The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-04-28
THE SPEAKERSHIP.

Discussion regarding the Speakership
of the next House OF Representatives is
becoming quite active In tho pubic
press. There is no political question
engaging popular attention OF more I'M
portanee at this time. for upon it's solu-
ton will depend the maintenance Of the
present organization OF the Democratic
party. It is we'll known that Mr.. Hayes
and his party friends have for some
time past cherished the hope that. by
pursuing policy Of justice toward the
South. he would succeed in alternating
from the Democratic party the aifee-
tions Of enough Southern Democrats to
effect coalition whereby Republican
Speaker might be elected. We have
heretofore expressed the opinion that,
IL Mr.. Hayes had promptly met our
lust expectations by such measure as
the withdrawal Of the troops immedi-
ately after his Inauguration, which
would have cut at once the Gordlan
knot of our difficulties, many Southern
Democrats might have been impelled
by q sense of gratitude, or OF admira-
ton for his firmness and moral courage,
to assist him in organizing the legisia-
tive department Of the government In
such a way as to secure for his Admins
tration a hearty and active support.
Owing to the vigorous attack upon
his Southern policy by Senator
Blaine on the second day Of the
extra session in March, he failed
to seize the golden opportunity
which presented itself to him, and the
timidity and lack Of nerve which he
displayed in his treatment OF the Louis |
lana question soon deadened the enthu-
siasm with which the South had re-
ceived the pledges made by his friends.
and made US determine to use the ut
most caution in our future dealings with |
the present Republican administration.
Mr.. Hayes, in withdrawing military sup
port from Packard, has done no ;nnore
..han the duty which his oath to obey
demonstration Of the United States i'm
posed upon him. The fact that Gen.
Grant persistently subordinated the
behests Of the constitution to his
own personal desires does not
make of Mr.. Hayes a hero for
doing simply what duty demanded.
The course pursued by him since his
Inauguration entities him to the respect |
and commentator Of all fair-minded |
men, because it has shown an earnest
purpose on his part to act as the Presi- |
dent of the whole country, and not
merely Of one political party, and be-
cause his ruling aim appears to have
been to secure and advance the political
welfare and material interests OF all
classes Of the people. For what he has
done he has already received the plau-
dts of the country, which regards the
lust settlement Of the Louisiana and
South Carolina questions as an augury
OF the complete paclhcation and
material rehabilitation Of the South
but we see in this no reason
why any member OF the Democratic
party should abandon his party affilia-
tions and enter into any coalition
formed for the purpose OF investing
with complete control Of all OF the de-
partments of the National Government
q party whose past record entities 1t TO
little respect, and whose political tenets
are essentially antagonistic to such fun
damental principles of Democratic faith
as local self-goyernment and Limitation
OF the powers of the Federal Govern
ment. We, therefore, conclude that
every Democratic Representative, and
particularly every Southern Democratic
member, owes il to his constituents to
stand by the party which, at this dell
cate iuncture Of the political affairs OF
the country, by its power to control the
House Of Representatives, is in a posi-
ton to act as a check upon those dan
xrara,,s centralizing tendencies which in