The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-03-26
THE WEAKNESS or THE PRESIDENT.


courage change the fate OF nations. Ill
has occupied the Presidential chail
now three weeks. and 80 far he MAJ
wrought only confusion and inspiree
only distrust and anxiety. His inangu
ral was an admirable document, full O
promises and fine sentiments, leading
us to anticipate a wise, vigorous ano
decisive policy. But this anticipation
has not been realized. Instead OF firm
ness we have had weakness: insteac
Of action we have had hesitation
and indecision; instead Of franknese
and straightforwardness we have
had deceit and prevarication. There
has been b great to do in rela-
ton to civil service reform and the
Southern policy" but there has been
no progress whatever. The new ad-
ministration, indeed, has been like Q
spawned horse, as the jockeys say, AL
action and no CO." One day we are In
formed by telegraph that the troops are
to be removed without delay, then that
nothing 10 to be done until high COM
mission has visited Louisiana and re-
ported tho situation OF affairs. One dis
patch tells us the object OF this COM
mis- sion Is to dispose OF Packard In the
most peremptory manner; another,
that It's mission 10 to secure
two Republican Senators In considera-
ton OF the recognition OF Nichols: and
still another, that 1t 10 to require q new
organization OF the Legislature upon
the basis OF the returns Of the commits
sioners oil election, and that this new
Legislature IL to declare who ID Gov
ernor; one dispatch tells US that Mr..
Hayes had resolved upon the commits
sion before he appointed his Cabinet,
and another that 1t was determined
upon only after Blaine opened his war
upon the Southern policy.
And so 1t goes. Neither the CORE
spondents nor the members OF Congress
concur In any view Of "the Southern
policy" except that Packard is not to be
recognized: and the only absolutely GER
tain fact In the whole matter Is, that the
country at large Ia disquieted, and that
a feeling OF apprehension and distrust,
extremely disastrous to business indus
try and property, pervades this State.
We still believe that the general pur-
pose and policy OF the Administration
is to sustain the Nichols government.
But there is nothing 80 impotent for
good In politics and government as gen.
eral policies. One prompt, vigorous
and wise act or measure, in a period Of
public anxiety and calamity, Is worth |
oil the fine policies OF Utopia or !!
the model republics Of the phil !
What the people OF LOUISE
ana want just at this fearful crisis what |
the trade, Industries, property and So
cial organization OF this State require
just now, Is not policy but prompt |
measure OF pacihcation and relief from |
civil war; and this 10 what |
genuine patriotism and craftsmanship |
on the part of the administration should |
accord.
The constant talk about "the new
Southern policy" with the delay on the |
part Of the President In developing, or
rather In defining, single one of the
practical details by which that policy is
20 be inaugurated and carried out, na-
,urally excites in the minds Of the peo
pie grave distrust. We feel something |
u that distrust ourselves-not Of Mr..
Hayes intentions, but OF his frmness
n resisting the reckless men OF his
party, and OF his capability and en-
,rgy. We trust that in this we do him
INJUSTICE; we hope that the faith
70 expressed in him two days ago
will be realized. But, be that
IS 1t may, the facts remain as we
tated them then, that Mr.. Hayes has
difficult work to accomplish in this
natter; that various and conflicting
ouncils are influencing him: that With
he truth he hears he takes in an i'm
nense mass of falsehood; and, finally,
hat his work is antagonized by the
blest and most powerful lead
rs OF his party. Only great man
ould march straight on In his appoint
d course surrounded by such circum-
tances; and Mr.. Hayes Is by no means
great man. We must bear with him
therefore, In his temporizing and
trengthen him in his efforts to
rogress. Certainly he has a
olicy; and his policy, SO far as
goes, is a good one. His states
lanship has not yet devised the
,eans for carrying it out; but the I
entral principal Of his policy is the
establishment IN Louisiana Of local
slf-governmenl Clearly and distinctly
le President declared it to be his pur- !
ose to establish local self-gov- i
rnment In South Carolina and
,ouisiana. He said clearly and
lstinctly that there could be no
L..