New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-03-06

EX-PREsIDENT GRANT.
1t would be TO manifest bad spirit if
we should forbear, on the expiration of
an Office, to express our estimation of its
late incumbent. 1t may have been that
the failure of President Grant TO install
and maintain Governor Packard has occa-
stoned us much concern. We can not
dery that the ungraoious and gratuitous
expressions put in his mouth by adroit
antagonists and subordinate newsmongers
have wounded the pride with which we
upheld the integrity OF the Republican
party. Yet we have no disposition to for
get the eminent services of the past, nor
the substantial advantage of the position
which the Republican party of Louisiana
still occupies. There have ben reasons
for the rigid maintenance of the situation,
which we, as the immediate sufferers, could
not have been expected TO regard with
as much composure as those who at Wash
ington regarded the weliare-perhaps the
existence-of the national Republican
party. For three months past the sue
cess of the Republican candidates has
been suspended by hair. Any breeze
might have broken it. The vote of Til
den was undisputed. More than twenty
of the votes claimed for Hayes were con-
tested. There was every danger from in
formal returns and venal electors. TWAS
possible that the Republicans might have
been compelled to rely on the force of the
government to secure the forms Of the
law. This danger impelled the Repub-
licans to accept the electoral compromise.
We condemned this concession because
we did not know the stress which rested
upon the national party. The electoral
compromise confirmed the will of
the people, and the Southern Democ-
racy. with that contempt for pledges
which have been signalized in so
many instances, attempted to null
lily the commission decree, and even
to plunge the country into civil war.
During the entire period the Democracy
asked nothing except an outside issue to
palliate the abandonment of their own
compromise. A conflict in the streets Of
New Orleans, the blood OF few women
and children accidentally slain, the de-
struction of buildings sheled to dislodgs
the revolutionary Democrats, would have
been spread throughout the land with
every circumstance OF inhimmatory mis-
representation. Democracy North and
South would have claimed that it ter
minated all truce and inaugurated civil
war. To have held the situation fast
was essential to carry out the national
policy, perhaps to save the national life.
Whatever may have been, therefore, the
sufferings of the Republican party it has
no doubt been for the best. The ex-
President could neither have changed
nor carried out this policy during
the few days which remained after
the decision Of the Electoral Commits
sion. However, Messss. Burke and
Gibson may have interpreted the ex-
pressions of the ex President, it is plain
that he neither revoked nor modified his
orders to General Augur, and it will rest
with President Hayes TO execute his own
policy IN this matter. We feel, therefore,
free to express the pride which the Re-
publicans have felt in the general admin
istration of the past eight years. Presi-
dent Grant has in all things deferred to
the will Of the people as expressed through
their representatives. He has 80 con-
Quoted our relations with foreign coun-
tries as that we are at peace with all,
without unworthy concessions to any.
The abuses inseparable from any form of
human government have been rigialy
prosecuted and punished under the ad-
ministration Of General Grant, and the
personal character of himself and family
have reflected honor upon the American
reputation. It has been a subject Of just
pride to the Republican party that the
senseless charge Of Csesarism has been dis
proved in manner SO conclusive. Cen
eral Grant has declined to so use the
army as to create a necessity for his con-
tinuing to command it. He has not
fomented discord, be has not fostered
civil war, but at the close Of bis term has
delivered over his trust 10 his constitu-
tional SUCCESSOR and retired into private
life with as much modesty as be had at
the call Of his country emerged from it.
At the moment when General Grant has
no special organ to defend, and no patron
age to reward, We deem Il q duty 70 COM
gFatulats his country and his party upon
he brave. hngaciopa end honest adminis-
lgation which he hes just oeneiudsd
eam n EoIasg tWara President