The Portland daily press., 1876-12-12
NEW YoRk Dec. Q. 1876.

New YORK Dec 9, 1876.
The President in his annual message adopts
an entirely new role. For the first time in his
life be INDUCES in little egotism. 1t isa
style be ha had no practice in, aud il is not to
be wondered at that bis first exercise is trifle
awkward. In his. desire to excuse the tone of
self-satisfacton and pride, which pervades his
review of his civic career he alludes to and
masnifes the few and Insignificant errors of
judgment in making appointments which con-
stitute the sole grounds Of exception to the ex-
cellence of his administration. He saws in
effect, II have not always made the best selec-
tions for the offices at my disposal but the fault
OF that lies mainly at the door of the people
on whose recommendation acted" He might
have said, "The earliest and gravest mistake
made was in naming Joshua f. Bailey for re-
appointment as Revenue Collector in New
York, but did it at the earnest aud persisteut
personal importantly of Horace Greeley, who
not merely urged it as favor, but demanded
it as right" He was misled in that instance
and-less grievously-n some others, and yet
1t is TACT that his appointments as a whole
average better than those of any of his prede-
cessors Mr. Lincoln was great ways behind
him in this particular, and yet the fact ought
not to detract iu the slightest degree from the
honor due to the memory of the martyr, for he
too was comparatively new 10 the national SER
vice, was obliged to take people on trust and
could by no possibility avoid being now and
then imposed upon.
But passing beyond and above the somewhat
common place topic of patronage, the Pres-
dent does not disguise his sense of appreciation
of the success of his civic career With char
acteristc modesty he recites without extolling,
the measures by which the executive branch of
the government, under his leadership, has pre-
served the peace, reduced the debt, diminished
| taxation. appreciated the public credit and pre-
pared the way for the restoration of specie paw
ments. He evidently feels perfectly sure of
| the approving voice OF his couutrymen aud an
mated by self-conscousness which without
| being at all arrogant or boastful renders him
complacent and happy.
| The natural diffidence which Gen. Grant in
variab'y displays in respect to all matters per-
| tanning to his own personality was never more
palpable than in the composition of this por-
tion of his message. What was unquestona-
l .
| decidedly exultant strain the deeds of bis ad-
ministration, has been curiously mistaken by
superfic al readers as an apology for its short.
comings. But very little reflection will show
the absuIdity of this construction of his Lam
| guage because be goes an to enumerate the
results accomplished during his incumbency
There ere enough of them, and they are of
| enough consequence to establish his claim to
rank with the highest benefactors Of the ma
tion. He perforce contents himself with stat.
| ing the premises. but the conclusions, deduci-
BILE from them are as irresistible to his mind as
| they are to the minds of all. other men Of
average logical capacity. He manifestly en-
/ tertains the most serene and absolute conf
dence in the verdict which his contemporaries
and posterity will agree upon in regard to his
wisdom as ruler as we'll as his prowess as a
soldier. Something Of the spirit of Paul
| permeates his farewell message:
"For l am now ready to be offered, and
| the time of my departure is at hand. 1 have
| fought good fight. / have finished my
| course. HAVE KEPT THE FAITH"
The pare of the message which pleased me
| most was that in which he reiterated his con-
ycton that the only administrative mistake Of
his two terms was the neglect of Copg:ess to
ratify the ST. Domingo treaty. 1t is SO like him
to stand by measure that be thinks Is right,
no matter who opposes. He thought from the
first, and his opinion remains unchanged, that
the acquisition Of the West Indian Island
woull add largely to the productive wealth of
the coantry; that it would have furnished a
selutary outlet for the surplus labor which the
panic threw Gu. of gear; and that by incress-
ing our exports it would have aided materially
in bringing about that balance of trade, by
means of which We are to get back, to stable
currency. The arguments for it were practical
and statesmanlike; the arguments against il
| sentimental and fancful. 1t was a strange in
consistency to consent to the payment OF 81,
100000 for barren Alaska, and to refuse to buy
fertile Domingo for 81, ,5O0,O0 The President
foresees that the time will come when hi.
views on this question will receive the approba
tion of the American people, and therefore sig
nalize5 his retirement from public life by de-
clariDg that in his judgment the only instance
in which the legislative branch of the govern
ment negatived the recommendation of th,
Executive resulted in detriment to the interests
of the Republic The faith and courage will
which he puts himself on record with reference
to the question deserves the respect OF thos,
who dissent from, well as those, who asre,
| with, his reasoning
Gen. Grant has not oeen very much indebted
either to friends or foes for his fame and honor
No post of official duty has been assigned Il
himibecause he sought it OF had it sought fo
him. He has had no adventitious help at al
in his ascent to the summit of terrestrial de-
l D,tb ia A.
out meaning it, have been of more service L
him than his well wishers. Their abuse o
him has been so extravagant as to be harm
less, SO constant as to provoke resentment II
every manly bosom. AMI in view of recent pro
ceedings at the Capitol one might apostrephiz
him in the words OF the Psamist 'Surely tn
wrath of man shall praise thee? What ad
mirer of his could have wished better turn O
affairs than that he should be aspersed-iu a
sneakng sort of way-by the new Speake
whose notions of morality may be judged by hi
record, which shows that he voted himself $500
out of the pubic treasury, and pocketed tn
J money; or that a proposition to impeach hin
should have emanated from Fernando Wood
whose life has been one lorg series of infrac
tions of law aud justice. OF course these al
tacks are extremely puerile and uconsequent
They amount to nothipg-can serve no earthl
purpose, except to expose in a clearer light III
meaHness and malgnity of their authors Blu
they are all just SO many incidental and invol
untary contributions to the glory of the retir
ing Chief Magistrate.
Aud for the matter of that, what an amazn
number of thiugs the Democrats do in the il
terest of RepublcaCism, without knowing it, |
; the Republicans had been rue TO themselve
| they would never have come so near defeat a