The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1876-12-07
TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION.
(IN ADyANCE.)
The Press on the Presidents Message.

WI ~ o4ASNNAI IN
as criminal to the last degree, an oppos-
ing party.
President Grant has earned the in
tense hatred of the Democrats by a
long career of brilliant service to his
country, both as commander of the
army and in the national councils. His
aim in this last message seems to be to
record the conviction that in steadily
~antagonizing the Democratic party dur:
ing the last sixteen years, he invariably
served the highest interests of the coun-
try and the immortal principles of liber-
ty. The Inter- Ocean compliments the
temerity and bravery of the president in
proposing a curtailment of suffrage and
says he don't discuss the political situa-
ton, doubtless reserving that for a spe-
cial message.
The Chicago Tribune's editorial:
The message is of extraordinary in
terest and merit. We think that after
reading this message, in which he frank
ly though brightly reviews his closing
administration, there will be few of his
countrymen, who will withhold from
General Grant the tribute of patriotism
and honesty of purpose. His previous
inexperience rendered him more sub
ject to imposition and gross abuses of
his confidence and enabled men to at
tach themselves to his administration
who have been at once a weakness and
reproach. How ever much he NAV have
been deceived, and how ever much his
confidence has been abused, time will
indicate his integrity of purpose and
the earnestness of his efforts to be inst
and right in all acts.
The Chicago Times says:
The message will disappoint every
body. 1t does not deal in any degree
with the absorbing topic of bulldozing,
local government n the South, and col
lateral questions. The document itself
is disjointed and bad reading. He shifts
the responsibility of his bad appoint
ments on his party managers, Logan,
Morton, Cameron and Chandler. The
most satisfactory paragraph of the
whole paper is that in which he tells
the country that his official existence
will terminate on the 4th of March.
The New York Times editorial:
Republicans of all classes, whether they
have approved of Grants admins
tration or not, would have been glad to
see him lay aside the apologize one re-
garding the past, and to assume a tone
of decision in regard to the problems of
the present. 1t will be time enough to
sum up the result of his eight years of
power when they are over. His policy
during the next three months may have
more to do in determining the verdict
of history upon his character than all
record of the civil administration which
has proceeded it. For aught that ap-
pears in the message, the country might
be set down as in a condition of pro-
found domestic peace, instead of being,
as it is, in a condition more critical
than has existed at any period since the
war. How is the presidents silence to
be interpreted? Has the administra-
ton no definite policy upon the subject?
No conviction of right and duty press
ing for early and explicit utterances?
The New York Tribune's editorial:
There is something of pathos in the
opening sentences, which cannot but
disarm criticism, and which, as much
in reading between the lines as the mat
ter itself, really appeal to the sympathy
of the country and ask more generous
judgment than that to which he has
been used from his contemporaries and
from history. A sad thing it is that he
should be obliged to admit so much in
the way of mistakes and failure, and
should go out of Office with an apology.
The closing paragraphs of the message
are devoted, singularly enough, to a re-
statement of the argument in favor of
the Santo Domingo scheme, not, as he
says, as a recommendation for a renew
al of the subject of annexation, but to
vindicate his previous action in regard
to it. There could be no better il
lustration of the presidents
amazing obstinacy of charac-
ter. The Sante Domingo scheme
probably n of the worst blunders
of his administration. 1t divided, and
in the end almost destroyed the party,
but it has passed out of peoples minds
and might have been forgotten. The
message is that of a man who is tired of
public life and weary of political strife.
1t is a confession that his civil career
has not been a success and a plea for
charitable judgment, or at least for a
division of blame. 1t is only just to
say of him that his military service en-
titled him to the country's gratitude, and
that if his civic career was a failure it
was only his misfortune, while it was
IQP peoples Idull. Leu US tdht OuT Sildfe
of the blame Of it and remember with
satisfaction that at least in one instance,
his veto of the imitation act, his admin
istration was alike honorable to himself
and servicable to the country.
The N. Y. World considers the mes
sage a plea setting forth what he con-
siders to be the reason why he ought
not to be impeached. The World fur
Their criticises the presidents style and
grammar and adds that upon the great
and vital question Of the hour, his use
of the arms of the United States in cleo
lions, Grant is utterly silent.
The N. Y. SUMS editorial: -
The message is small, meagre and I'M
satisfactory. OF course nobody expect
ed he would show any con
prehension of the perilous political state
Of the country, or anything in the way
Of suggestion or craftsmanship. His
closing words express the improbability
that public affairs will yer again re-
ceive attention from him otherwise than
as aprivate.citizcn and wemust say there
must be nj inconsolable grief over this
fact, when we see how utterly he has
failed and still fails to comprehend the