But while holding out the olive-branch of peace to the red men, as our humane instincts tell us should be done, we all know that olive-branches will not do the business with all Indians and on all occasions. When the sword has been found to be necessary, General Grant has applied it vigorously. The very silly efforts made in behalf of certain treacherous and bloody Apaches by Vincent Colyer, an over-sentimental member of the Peace Commission, have apparently ceased to have any weight at Washington, and orders have now been issued to General Crook, who commands our troops in Arizona, and who understands the weaknesses of the Apache creatures, to proceed with them thoroughly and teach them a good lesson. The Sioux tribes, to the north of the Union Pacific Railway, inhabiting the valley of the Yellowstone, have also threatened to become belligerent, on account of the projection of the Northern Pacific road across the Northern limits of their allotted domain. To these went recently General B. R. Cowen, Assistant Secretary of the Interior, and other able men, composing a Commission; and it is certain that if the Sioux malcontents refuse to listen to the arguments and remonstrances of these men, they will smell powder promptly. The administration evidently realizes that; while you may well give the Indian to understand that you love him and care for him, it will not on any account do to have him understand that you fear him, or will yield to him when he makes a threat of force.

CHAPTER XIV.

GRANT AS PRESIDENT.

(CONTINUED.)

Grant and the Workingmen-Grant and Education-The Postal Telegraph System-Grant and the Colored Race-Down with Polygamy-Grant the Immigrant's Friend-Messages in their Behalf-Rights of Naturalized Citizens-The Houard Hubbub-Grant and San Domingo-How would Greeley have Worked it ?—Grant and the Veto Power-Legislative Jobbery-Sumner's Vile Insinuations-Is the White House a Military Headquarters?-Sumner Put Down with a Plain Tale-Greeley's Tributes to

Grant.

GRANT AND THE WORKINGMEN.

President Grant has not the special reputation as the workingman's friend which is enjoyed by his companion upon the National Republican ticket. He is evidently a friend of the laborer, but does not "howl about it," like some public men solicitous of votes. It is very cheap to declaim a little in behalf of the workingman, and then to go off and let him get his rights the best way he can. Grant talks but little in any behalf, yet he never has written a message without finding space for a word in behalf of labor. Here are extracts which show either that Grant is a statesman of comprehensive glance, or else that he has not forgotten the days when he was a working, studying tanner: (247)

15

"By the late war, the industry of one-half of the country had been taken from the control of the capitalists and placed where all labor rightfully belongs in the keeping of the laborer.”

"The opinion that the public lands should be regarded chiefly as a source of revenue is no longer maintained. The rapid settlement and successful cultivation of them are now justly considered of more importance to our well-being than is the fund which the sale of them would produce. The remarkable growth and prosperity of our new States and Territories attest the wisdom of the legislation which invites the tiller of the soil to secure a permanent home on terms within the reach of all. The pioneer who incurs the dangers and privations of a frontier life, and thus aids in laying the foundation of new commonwealths, renders a signal service to his country, and is entitled to its special favor and protection. These laws secure that object, and largely promote the general welfare. They should, therefore, be cherished as a permanent feature of our land system."

"I renew my recommendation that the public lands be regarded as a heritage to our children, to be disposed of only as required for occupation and to actual settlers."

"The true prosperity and greatness of a nation is to be found in the elevation and education of its laborers."

Nor does Grant stop with saying to the workingmen, "Be ye warmed and filled." A few weeks ago a deputation of carpenters from New Yorkemployed there upon the Government buildings— waited upon him at the White House. He listened to their requests, which were for a shortening of the hours of their labor. An act of Congress provided for this, and the President lost no time in seeing that the workingmen were endowed with all the rights to which they were entitled under it. It is, doubtless, his fidelity to their interests in several instances like this, as also his steady hand at the helm, which keeps the ship of State well righted and all her crew safe and comfortable, which makes the workingmen of the country so zealous and unanimous for Grant and Wilson-a ticket put in nomination by their organization at New York.

EDUCATION.

Popular education and the elevation of labor go. hand in hand-a truism which the President has referred to in some of the extracts already quoted. But he has not stopped with "offering a few remarks" concerning the importance of education. He has proposed a definite measure of practical utility, in extending the blessings of learning-the plan of dividing the proceeds of the sales of public lands, already referred to in the paragraph referring to the policy toward the South.

POSTAL TELEGRAPH.

Allied to this subject in interest is the postal telegraph scheme, which is rather likely to come into operation on some scale or other, and under government patronage, before another year elapses.

The privilege of rapid communication without the burden of an enormous tax for the nourishment of giant monopolies, is one of the essential concomitants of our civilization. It is enjoyed by nearly every prosperous European people, and must not be much longer withheld from the people of the United States. The adoption of postal telegraphy by our Government has for some time enlisted the sympathy and the effort of President Grant; and it should now, if he be at all interested in self, engage him all the more, since one of the earliest effects of a nearly free government telegraph would be to break down a monopoly in tele

graph news which has enabled four or five bloated newspaper corporations to control certain strata of public opinion as despotically as the Khan of Tartary controls his subjects, and to use such control for the one grand purpose of disparaging Grant and the Republican party. Fortified in the strength which their monopoly of news gives them, these four or five corporations command the public ear— not win it by fair competition-and being responsible to nobody, use their power solely for their own private ends. They are the least democratic institution in the country; and a popularization of the telegraph, through the Government's efforts, is therefore needed in the interest of pure Republicanism.

GRANT AND THE NEGROES.

There has been a feeble effort on the part of the dectractors of President Grant, especially since they set up a candidate of their own for whom they hoped to attract some of the colored vote, to belittle Grant's work for the colored race. This effort has already failed, and the shafts of detraction have fallen harmless; for it has been shown by the record that Grant has been a true friend of the colored race; that he was active in their behalf long before the Emancipation Proclamation of Lincoln was issued; and that his course toward that people has been one of uniform and intelligent friendship. It will be referred to more in detail in a subsequent chapter.