to unite,
under one system, homogeneous peoples
having a common language, common in.
terusts and common aims. Governments
founded on this idea will be harmonious,
successful and enduring. Those that
violate II will be neither. But President
GRANT promises he will not promote the
acquisition OF territory unless demanded
by popular opinion,-and 1t only remains
to take care that popular opinion is not
carried away by foolish and pcrnicious
ideas Of territorial grandeur and Of
continental Republic.
What the President says Of himself
hardly acCords with his accustomed mod.
esty and good taste, He has not been
slandered without parallel in our his.
tory, either during the war or since.
During the war he was the sub
ject Of little delraCliOn-lar less than
usually attends such successful and rapid |
elevation. 1t was nothing to be com.
pared with that which pursued WASH.
INGToN from the time he took command Of
the Continental armies till his first presi.
dency. The abuse OF tho President after
his first election, particularly in the last
campaign, was severe, much Of 1t totally
without justification, but it did not exceed
that visited on some other presidents who
we're candidates for reelection before
him. 1t is true as ho said that ho can
now afford to disregard this detraction.
1t Is 80 true that he could have afforded TO
omit all reference to it, better than he
could to mention it, in an address which to
be quite worthy Of the great dignity Of
tho time, place and authorship should
have been far above any thought of per-
sonal triumph or Vindication.