The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1874-06-10
The Meaning of 1t.

mas an editorial article on "Presiuenf
Grant and the South" which, from the
fact that Col. Forney has recently had
personal interviews with the president,
is looked upon as semi. official fore
shadowing of the presidents future
policy toward the South. If it really
possesses the character, it answers the
question, "What does it meant" which
the Republican asked yesterday cum
corning the presidents action in Ar
kansas. It shows that that action ia
the beginning ola new departure in
the presidents Southern policy, and
that henceforth the president is to be
governed in his treatment of the South
ern states by the wishes and interests
of their people, aud not BY the wishes
and interests Of the Republican party.
The Press article is somewhat vague
and hesitant, but this may be on &C
count of the great ,nsignificance of the
policy which, notwithstanding its vag-
ueness and hesitancy, it outlines. The
new policy is, virtually, a reversal of
the present Republican treatment of
the South. "President Grant," says
the Press article, "has sounded the
key note in bis decision of the Arkan.
sas question:" If this be true, it means
that the president has anticipated the
downfall of the Republican party in
the South. and determined to give his
official countenance and favor to an
other party-to that party, neither
Democratic nor Republican, which, is
represented in Arkansas by Baxter, in
Virginia by Kemper, in Georgia by the
Conservatives, and in Louisiana by
those who are hostile to Kellogg.
The Press article declares that "the
crisis in the South does not affect one
race, bnt both; not one section, but
all; and to meet and master it, all pol
itics and partisans should be boldly
and summarily set aside." If it is not
met, the "omipous signs' seen all over
the country, "the lack Of municipal ca
pacity in many Of the great cities Of
the North" and "the political discon-
tent and commercial distress all
through the West" may indicate the
approach of violent reactionary
movement Ito restore the old regime
under new forms" President Grant.
therefore, must stake the bold initia.
tive" and congress would be glad to
respond" But the responsive tenden-
cy of congress may be doubted. The
majority in congress is made up Of Re-
-publicans, and there is no sufficient
reason for believing they have the pa.
triotism to give peace to the South at
the cost of the humiliation Of their
party in that section. Both the ,Arkan-
sas senators are dissatisfied with the
presidents decision of the quarrel in
their State. The Louisiana senators
would object to the application of the
Arkansas principle to their state; and
the Alabama and South Carolina sena-
tors would oppose policy which
would retire them to private life. The
policy foresladowed by the Press
would break the power Of the carpet
baggers; but as the carpet-baggers are
the viceroys Of Northern Republican.
ism, their ruin would be the downfall
Of the Republican party. Can Re-
publican congress be expected to as
sist in such worki The Press itself
half answers this question when it says
that president Grants settlement of
the Arkansas conflict has given great
offense to his especial friends and
great delight to the people of that
state" The proposed policy would
perhaps array nearly all the Republic
can leaders and aspirants against the
president, but it would also array the
people on his side. The president
would shift his position, and save him
self by doing so, but the Republican
party would not and could not initiate
his example; it would have to stand or
fall on its present ground.
The Republican leaders are evident
ly disturbed by these outgivings of the
departure which the president has
marked out for himself--a departure
which would make Republican major
ity in the next house impossible. And
yet they may be powerless TO thwart
it; for the very mastery which they
have conceded to him-'sthe imperial
prerogatives" which the Press declares
he wields-may enable him to accom-
plish the good work in spite of all that
his party can do to prevent it.-[St.
Louis Republican.