The Portland daily press., 1877-05-04
The Notification Project.

There seems to be a disposition in some
parts OF the South and very generally in the
Democratic party North to crowd the mourn
ers. This disposition finds voice in the
Memphis Appeal, which amply justifies its
name and is never without a grievance, and
in the New York World, journal noticeable
for its ability and eccentricity and fondness
for doing the unexpected. These papers, ILL
content with the generous advances made by
President Hayes, demand the repeal of all
legislation which looks to the enforcement of
the constitutional amendments, and the pro-
lection of the freedmen. The answer to this
preposterous demand will be uncourteously
abrupt. In the lexicon of the loyal North
conciliation is not defined as abect surrender,
and those who attempt to give it that mean-
ing will fare i'll.
Ii Congress refuses to repeal the reconstruc-
ton legislation the Southern States must, say
the journals above mentioned, take measures
which will make that legislation practically
imperative. That is, the constitutional
amendments must be nulliied. In face of
the declarations but just made by the South
ern leaders this demand seems wild and alb
surd; but if it represents the sentiments of
the Southern people it furnishes just cause
for alarm and apprehension. The position of
the World in this instance is not unexpected.
IL desires to be, as it now within certain lmi.
tations is, the organ of the Northern Democ-
racy, and the Northern Democracy have
deep interest in reopening the issues which
the policy of President Hayes has Temporal
rlly closed and is designed to close perma-
nently. The Southern question is the entire
stock in trade Of the Northern Democrats,
and its settlement throws them out of bust
ness. Naturally they oppose permanent
pacification; for it takes away the pretext
upon which they make their fight for the con-
troll of the administration-and the offices.
Their attitude was doubtless "discounted"
by President Hayes at the start. But the
language of the Memphis appeal deserves
more attention. That journal has way of
saying what it thinks, and its expressed sen.
timents are dictated by its convictions, not by
Its desire for public plunder. When it con-
tends for the notification of the constitutional
amendments it is talking business. 1t onca
represented large and influential class of
Southerners. Ifit has the same constituency
now its menacing utterances are entitled to
considerable attention and are just cause of
alarm.
But there is reason to believe that the
Memphis appeal no longer represents the
dominant sentiment of the South, that the
controlling spirit of that section of our coun-
try is spirit of acquiescence in and loyalty
to the political situation made by the war.
And the South, ifit desire to be considered
faithful to its pledges, will do well to make
that spirit manifest in both word and deed.
Its laws must conform to the constitution as
it is, and to the intent of the plan of recon-
struction. No sophistry, no evasion will be
permitted. And all such occurrences as the
recent acts in South Carolina and Mississippi,
occurrences which give strong color to the
predictions of the Appeal and its class, are to
be deprecated, for they throw suspicion, un-
deserved it is to be hoped, upon the good
faith of the Southern people. If the Sonth
wishes the policy of the President to succeed
it must strengthen his hands by uniform good
conduct and loyal submission 10 the changes
brought about by the war.
CALIFORNIA has at last been discovered