The Portland daily press., 1874-04-23
National Honor Rescuedl

The man who for four years as soldier
proved equal to the most trying emergencies
when national existence hung in the balance,
has now, as chief magistrate of the nation.
most signally rescued it from the reckless pur-
pose OF those who would have consigned it to
certain disgrace and ultimate ruin. Again
he has stood between the country and its de-
structon. Reckless demagogism had tr-
umphed in both branches Of Congress; deaf
ear had been turned to the warning voice of
history; appeal to the most solemn national
pledges of the past had been made in vain;
all was apparently lost, when, with moral
courage the world will admire, President
Grant. regardless of the denuncation of his
foes, stood forth to deliver the country from
ruin and MANY. The transformations leader
who rallied the dropping spirits of the nation
in 1852 by his Unconditional Surrender"
and whose determined well fight it out on
this line if it takes all SUMNER" above the
din and carnage of the bloody summer of
1854. treasured the nation, now declares to
the world that 'the solemn pledges of this
naGion to its debtors must be sacredly kept"
Never was so important duty thrust upon
a chief magistrate, and never was one more
nobly performed. The nation was drifting
hopelessy to financial ruin, to inevta lie re-
pudiation and irretr!evable shame. General
Grant interposed his veto, and with it the
tide turned toward good faith, solveuey and
permanent national honor. But yesterday
there was reason to apprehend that through
the reckless action of Congress in debauching
its circulating medium and in violating its
solemn promises, the nation would sink to a
third ra power and become synonym for
national infamy. To-day, by the interposi-
ton of his veto, the honor of the nation has
been snatched from obloquy and its place as
sured among the first powers of the earth be-
cause it declares fol honesty But yesterday
On0 u"eioh was com nitted TO policy which
would Danish it from the commercial nations
oil the world, because its Congress refused 10
recognize the Currency of civilization as its
currency. To-day the President by bis veto
declares for the intelligence of the nation that
it will not wall itself in from the intercourse
OF civilized peoples by policy unworthy of
the darkest ages. Yesterday it looked as
though the Mortons, Buffers, Camerons,
Merrimons, McCrearys and Bogys were to
lead tue nation to ruin. To-day the Presi-
dents veto assures us that the sober second
thought, which is honest and impartial, will
entrusG its financial honor to the Grants. the
Shermans, the Blaines, the Hawleys, the
Thurmans, and the Seizures.
For time the champions of infation-the
chasrned Buffers and Mortons-will defame
the President. For time he will be de-
nounced as the tool of the money lenders. but
in time an intelligent and appreciative peo--
pie will recognize that the peace full victory of
April twenty-second, 1874, is as vital to the
future glory of the nation, as that of April
ninth, 1866. Indeed, history will record of
U. S. Grant that, by his veto as the Chief
Magistrate, he secured the fullest fruits of his
victories as a soldier. To have shrunk from
the former would be to throw ava. the latter.