Year: 1875

From the NeO York Tribune, oct. /.


At the meeting of the Army of the Ten
nesee at Des Moines, Iowa, yesterday,
President Grant broke oyer his usual GUS
tom and read a speech of some length IN
answer to call from the audience. His
speeches upon public occasions have been
exceedenly rare, and, with the exception
of his inaugural addresses, invariably very
short. His setting himself deliberately at
work to write out a speech-and a speech,
too, of considerable length for him-upon
this occasion will cause surprise. and
whether he intended it or not, unusual
significance will be attached to his utter
ances. The speech will accordingly be
read with great care throughout the coun-
try, with the view to discover if possible
what extraordinary circumstance has in
duced him to break silence, and what can
be the motive of his making such formal
and formidable preparation.


The only feature of it to which any polit-
ical significance can be attached is the
pointed reference to tine subject of COM
mon schools and the necessity of keeping
church and state forever separate His
disclaimer 10 advance of any intention to
bring politics into the assemblage, Ger
tainy not partisan politics, would seem to
indicate that his remarks upon that
question did have political bearing; and
the apparent earnestness with which he
urges that not one dollar appropriated to
the common schools shall be applied to the
support of any sectarian institution, as a
safeguard without which it may happen
that the battles Of the war were fought in
vain. shows that he considers the question
one of unusual Importance. That he is en-
tirely right as to the necessity Of preserv-
ing our common schools from sectarian in
fuences we have strenuously maintained.
The mystery is, why he should have intro
duced the subject in so formal manner
and upon such an occasion. The school
question does enter somewhat into local
politics i'll Ohio, and possibly in one or two
other states. Even there it is not an over
shadowing issue, simply because no serious
or concerted resistance has been made to
the American idea, which, whenever dis
puted or resisted, will be overwhelmingly
maintained, that our schools must, at all
hazards, be kept free from any sectarian
faint, But it is not, and cannot be made
national question. The general govern
ment does not control schools or school
politics. 1t does not control finance and
currency and administrative reform, and
on these points there is now wide discus
custom, and demand for immediate
legislation. They are the topics which oc-
cupy the public mind, and an earnest word
or two on these, particularly ON the cur
rency. upon which the Presidents position
| is satisfactory to the honest sentiment of
the country, would have been great deal
more to the purpose. AS it is, men can


only wonder why he passed over the quest
| ions on which the parties have Joined
battle, and in which everybody feels a
vital interest, to take up one which is not
prominent in more than single state, is


not leading issue even there. and cannot
in any way become subject of national


action, or leading element in the policy


Of national party,


If, as seems quite likely, the President in


making this address has lent himself to the
effort now making by some of the Repub-


lican managers to divert public attention
from the subjects of the currency and ad
illustrative reform which at present en-
gross it, we think he has been led into


committing a great mistake. The scho0
question wheneverit comes up. and how soor
THAT may be we cannot tell, will be settled


beyond the possibility of doubt, upon the


basis of freedom from all sectarianism


but it is not to-day an issue upon which


parties are divided or national contes
can be fought. The attempt to elevate il
to prominence is the work of men who aim


only to divert public attention and public
discussion from subjects upon


which they feel that they anc


their party are held at disadvantage. The


Presidents speech is contribution to th,


curiosities of official literature, and, in its


Essential propositions. it does not diffe


from the common sense of the vas
majority of his countrymen; but it add


nothing to the general fund of political in