The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-10-07
The President on III. Travels.


Peripatetic Presidents have not had much
favor in this country in recent years. Presi-
dent Pierce made short progress from
Washington to New England during his adj
ministration and was numerically ridiculed
for it. Mr. Johnson Swung around the
circle" with his Cabinet and other attend
ants and the journey did a great deal to
put an end to his political career. And now
General Grant, whose restlessness in the
Presidential chair has almost gained him the
title of the Great American Traveller" is
also on his winding way.
OF course we do not grudge the President
tho relaxation he doubtless needs after the
summers hard work at Long Branch. An
overworked President is entitled to rest
Nor do we blame him for making a speech on
his way. He saw an excellent Governor
careering around the State addressing farm
ers, mechanics, Boards of Trade and any
body else who would listen, and doubtless
he was thus tempted to try his own hand at
speech. 1t may be said without disrespect
to General Grant that public speaking is not
his strong point and now that Governor
Tilden, judiciously mindful of the HERALDs
exhortation, has returned to Albany and
ceased his peregrinations about the State, we
trust the President will follow his example.
We mean, of course only so far as to re-
sumo his accustomed silence. To his jour
ney we have no objection. Even a President
may have private business to attend to-
horses and cattle to SELL and the proceeds to
invest. As General Grant is not going to
San Francisco he will be saved from the
temptation of risking the price of his favorite
war-horse in Segregated Belcher or Cholar
Potos or Yellow Jacket. We advise him to
steer clear - kte-fying stocks and fancy
shares by the WY at his age man cannot
do better with hia money than to put it in good
safe seven per cent bonds. He may not get
more than six per cent MS prices now rule !;
but he can 'go to sleep" on such securities,
as they say in the street. We should dislike
to see the President lose money by i'm
prudent ventures for, as he remarked
in his third term letter and on other occa-
sions he has made sacrifices and he needs
all he has accumulated. Indeed, the prices
which he accepted for some of his horses the
other day in st. Louis would lead one to
suspect that the general shrinkage had af-
fected even him, though it has always been
supposed that he was very shrewd inves-
tor, and could if he liked put even his
ablest friends up to point or two.
What we object to is not the travels but
the speeches Of our public functioAaries.
When the President and the Governor go
about addressing the people it looks too
much like the ''touting" of theatrical man
ayers. When enterprising impresarios Gre
ate stir in rural neighborhoods and cause
the circulation ofwonderful stories about this,
that and the other prima donna or actor,
we all know what they are after. 1t is not q
very lofty occupation, and it must be said
for our managers that when they can afford
it they give this work to agents But when
President and Governor 60 about the people
suspect them also of an object, and if these
things should go on they might by and by
fall into confusion between theatrical and
political managers and wonder which is the
statesman and which the impresario. In
deed, some Of our statesmen would have
made excellent theatrical managers, and, pos
sibly, some of our managers might have made
capable statesmen had they been bred to it /;
at least capable as the times 60