The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-03-08
Ghe 9aiIg Arsns.
POUR YEARS OF PRESIDENT GRANT.

ulal ~. ,,,l,. ~. 4 ms urakes this ct
snonsb onnortunity for reviewing his Ad-
ministrati6n during the term now about to
expire T.. A.. =. s,u,,,.
man abo has ever made figure in Amer
enc Affairs. Whether we compare his
mental endowments with his official pro-
motion, or cQntrass his position thirteen
years ago at Galena with his pre-eminence
to-day AZ WASHINGTON, we find abundant
reason for wonder and establishment
A dignity which statesmen Of The
rarest eloquence and political ca
pacity -men like Hamilton, clay Cal
houn, Webster would have been proud TO
attain, has fallen for the second time upon
man without ideas or utterance' without
knowledge, training, or experience, WIN,
out cultivated manners or social giits, ana
who Is As great contrast as can well be
imagined IN Bismarck, Theirs, Gladstone,
GoTtscbaEof, CASTELAR,, o. any Of the no
ted contemporary statesmen who direct
the policy of other important governments
Nobody could think Of comparing General
Grant with any of these in point OF ability
asiuteness, eloquence, or political penetra
ton but he IL superior In luck " the
most favored of the list General tirarl
owes all this 20 his services in the ciNi
war but how poor and mean are me re /
wards of Moltke, the greatest hi,'ary
genius of orr time, in comparison with the
honors and cmoluments which have over
taken the American general! lnques-
ti1nahlv, General Grant Is the most favor
ed and fortunate man among all his con
tcmporaries But this surprising blaze
and glare Of fortune cannot stifie inquiry
into his character and merits.
A President who is reinaugurated after
four years service must be judged by his
ability as a statesman. We have had two
military Presidents before but neither
Washington nor Jackson was reelected
for his military achievements, but only ON
account of the title he had established
during his first term to vigur and wisdom
as statesman. Whether General
Grants Administration has been cores
pondingly successful, is legitimate topic
Of discussion.
He may fairly count il ~ an honor % be
ranked in the list of re- elected Presidents.
Considering who have filled that office
within the last thirty years, it is no fiatter-
ing distinction 20 have been President :;
but up IN this time, our reelected Presi-
dents have been men OF extraordinary Wig
or and talents or of very marked personal
character There is no one of General
Grants predecessors in this double honor,
who might not, on the day of his second
Inauguration, have pointed to some con
spicuous success or achievement during
his expired term which was a valid claim
20 public gratitude Washington, when
he took the oath second time had &c
complished the difficult task of putting n
new government, with no precedents to
guide IT, into successful operation
Jefferson, by a bold stroke Of states
manship, had acquired Louisiana and the
whole magnificent territory between the
Mississippi River and the Rocky Noun
tains Madison had embarked the country
in u popular war which was already Mt
tended with the bright dawn Of those SPLEEN
did victories on the sea which are still the
chief foundation of our naval renOwn I;
Monroe had acquired Florida and extended
the western boundary Of Louisiana TO the
Sabine river Jackson had just triumphed
over the National Bank and Notification
Lincoln had emancipated the slaves and
conducted a mighty civil war to a success
ful termination To what similar great
trophy can General Grant point ON the day
of his second Inauguration in vindication
of his claim 10 rank with the illustrious
line of reelected Presidents? The whole
course of their first Administrations was
as strong and fruitful as his has been fee
bic and barren. They were adorned by
the splendor of great abilities, whereas
General Grant, Cabinet has been almost
as mediocre as himself jefferson, Ham
iton. Madison, Gallatin, Monroe, JOIN
Quincy Adams, Calhoun, Van Buren,
Livingston, Cass, Seward Chase, wer,
among the secretaries Of General Grant
reelected predecessors but he has ne
elected statesmen like Charles Francis Ad
ans 70 make up Cabinet Of such men a
BeIknap Delano, Robson and Creswell, 49,
men no doubt superior In civil capacity u
himself, but who would need all the tai
ents they possess 10 fill with credit as higl
Offices in the local governments of thei
own States as they have been promoted +
in the Government Of the Union
Ifit were in accordance with usage 70
some officer or sycophant TO make an al
dress of congratulation TO President Gran
on this occasion, he would be puzzled 70
topics. He might 10 be sure, felicitat.
the President on his reelection and IN,
doubling Of his salary for his second term
but what could he say in just praise of tn,
achievements Of the last four years Gu
PROSTATE shipping interest is still NOR
hopelessly Frustrated specie payment
and a sound currency are as distant a
they seemed in 1862 the Southern Statei
plundered by carpet-bag governments, ar
not relieved a usUrping faction is in cor
troll Of Louisiana; the Mormon problem
not solved the Indian policy Of the Ad
ministration is failure the Treasury ha
lust made an abortive attempt, through
new syndicate, TO refund portion Of th
national debt several Of our most impol
tant industries are taxed out Of existence
and our general condition is no better @
more promising than it was four years age
The acquisition Of Santo Domingo, the chic
thing by which General Grant has under
taken 10 distinguish his Administration. /
an utter failure. His policy in respect I
Cuba gives no satisfaction, and has accom-
plished no results.
As an Offset 10 this melancholy series O
failures, 6eneral Grants supporters claim
Tor him two merits They assert that he ha
made a very considerable reduction of IN
national debt, and that he has settled tn
Alabama dispute. These claims In hi
behalf are plausible enough 10 deserv
fair consideration. The reduction of IN
debt merely shows that his revenue officer
have collected the heavy taxes imposed b
Congress, As the receipts exceeded IN
extravagant expenditures Of his Admins
tration, what other use could have bee
made Of the surplus than to apply it l.
wards the extinction Of the national debt
If II be a merit not 10 have stolen ii
money that came into the Treasury, Il
General Grants Administration have this
praise. Of course we can make an annui
reduction Of the debt with high enoug
taxes. Such reductions were mad
throughout President Johnsons Admin,
tration, yet nobody ever claimed that the
redounded much % President johnson
credit BY our fortunate position in hay
ing no powerful, aggressive neighbors. an
our separation by wide ocean from m
formidable military powers of Europe. v
are relieved Of the heavy expense
standing armies in time Of peace, and ca
apply towards the reduction Of the publ
debt the vast sums which go in 9TH
highly taxed countries to the support
necessary armies. But it is preposterol
4 q IL q