Year: 1873

The twenty-second Presidential term
has begun. General Grant stands mid
way in his civic career. His address up
on passing the halfway milestone was
delivered at noon yesterday, and read the
same evening all over the land. The oc-
casion admitted of no remarkable utter
ances. The time to make definite sug-
gestions to Congress is when that body
convenes. Unless something special
should occur to require the calling of an
extra session, we shall have no more ma
tional legislation for nine months. In the
meantime the President has only to keep
the machinery of the Government rum
ming in accordance with the laws of the
land.


President Grant regards his reelection
as a vindication of himself from the
charges of his enemies, and such it GER
tainly was. Not that the people hold him
above liability to blunder, but that they
accord to him worthy motives and good
Judgment. He is safe man to have at
the head of public affairs. Singularly
modest and plain, his first term has pass
ed into history crowned as no other four
years of peace ever were. In all our ma
tional experience no oparallel can be found
to it in tn completeness and importance
of its accomplished facts.


The popular vindication of the Admin
istration was richly deserved, and the de-
velopments of the past winter added en-
phasis to it. Names hitherto unsullie6
and familiar to the whole country were
blackened by the exposures of last winter;
but not so much as the shadow of suspic-
ion of corruption rests upon the Presi-
dent No briber ever dared approach
him with a specious offer of good Sin
vestment." The whiteness of his reputa-
tion is unspotted by a single fleck.


Four years ago the country was in de-
plorable condition, politically. The
South was in state bordering on chaos,
and the civil service was fearfully demor-
allied. The quarrel between Congress
and President johnson necessarily poi
soued the channels of national govern
ment. The attempt was at once made
not only to remedy the evils of the john
son rule, but to uproot the spoils system
inaugurated by General Jackson. In
this the Executive was more successful
than any of US dared hope, even though
the hostility was desperate. With all its
disguise, the contest last fall was over
that issue. The opposition was CON-
trolled and impelled by the element in
the Republican party which smarted
under reform, and longed for return to
the old way of dispensing patronage.


Besides this distinctive triumph, the
late Administration can point with pecu-
liar pride to the complete restoration OF
friendliness with foreign powers, the re-
construction of every State once in rebel
lion, and the establishment of universal
suffrage. Every issue growing out of the
war and that which caused it has been
squarely met. The dead past now sleeps
in tine grave. The nation is prepared fol
whatever new labor the public good ma y
require The interval between the inau
| guration and the first assembling of the
new Congress will afford opportunity tC
cast about and mature plans for the fu
| ture.


There are four grand conditions of ma
tional prosperity, viz: 1. Relief of pro
duction from the exorbitant taxes levied
by transportation moropolies. 2. Continu
Gus development of our latent resource:
through manufactures. 8. Restoration
of our commerce. 4. Lifting our paper
money to the level of coin as a medium
of exchange


Judging the new Administration by the
old, the four conditions of the nations
thrift which have been named will b.
thoroughly met before U. s. Grant retirei
to private life.-Chicdgo Journal.