The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-03-21
Grants First Term.

The 4th of March witnessed the ter
mination of President Grants first, and
the inauguration of his second, term as
Chief Magistrate of the nation. His en-
trance into Office four years ago was sur
rounded with the most fortunate circum-
stances for future brilliant by contrast
with the past. His predecessor-Presi-
dent by reason of an unparalleled act of
atrocity, the assassination of Abraham
Lincoln-had endangered the peace of
of the country, but lately restored
through victory over the rebellion, by a
violent and unwarranted antagonism 10
the reconstruction policy of Congress
and of the people /; had been impeached
of high crimes and misdemeanors by the
House of Representatives and tried by
the Senate, barely escaping conviction,
and had retired from office with the inef-
fectual brand of a Judas in politics, a
shallow trickster in craftsmanship, and
an INSCRIPTIONS, dangerous man in pub
lie station. The luster of Gen.
Grants military renown shone the
brighter against the somber background
presented by the infamy of the record of
Andrew Johnson. His election WAS
hailed with the most profound satisfac-
IL
degree of peace, stability, and progress
which had been fatally interrupted under
the administration of Mr.. Johnson,
whereby the credit of the Government
had been impaired, the industries of the
people Frustrated, and the permanently
of our free institutions seriously threat
ened. To say that the first term of Presi-
dent Grant has realized the just expecta-
tons of the masses of the people is only
to express, less emphatically, the verdict
of reimbursement pronounced at the polls
last November.
On the 4th of March, 1869, the new
President found gold worth 1871; his
second term commences with gold Ia.
-Four years ago United States bonds were
worth in London 81 J, and in Frankfort
ST. Now they are worth 9S, i'll Lon
don and 954 in Frankfort. Upon inau-
guration day in 1869. the public debt
was g., 544, 1856, 904. On the 4th of March,
1873, it is only 81, 157 $3.50, 700. The four
years of President Grants administra-
ton represent Il reduction III the premi-
INN on gold of 49, per cent, an advance
of p per cent. at London, and Of II per
. cent. at Frankfort, on the value OF
American securities, and a liquidation
of S36S, 800, 2Of of the national debt. No
, comment could add to the force of this
financial exhibit, except to direct atten-
ton to the equally gratifying fact that
during these four years, while the Gov
ernment credit has steadily appreciated,
as shown 10y the decrease in the gold pre-
MUM and the advance of American secu-
rites in Europe; and while taxation has
been maintained at point sufficiently
high to enable the Government to dis
charge fifteen per cent of its entire obi
cations, the general prosperity of all the
people has increased rather than dimin-
ished.
The amelioration of the political con-
dition of the country has not been less
decided and gratifying than it's financial
improvement has been unexampled and
beneficent. President Grant found the
South, under the malign influence of
Johnson's reactionary policy, discomfort
ed, turbulent, and again rebellious. He
commences his second term with every
State fully represented in Congress, and
a reign of peace and an apparently hon
est purpose i'll every part of the South,
Louisiana alone excepted, to return TO an
unqualified allegiance to the Union and
the Constitution.
In his foreign policy the President has
been equally wise Against an intrigu-
ing hostile faction III the Senate he
steadily adhered to his early announced
determination to bring about settlement
of the Alabama claims question, and
finally succeeded, against the clamors of
dictatorial and hypercritical press, and
the bitter opposition of clique of ambl-
tious and designing politicians, who were
willing to endanger the peace of the
country rather than permit an admins
tration, to which they were inimical, to
reap the just credit due to an honorable
settlement of long outstanding difficult
ty. But III this, as in all the great ques-
tons which have demanded q solution at
the hands of the Administration, the
people have recognized the honest pur-
pose, enlightened WISDOM and firm in
tegrlty OF President Grant, and have lent
to his efforts the saction of pronounced
and authoritative public sentiment.
The close of President Grants first
term leaves TO the country as an accom-
plished fact the invocation of his inaugu-
raj LET us have peace" 1t is no
more than just to him to declare that the
renown of his military achievements has
been fifty and honorably supplemented
by civil career uneXcelled in the practi-
cal results of wise craftsmanship by that
of any one of his predecessors. If at the
end of his second term, upon which he
enters so auspiciously to-day, it can be
truthfully said that it has been as success
full and as prosperous as the first, he may
retire from public life with a degree of
satisfaction equal to that expressed by
the first President upon similar occa-
sion, and be greeted with like testimoni-
ais of affection and regard by the whole
people.