Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-03-09

arouse Congre 50 TO a sense Of lis duty TO
second and support Linn in the matter, that
he gave up his effort for reform Of the
system of appointments to Office in despair
and disgust.
To his wisdom and practical common
sense IL is largely due that the financial
condition OF the country has steadily i'm
proved and that our curron cy has 50 near
~ reached specie basis. Like a strong
wall he has constantly stood against the
schemes and efforts Of The inflationists in
Congress. In his messages and through
his personal influence he has constantly
urged the necessity Of an early resumption
of specie payments, and it is scarcely too
much TO say that il his advice had been
keeded the incoming of his successor 10 the
presidential Office might have been greeted
by currency whose dollar ofpaper should
have been the equivalent and fair represen-
tative of The dollar in gold.
The foreign policy Of Gen. Grants adj
ministraion has been in many respects its
most notable and commanding feature.
Never has our government stood higher
in the respect of the governments Of the
old world than it does to-day-and With
good cause-for the past eight years have
witnessed a series of such brilliant diplo-
matte victories, unbroken by single de-
feat, as any nation might be proud Of
England, in the Alabama aud San Juan
awards, Spain, in the Virginius matter,
England, again, in the extradliun victory,
with numerous minor powers, in a score
q,
appreciate and acknowledge the dignity
and high ability which have marked the
| administration of our department Of Stale.
! Passing over the Indian peace policy,
whose theory at least is creditable TO the
! head and heart Of its author, we may say
| that Gen. Grants Southern policy has been
uniformly marked by u steadfast integrity
Of purpose and an evident desire to sub
serve the best interests, not only of the
country at large, but of the Southern peo-
! Pile themselves. Constantly and loudly as
he has been vlifed and denounced by the
opposition for his use oftroops in upholding
the arm of the law against anarchy and dis
order, it is, and must remain, an open ques-
ton whether President Grant did not real
ize better than any other man the nature oil
the elements with which he had to deal,
aud the necessity for prompt and decisive
action by the strong hand of the central
government. This much must at least be
sad-that he has been the unvarying and
unfinching friend Of the freedmen and oil
the true Union element of the South, and,
whatever he has done, lie has been consis-
tent and mistaken in defending what he be-
lieved to he the real spirit and foundation
principles of our republican institutions.
His mistake in his Southern policy has
been in appointing unworthy rlen to office
and in unfolding them in their actions, and
in this respect his error has been the same
as in all others-one of judgment and
not of design. Essentially ana thoroughly
honest himself, he has been slow to suspect
dishonesty in others, and herein lies the
reason why corrupt men have so often fast
ened themselves upon him, and for the
time being seemed to compromise him and
his motives. The country sought Gen
Grant for its President well knowing thai
his only training for the place had been Oh
tanned at West Point and in the army. They
did not ask of him the qualities Of trained
aud astute craftsmanship, and we believe
that he retiies from the high office amid {
kindly feeling and abundant good wishe'
on the part of the people, and with well.
earned claim to their permanent love, re-
spect. and gratitude.