National Republican., 1877-03-01
THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE.

been cast anu tne result mas Bono to tne
country. There Is no longer any doubt n
to the Presidency, and the question OF the |
character of the next Administration de- |
pends upon nothing but Its own policy and |
conduct. The great body Of the people |
will be gratifed that the party whose 10y
atty and devotion maintained the authority
of the Government when assailed by vic.
lcnce, has been further invested with the
executive trust, and that from among its
most distinguished leaders one OF the ablest
and purest has been chosen TO direct the
affairs of the nation. They know from the
convulsions which have shaken the public
confidence in the stability Of our institu.
tiops since the day of the election, that
great duty is imposed upon the incoming
President, almost, ii not quite equal to the
task Of reconstruction after the armed con.
flict between the two sections In fact, they
feel that the real work Of restoring the
Union remains to be done. After years Of
vain effort, because enormously directed,
the two divisions Of the people which met on
the field Of battle to contest the question Of
| It's further continuance, now confront each
other in the arena Of politics in open and uu.
concealed hostility, upon the subject Of its
proper government. Some ofthe Southern
States, after lapse Of more than the tenth
Of q century Of questionable peace, find
themselves as completely and effectuslly
under Northern domination, by civil
means, as they were during the war by
military rower; and they complain with
reason, that while they are chiefly inhabi.
ted by native.born citizens. and geograph.
ically and nominally Southern States, they
are controlled by strangers and rendered
in character, Northern States, by reason of
the sentiments and opinions Of their rulers.
And while they could not legitimstely
complain of this fact, II the change had
been brought about by the ordinary course
Of immigration, there Is sufficient justif.
cation for remonstrancs against govern.
ments originally established by military
power, and since kept in being by q
union Of Objectionable elements unknown
in former days, and representing no sub
stantlal interests, or but in small pro.
portion to the whole party OF the States
| concerned.
The people of the North have long fslt
the injustice of these governments, and
now that the class whose privileges and
immunites were believed to be especially
committed to their charge and safe keep
ing, has, in large degree, again cast Its
lot with its ancient head, and asks no fur.
ther protection in its rights, the occasion
for their encouragement has disappeared,
and new and more efficient and popular
means for the preservation of tho status
of the colered race Is demanded by the
changed situa tion.
There is some sympathy felt personally
for the better class of men who have settled
in the South and become identified with
these governments in prominent way,
but II cannot avail against the positive con.
viction in the public mind of the impolicy
ofupholding unnatural power in the face
of the protest OF those who in reality con.
stitute the State. However patriotic the
intentions of such-among whom we recog.
nize Governors PACKARD and CHAMBER.
LAIN-they cannot have weight when op-
posed to the obvious interests of the
country; and they cannot maintain them.
selves by virtue Of the support Of the people
the only legitimate source Of power
there are no considerations which should
induce Federal aid, and no authority to
warrant it, beyond the simple act of recog.
milton and the strict enforcement of the
peace. This Is the view Of the people, who
exact of the succeeding Administration
that it shall reconcile the two sections Of
the country and cultivate friendly relations
between them, restoring their former fellow.
ship, and so uniting them in the execution
Of the Constitution and the laws as shall
guarantee the entire independence of the
States in respect Of their local concerns,
and the absolute freedom of the colored
race in the enjoyment Of the gin of citizen
ship.