and less upon National affairs
than those of any year since 1861. Neither senators nor
representatives in Congress are to be chosen. But it is an
important State election, and will be regarded as having a bearing
on National politics. The Republicans of Ohio heartily approve of
the principles of General Grant's inaugural message, and are
gratified by the manner in which he is dealing with the leading
questions of the first three months of his administration.

Under President Johnson, Secretary McCulloch hoarded millions of
gold, to enable him to maintain a wretched rivalry with the gold
gamblers of New York city. The Nation was defrauded of its just
dues, and the National debt increased from November 1, 1867, to
November 1, 1868, $35,625,102.82. General Grant began his financial
policy by revoking his predecessor's pardons of revenue robbers,
and by cutting down expenses in all directions; and Secretary
Boutwell disposes of surplus gold in the purchase of
interest-bearing bonds to the amount of two millions a week, and in
his first quarter reduces the National debt more than twenty
millions of dollars.

The two Democratic Johnsons, Andrew and Reverdy, furnished their
ideas of a foreign policy in the Johnson-Clarendon treaty. They
undertook to settle the American claims against England on account
of the Alabama outrage by the award of a Commission, one-half of
whose members were to be chosen by England and the other half by
the United States; and, in case of a disagreement, an umpire was to
be chosen by lot. That is to say, a great National controversy,
involving grave questions of international law, and claims of
undoubted validity, amounting to millions of money, was to be
decided by the toss of a copper! The administration of General
Grant crushed the disgraceful treaty, and proposes to deal with
England on the principle laid down in General Grant's inaugural.
The United States will treat all other Nations "as equitable law
requires individuals to deal with each other;" but, "if others
depart from this rule in their dealings with us, we may be
compelled to follow their precedent."

On the great question of reconstruction, in what a masterly way and
with what marked success has General Grant's administration begun.
Congress had fixed