The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-24

| President. He has 10 in his power to
mako this the most memorable speech
| that ever fell not only from his own lips
but from the lips Of any President IL he
let the moment slip without dong II, his
audience VIII feel that hc has not risen TO
the hoight of tho Philadelphia Centcn-
nal.
| 1t need not be an eloquent speech, like
| those of DTMosrItrNIs, or CICERO, or DAN
TEL WEBSTER, cnrlNu the mind away
with its mighty thought and splendid lan-
| puagc. II need not De- learned speech,
displ wing great knowledge Of the arts and
scIcnccs, of history and philosophy, of lit
erlturc aud law, filed with fucts and Illus
| ttatioIs calculated to siurtlc the common
| multitude 1t need not be IL thrill ing
speech, ablaze with such passion As rises
frcm soul on the rampage and siirs the
| dullcst listener. IL need not be witty
speech. fitted to keep an audience on the
roar. Not ut all. If the speech had to he
eloquent, or learned, or thrilling, or witty,
GRANT would be discouraged at the pros
pect, aud perhaps refuse to speak ut all.
But II Is only necessary that the speech
things that GRANT knows about-wcll, not
exactly farming, nor even horse flesh, nor
yet smoking.
1t is time for GRANT to begin the prcpa-
ration of that speech. 1t is to be spoken IN
about SIX weeks. There are people who
can compose long speech in few days,
or hours, or minutes. ana there are even
people who can make up speeches MS they
90 along with them without any fore
thought OF any kind; hut GRANTS Ceuteu-
NAL speech should be osr,fully planned,
thought ont. and studied up for at least six
weeks, SO that evcrythiugmay lo properly
told, and nothing uuhappily forgotten ut
the time OF it, delivery.
lie must not forget to tell all about HIM
self. his ways. experiences and career; or
about his notions Of government. politics,
aud ofnceholding; or about his Cabinet
officers, from BoRIE the sham to BEL
KNAPP the highwayman; or about his
system Of appointments, including rel
atives in Offices; or about the way he has
been harassed; rabout Brother ORvII.. and
the Indian OIL military post tradcrships; or
abO.t his general style of dong things; or
about his life at Long Branch; or about
his election to n second term; or about his
programme for third term, or about his
opinions Of certain men; OF about the
ways in which he has been found out,
from time TO time; or about the presents
lac has received or about his Investments
from Black Friday onward; or about
his treatment by the newspapers; or about
poker playing ana POKER SCHENcK; or
about any OF those other things or peo-
pie which he can probably bring iu
1t would be an interesting Centennial
contribution, such speech. Ii properly
done, il would carry his name along, rs u
curiosity, 10 the next Centennial.
Tho occasion would be peculiarly A.
ting one for such q speech, AMI he viii
have no other such occasion. IT he do not
embrace il aud make the explanations and
revelations that are needed, his adminis-
tration, rs we'll as himself, Will be iucOm-
prehensIble TO posterity, and the orators
at next Centennial will be sure TO give
very odd accounts Of it and him.
After covering the ground which ought
10 be covered in this speech, GRANT, stand
ing on the lofty platform before his n<s
dclphia audience, should solemn
nounce his evil ways in brny repentance
and cry for forgiveness. This would be
worthy spectacle for the opening Of the
Centennial Exhibition, and the most im-
pressiye one ii could produce.