The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-02-27

N NEW Err
We strongly incline 10 the expectation
that the coming inauguration Of Govern.
or Hayes will mark the beginning OF
new era in our history as nation. We
do not entertain this belief merely be.
cause Of the triumph OF the party which
he represented in the election for Presi.
dent. While we have a high apprecia.
ton OF his personal character and hope
much from 1t as an element in the ad.
miniStration Of aGairs at Washington,
we cannot say that this Is the main
foundation on which we build our ex.
pectatlon. A vast number Of circrm.
stances, Of which those we have already
mentioned are only n part, have conspired
to bring about the peculiar state Of
things which seems 10 warrant the an
tiCipation that We are on the eve OF new
era.
The recent past we are disposed to re.
gard as still belonging TO the period Of
the war. Hostilities ceased long ago,
but the administrations Of both MIR.
johnson and General Grant have been
profoundly affected by the bitterness
which sprang Immediately from the con.
Gict between the North and the South.
But We have at length reached point
where the men of the one section have
Joined hands with those Of the other in
the settlement Of questions which threat
cned 10 plunge the country into new
strife. Southcrncrs must once more feel
that our national existence is worth some.
thing, when at the sacrifice no doubt Of
political preferences they united with
their political adycrsaries in defeating
the project Of extremists Of their own
party who were eager to resortto violent
measures 10 accomplish their purposes.
The point has been reached also where
the Southern question must and will'be
substantially. settled. 1t may be too
much to hope that we shall Immediately
have absolute quiet in that quarter.
How TO reconcile the contestinr admin.
STATIONS in several Of. the States will be
one of the most difficult problems which
the incoming President will be compelled
to solve. We think that he is entitled TO
good deal Of patience and charity at
the outset, and we believe that good men
Of all parties and sections will extend
these to him. But he is fortunately I'm.
trammeled in peculiar degree in this
whole matter. All the signs point to
disposition on his part to seek n settle.
ment which will secure to the blacks their
real rights, and yet rid them Of the
whites who have used them for selfish
political purposes, and which will bring
to the front the better classes OF the South
in the management Of the local govern.
ments. We believe that on the one hand
6ull.do.ing will cease, and that on the
other hand white men OF intelligence
and integrity will be welcomed to front
seat.
Along with this change in the political
situation we hope that prosperity will re.
turn TO the affairs Of business. We know
that there are many who attribute all the
depression and losses OF past years to the
dominance of the party which has con-
trolled the government. We will not
now stop TO write concerning what has
really been accomplished under the re.
cent administrations, except TO say that
it has been wonder 10 the world that as
a people we have achieved 30 much, But
the financial depression which has troub-
led the country would he ;e come in some
form, no matter by whom the government
was administered. 1t was the inevitable
result Of the unhealthy state Of things
produced by the war. Now, however, we |
seem to have about touched the bottom.
Recovery in any case must be slow. 1t
will take years to enable us get back to
the place where we were when the bubble
burst. But we do hope that the worst is
past. We anticipate gradual improve
ment in this direction.
Even the severe trial through which
the country has recently been passing by
reason Oft disputed election OF Presl.
dent, in the long run, as we think, will
be for our advantage. 1t is something
that it has revealed to us the weak places
in our present electoral system. BY this
prineiplesin the execution OF that plan,