The Portland daily press., 1877-04-16
THE PRESIDENTS POLICY.
What He Said About it to an In
terviewer.
He is Determined to Give it a Fair
Trial.

WASHINGTON, April 15.-President Hayes
said yesterday in conve station that he had no
concealments regarding his Southern policy,
which, however, has been foreshadowed in
oral and written utterances, and in this con-
nection he averted to the gubernatorial CAM
paign in Ohio in 1875, which resulted in his
election over Gov. Allen, the people of the state
having full knowledge of his sentiments on
national questions, including of course those
speech of gubernatorial candidate is generally
considered key note of campaign, and in
SPEECH as early as the 31st of July of that wear
at Marion, be freely and distinctly expressed
his opinions This speech was published at
length in all the Republican and many other
newspapers, and therefore his views were gen.
orally known. In that speech after congratu-
latng his fellow citizens on the complete
triumph over those who sought to destroy the
Union and the grand results of the war, he
alluded to the coming together again of North
ern and Southern men in a spirit of harmony
and friendship including those who had fought
against one another, and as prominent
feature in this evidence of good feeling he on
that occasion spoke of the kindly manner in
which Vice President Wilson was received on
his visit to the South. In this era of good feel
ing and reconciliation he further said there
were still persons who talked OF bayonets ana
who sought to revive the prejudice OF the past
This was much to be regretted, but there was
enough to fill every heart with gratitude, the
country DelDg DO longer ulVlueu, anu al VIC
inhabitants having fair start in the race for
life. In this and all speeches he earnestly con-
demned the reopenIng of old issues between
North and South, assuring his hearers that the
time had come for complete reconciliation.
The President in further conversation re-
ferred to the fact that the National Republican
Convention which nominated him for the
Presidency, passed resolution pledging the
Republican party to protect every citizen of the
United States in all civil and political rights
and declaring that the permanent pacifcation
of the South should be effected by removing all
| causes Of discord. The spirit Of this resolu-
| ton was in perfect accord with bis own views,
| previously expressed and he repeated them in
| his letter Of acceptance of his nomination, and
! more fully elaborated them in his inaugura
| address, consistently maintaining the policy Of
| reconciliation and local self-government apart
| from military support, and when he entered
| upon the duties of the Presidency he intended
| this policy should not be one of sentiment
| merely, but of actual administration. He
| spoke with emphasis when he said "My belief
| is the course tends to give good government to
| the South, it tends to secure peace between
| the sections and between the races and parties
| at the South, and it tends to secure the right,
interest and safety Of the colered people. there
| fore am in favor of this policy. l do not
| know whether I shall succeed in carrying il
| out because there are Northern and Southern
men who in various ways may possibly thwart
| me. But of one thing L am confident, namely,
| think it my duty to try to carry out this poll
| cy and l am going to do it."