National Republican., 1873-03-05
THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS.

The inaugural address Of General Grant
will, we are certain, meet the approval Of the
entire country, and be commended by every
one whose personal and political hostility to
the President and tho Republican party has
not warped his Judgment and made him In
when partisan Interests and questions arc In
yolyed. There 10 scarcely a subject Of ma
tional or even sectional interest which ls not
fully covered, upon which the President has
not spoken strong, brave, and unmistakablo
words. lie Is Just to the South, to the East,
and to the West; Just to the races who hail
his reelection as the omen Of continued ad-
vancemcnt and prosperity Just to all classes
and all men. It Is exactly such an address as
the great majority Of people would expect
from President Of the republic.
Tho lrst thing that strikes the mind upon
reading It Is the emlnontly conservative tone
Of the whole document. In regard TO the
acquisition Of territory the President an
nounccs that he will In future advocate 1t
only when he Is satisfied that 1t has the sup
port Of the people. The illusions to the San
Domingo question show that the President
Interest In that country has not dlmlnishcd,
although he will not again press Its annexa'
ton as a measure Of his Administration,
The few words Of defence, or rather Of ex'
PLANTATION, on that subject, which he ohera,
were scarcely needed, excepting, possibly, as
a reiteration of his message on tho subject
two years ago, that hls duty In the matter
had ended and that Of Congress begun. 81
far as the people arc concerned we belley'
that II vote were taken on the subject to
morrow they would Overwhelmingly detlar,
In favor Of annexation.
But however we may differ upon that ant
one or two other points In tho inaugural
there Is one portion In which the policy o
the next Administration may be said to b,
summed up that will DO warmly indorsed b,
every American and lover Of America. It 4
broad, comprehensive summary OF the need
Of the present and Of the future, II we wlsl
to see our country assume and hold the lead
ershIp Of the nations Of the world. Genera
Grant calls the country and the two partis
that have divided 1t during the last sixteoI
years away from the contest and strife Ii
which they have been SO long engaged TO
grander and more glorious career than ",
have yet entered upon. Tho North and tn
South are invited to clasp hands across th'
bloody chasm, and unite with the Yves
In solving the great Industrial prob
lens that press upon us; to turn ava!
from tho past, so full Of bitter memories, ant
look hopefully, trustfully and earnestly int
the future. 1t is to be hoped that we shall al
have the wisdom and patriotism to follow hi
leadership In this direction and second hi
efforts toward carving out the grand destin,
that awaits the American republic II II Is no
lost and destroyed by wrangling dcmagogue
and politicians. It Is almost impossible b
put Gen. Grants promised policy NOR
tersely than he has done 1t himself. Tn
leading points Of II are, In his own language
First. The restoration of good feeling be
tween the different sections OF tho country.
Second. Specie payments.
Third. Cheap transportation.
Fourth. Peace with oil the world.
Fifth. The ro-establlshment OF our com
mcrce.
Sixth. &c encouragement Of home In
dusiry.
Seventh. A humane Indian policy.
Eighth. The reform Of the civil service.
Here Is platform upon which each ant
every ono Of US can stand irrespective o
party lines aud past political affiliations
That 1t will bo indorsed by the people W
have not the least doubt.