The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-05-15
Grants Absences and Abuses.

Gen. Grants recent reply to the resolu
ton of the house, asking whether any
executive Offices acts or duties have been
performed at distance from the seat of
government established by law, is the
smartest and most telling of the various
documents issued in his name since his
noted anti initiation message. 1t has had
u genuine success with the newspapers and
with the public, and has been praised by
those who are not in the habit Of praising
Grants performances. 1t was in,eIded
by its writer-Grant did not write ito
be insolent toward Che house, and suc-
ceeded in that intention; yet the fact re-
mains unchanged that the president pro
tracted absences from the capital, and his
neglect Of public business in order TO
employ the time in private diversions Of
his own, constitute a grave improperly,
amply deserving all the censure it has ever
received.
Gen. Grant put in two excuses as
reason for not furnishing the information
demanded by the house. The first is that
of one who refuses to testify because it
would be selfcrimination. IF, he says,
this information be sought through an in.
quiry OF the president as TO his executive
acts, in view or IN aid Of the power of i'm
parchment vested in the house, it is asked
in derOgation of an Inherent natural right
recognized in this country by cOnstitu-
tlonal guarantee which protects every Cit
zen, the president as we'll as the humblest
in the land, from being made witness
against himself"
His second plea is an attempt TO cover
his own delinquencies behind examples
from the carly days Of the republic, when
the public departments were hardly or
ganized at all. The public records do not
furnish any Trustworthy evidence of the
absences of the early presidents. The
memorandum on that point, sent in from the
state department along with the message,
does not pretend even to be accurate, while
all the traditions show it to be essentially
false, and il il we're exact it would not
relieve Grant from blame. Speaking of
Washington, it says, he appeared to have
been thus absent at least Isl days during
his term III this statement were strictly
true, It would only prove that Washington
was absent less than 'twenty-three days in
year; while Grants absences have
amounted to about one-halt of the entire
time.
The state department memorandum.
though furnished by Mr.. Fish without
having Dccu Cdueu lOf, 10 Teauy uamOlDE
to Grant. II processes to give statement
covering six single terms of the presidency,
just preceding Lincoln and johnson, who
are excluded from the count only because
their names would make the comparison
more Injurious to Grant. These seven
Presldents-Taylor and Fillmore being
reckoned as one term--were absent in all,
$50 days during twenty -four years, or a
fraction over twenty-five days for every
year.
Complaint has never been made against
the presidents seeking reasonable recrea-
ton during the year. Conventional usage
comedies that indulgence. But Grant is
the hrst president who ever established a
regular residence away from the executive
MANSION, provided by law for his official
occupation. 1t is no secret that he was ir-
duced to go to Long Branch in the
interest OF large speculation, and chat
hlS cottage aud his outfit there were furn-