Year: 1876

The country cannot TAIL to be STRUCK
with the contrast between the tone and
spirit Of the message OF the President to
the two Houses of Congress and the ami
mas or the address Of Speaker Randall
upon his accession to the dignities of his
new position, supplemented by his parti


san rulings and the revolutionary charac
ter OF the proceedings of the House on
Monday. On the one hand, we observe
3 calm review of the condition Of the
country, detailed in few simple words
indicative of pure patriotism and con-
sciousness of rectitude. A few sentences
are devoted in this farewell message to
drawing the attention of Congress to some
Of the differences of opinion that have
prevailed between the Executive during
the eight years of his incumbency and the
two legislative bodies. But this is done
so modestly and with such high regard
for the opinions of those who have differed
from him as to impress the reader with
sense of tie true greatness of the writer.
There is love of country and spirit of
self fabnegation pervading the entire docu-
nent which challenges the admiration of
men Of all parties. 1t is a model message.


On the other hand, Mr.. Randall, in his
address, after the most solemn assurances
OF high sense of the responsibilities he
was about to assume snd that they would
all be dellcately and impartislly adminIs-
tered in conservation of the rights of indi-
vidual members and in the best interests
of the whole country, INDUCED IN a coarse
and most stunpsrliamentary fling at the Ex-
ecuiive branch of the Government. The
concluding paragraphs of Mr. Randall's
address were well calculated to excite and
foment revolution, and they contain an


mputation of motives to the Executive
wholly unworthy the presiding officer of
the House. whose duty it is made by the
Constitution to impeach Executive officers
Eor high crimes and misdemeanors, If any
are committed. In charity to Speaker
Randall 1t must be concluded that he for
got himself, and mistook the occasion for q
partisan gathering Having expressed his
appreciation Of the high honor conferred
upon him and gracefully returned his
thanks for the confidence reposedi in him, he
evidently was unwilling to stop. He did
not know that he had completed the task
assigned him by custom and courtesy. He
supposed that he must draw upon his stock
of campaign speeches for little bun
combe. Taking the first paragraphs that
came to his mind, he ''put his foot in it,
By one step he transformed his graceful &C.
ceptance into vituperatiVe, ungenerous
and unmanly stump speech. He at once
degraded the dignity of his office to the
Level Of the hustings.


The people of the country cannot fail to
remark this difference Of temper IN the
official leaders of the opposing parties.
The Republican preserves that calm, self
possession and courteous bearing which
ever accompany a just cause and safe
position, while the Democrat exhibits u
nervous irritation and accusatory style in
dicatl7e of dissatisfaction with self and the
rest of mankind. The man who loses his
temper first is very apt to be in the wrong.
We think Republicans may well rejoice
that these two exhibits go to the country
together. The contrast Is so strongly
marked that the popular judgment will not
be erroneous. 1t will inure to the credit
of President Grant. The recommend
tons of the President upon the various
subjects treated of in the message are
timely and wise, and will, no doubt elicit
the attention of Congress. His reclpItula-
ton Of the difficulties which have environed
his administration Of the Government will
recall wildly to mird many of the exciting
events of the period. His frank admission
ofpossible errors of judgment, especially
IN the selection Of s1bordinates, reflects
upon him the highest honor, while his allu-
sion to the manner in which those appoint
ments are necessarily made-upon the
recommendations of RepresentatiyeS-wil
induce some thoughtful reflections regard
ing our civil service. The succtnct state
ments of the public debt and revenues and
expenditures, the reduction of taxes and
Of debt and the appreciation Of the ma
tional credit are all extremely gratifying.
They show in a few words the fslsity of
those partisan allegations of fraud and cor
rupticn in the administration of the Gov
eminent which have been so assiduously
circulated by the Opposition during the
recentcampaign. We bespeak for the mes
sage and accompanying doc uments, printed
elsewhere in this iss ue, the most attentive
reading and careful consideration.