The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-05-17
GRANTS MESSAGE.
Four Years Absence from the Capital
slim Excuses.

IN. T. SUM-
Gen. Grants recent reply to the reso-
luton Of the House. asking whether an
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-infation message.
II has had genuine success with the
newspapers and with the public, and
has been praised by those who are not
in the habit Of praising Grants per-
formances. 1t was intended by its
writer Grant did not write il 10 be in
solent toward the House. and succeeded
in that intention; yet the fact remains
unchanged that the Presidents 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 n grave imprO-
priety, amply deserving all the censure
1t has ever received.
Gen. Grant puts in two excuses as a
reason for not furnishing the informa-
tion demanded by the House. The first
Is that Of one who refuses to testify be-
cause it would be self-crimination.
'1f." he says. "this information be
sought through an inquiry Of the Presi-
dent as to his executive acts, In view or
in aid OF the power OF impeachment
vested in the House, it is asked in dero-
cation Of an inherent natural right
recognized in this country by consti-
tutional guarantee which protects every
citizen. the President as well 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
vlu IF ia
when the public departments wero hard
ly organized at all. The public records
do not furnish any trustworthy evidence
OF the absences Of the early Presidents
The memorandum on that point, sent
i'm 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 it
were exact, it would not relieve Grant
from blame. Speaking OF Washington,
it says, "he appeared to have been thus
absent at least 1s1 days during his term"
Ii this statement We're strictly true, it
would only prove that Washington was
absent less than twenty three days in a
year; while. Grants absences have
amounted to about one half of the entire
time.
The State Department memorandum,
though furnished by Mr.. Fish without
having been called for, is really damn
ing to Grant. 1t 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 inju-
rious to Grant. These seven Presidents
Taylor and Fillmore being reckoned
as one term-were absent in all, 536 days
during the twenty-four years, or frac-
tiOn over twenty-five days for every
year,
Complaint has never been made
against the Presidents seeking reason
able recreation during the year. Con
ventiOnal usage comedies that indul-
gence. But Grant is the first President
who ever established regular residence
away from the Executive Mansion. pro-
vided by law for his official occupation
1t is no secret that he was induced to go
to Long Branch in the interest Of large
speculation, and that his cottage and
his outfit there were furnished without
cost to him to advance that scheme.
Since March 4, 1863, Grant has been
absent from Washington more than four
years in all, taking the figures from his
own organs. He has drawn full salary
and perquisites for every day OF that
partments are allowed only one month
absence in each year, and are docked for
every hour beyond it. The effect Of this
practice is seen all through the service
IN exposures Of the fraud and rascality
which have disgraced the country and
made Grantism the synonym for the
worst phases Of corruption. However,
he time is near at hand when Grant
may not only go away without censure,
but will be invited to stay away for good.