Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-03-27
THE EFFECT OF HAYES HALTING
POLICY.

oath, in a leading editorial, says 4:
Mr.. Hayes surprised and routed the
enemy in brilliant style. The country
sppIauded to the eeho-and thea waited
for the next step, for the real advance
movement. Aud it waits still. Every
body believed that be would at last settle
the interminable Southern muddle and
relieve on anxiety which has tortured
not only the South but the North for too
many long years. Aud what has he
done? By deciding for a commission he
has plunged Us oil back into the color-
Qua uncertainty in which we lived under
General Grant. His dilatory and waver'
ing policy iuhicts daily and very serious
losses upoa every industry 10 the Union
Southera men plead for a settlement,
because the uncertainty ihterferes with
their planting operations. We hear OF
rice and sugar plantations abandoned for
the year, the stock sold aud the laborers
sent away, because factors p~rudently re
fuse to make advances TO planters 10 pay
their bands until they live under q set.
tied and lawful government Everywhere
in the two States labor is demorslized,
enterprise is at a standstill, capital is
wasted and poverty and vice increases
but Northern industry aud enterprise are
checked and embarrassed as well. No
one.N North or South, feels certain OF the
future while a State can be held by Fed
eral bayonets; while violence takes the
place Of law and the popular will; while
the country lives outside Of the constitu-
ton aud 10 a condition Of quasi war;
while, any day, unscrupulous dema-
gogues may goad an exasperated people
to an outbreak 10 order to provoke a new
military occupation.
Mr.. Hayes may have surprised
the enemy" in his pacificatory
policy as indicated by the first week
of his administration. The enemy
was willing to be surprised by any
step looking to a restoration Of con-
stitutional governments every part
of the country. The enemy ex-
pressed both surprise and Satisfac-
ton. Many regarded the kind
words of Hayes and the promises
made by those in MS confidence to
be the dawn of a new political
era, when party lines would be
reorganized and the spectacle Of
a solid South and a solid North be
seen no more forever. The war has
been over nearly twelve years. The
old men who were in it seem to
have almost passed away; the your 6
men Of the armies have grown gray
and another generation has coms
upon the scene Of action, and yet
two States are held down by bayo-
nets as though unit and unworthy
to be trusted with their local gov
ernments. Good men Of all parties
begin to fear that the four years OF
Mr.. Hayes administration will pass
away like Grants last term witho Vi
the settlement of this question.
The great yearning desire Of the
South is forfull and perfect restora-
ton to the Union. Wh0n this i:
done there will no longer be a solid
South in a political sense, or any
reason for it. The people of this
section have accepted all the results
Of the war in good faith, and with.
in the past few months illustrated
the highest qualities Of patriotic
manhood. Under calumny, taunts,
petty tyranny aud interference in
their domestic affairs, they have
maintained perfect self-control and
disappointed their enemies and sur.
prised the world by their cqua
nimity and law-abiding spirit. TIL,
earnest support Of Mr.. Tilden wa.
not a struggle for Offices aud oficia
patronage, but rather a protest
against the u~surpationS, extrava
gance and bad faith Of the Republi
can party and an appeal for tn,
rights Of freemen. When i
was thought that Mr.. Haye
would remoye the bayonet fror
American politics, and give tn
people true, lasting peace and res
from the wearisome issues that sur
vived the war, our people went vii,
with Joy. A shout went up al
over the land. But the hesitanc-
of Mr.. Hayes, the suggestion of
commission, under which ther
would be a further delay of at lea;
a month, creates a suspicion TIA
political tricksters and agitators al
again masters Of the situation
Universal distrust has taken til
place of sanguine expectation
doubt fills minds where a fortnigl
ago ardent desire painted the rail-
bows of fond hope. The people
the South are disposed to give M
Hayes the fullest credit, nc