The New York herald., 1875-10-01
The Speech OF the President.

own eyes and to victories in which the
| bravery of the soldiers supplemented the
skill and plans Of the commander cannot
meet his old comrades face to face without
emotion, and we do not wonder that General
Grants reticence broke down yester-
day at Des Moines when he met the
survivors of the old Army Of the
Tennessee, which he formed, trained and
commanded, and whose members have so
many cherished memories in common with
him. Such meeting even though ex-
pected and appointed beforehand, could not
fail to move all whom Providence has pre-
served to take part in it, and especially the
President, of whose striking career the men
he saw before him formed an important and
interesting part and who, perhaps, remem-
bered that he is soon to retire from the ac-
tive stage Of life, in whose most stirring
parts those there gathered were his COM
rades. Thus it is not surprising that the man
usually so reticent spoke, and it was to be
expected that he would, knowing that his
words would be eagerly read by his country
men everywhere use the occasion to speak
of the future Of the Union which he and his
comrades did so much to preserve, and
which, if dear to all of US, may be supposed
| in an especial manner dear to those who
fought for its maintenance. Indeed, the
speech Of General Grant had in some meas
ure the solemnity of a farewell address, and
we regret that he did not make it longer and
more comprehensive that he did not take
the occasion to express to his countrymen his
| opinions and to give them his advice upon
all the questions which are engaging their
attention.
! If the President done this perhaps his ad-
dress would have lost something which will
strike many of its readers painfully-some-
thing less in the words than in the spirit which
seems to inform them Of pugnacity, as Of a
soldier standing with arms at ease but yet
regardful Of an enemy. Surely this was
unnecessary. Surely it is pity in such an
address to hear the great soldier and Presi-
dent, in a kind of Defiance suggest that I'VE
are not prepared to apologize for the past,
or to speak of not denying to any who
fought against Us any privilege under the
government" These are not questions be-
fore the people. Those who fought against
the Union, now that the war is over, have pre-
cisely the same rights in itas those who fought
for it. They are our fellow citizens under the
constitution: no more and no less There is
no more question of denial than Of apology.
In all that the President says Of the neces-
sity Of disseminating intelligence Of keep
ing secure 'free thought free speech, free
press, pure morals, unfettered religious SEN
tinent and equal rights and privileges for
all, irrespective Of nationality, color or re-
ligion, he has certainly the hearty agree
ment of the mass of his countrymen, some
of whom will remember with pain what we
here allude to with reluctance, that he has
himself on some occasions attempted to
punish the exercise of free political utter
ance by removals from Office That we
should encourage free schools, and resolve
that not one dollar appropriated to them
shall be applied to the support of any sec
tartan school that we should "keep Church
and State forever separate !" that neither
State nor nation should support institutions
[of education he evidently meant to sayl
save those where every child in the land may
get a common school education unmixed
with atheistic, pagan or sectarian teachings"
All this is sound it has in advance the sup
port of the great mass of the American
people. But the words spoken there and
by him jar upon the sense Of pro-
priety. They were uncalled for. They
are unfortunate, because they will give
the profane reason to suggest that the
President was really under the form of an
address to his old comrades of the war;
making stump speech for the Ohio canvass,
where the republicans have wantonly and
without any justification brought in as one
Of the political issues opposition to Roman
Catholic interference in the schools.
Surely, on such an occasion and from such
man as the President, suspicion, defiance,
opposition, are out Of place. He could have
urged good will-confidence in the future.
He could have exalted the future Of our re-
united country and its vast possibilities.
He could have shown the importance Of our
political experiment, not only for ourselves
but to the whole human race. He, the victor
on many glorious fields, speaking to his old
comrades in arms, could well have said some
words in praise Of the bravery, the heroic
conduct of those fellow -countrymen who
fought against Us He could have Justly and
generously praised their submission to defeat
and their acceptance Of change in their
social arrangements which is tho greatest
ever imposed on defeated people. He
could have recalled that noble and
pathetic inaugural address Of Lincoln,
delivered on the eve Of his martyrdom,
breathing SO much loyalty to the Union,
SO much charity and kindness to
the South He could well have pointed
out that, though the time has been as yet too
short to heal all wounds and to recover all
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