The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1877-05-22

litical situation aud OF the Presidents
duty. He has merely done Lis duty
nothing more, nothing less. As Col.
Higgenson we'll says In an admirable
letter 10 the Tribune:
'Let the Immediate consequence. be good
or bad afmiy believe that they will be good
Int no matter for that-there was nothing
else 20 lie done. The proof Of this lies In the
fact that every one who opposes hls action
has 10 begin by assuming that South Carolina
and Louisiana are stiil proyldcnces. For him,
IN Time OF peace. 10 keep troops In any State
house In order 10 determine disputed claim
TO the Governorshp, IL a stretch of power 40
great that no state In the Union ought TO tol.
crate it-so great that u ought to be resisted
by every peaceful means.
Colonel Higginson properly rejects
any theory OF Constructive" or s'lat-
entn instructions, and cites Secretary
Webster's declaration in the Rhode
Island case, that the Administration
can not anticipate insurrection, nor
interfere when domestic violence is
threatened, but only when there is ac-
tual insurreotion. To say that there is
irrepressible domestic violsnce, in the
sense OF the Constitution, because there
were outrsges some time since, or be-
cause upon slight provocation there
may be renewed outrages, is to mske q
precedent, as Colonel Higginson truly
says. nnder which some future Nation
al Administration may garrison the
State-house OF every State where there
has been an election riot within the
year.
Colonel Higginson was q Garriso-
nian abolitionist, and his clear and pos
tive opinion is unquestionable that Of
the sincerest and most Intelligent Re-
publicans. Those who denonnce the
Presidents action as surrender. as IL
he had been coerced or treacherous,
not only impotently slander him and
make his task more difficult, but they
ALLEVIATE the sympathy of wise and
most patriotic citizens. II Republican
policy and the continued existence OF
The Republican party required the
maintenance by the national arm Of
proceedings under forms Of law such
as are familiar in the story OF the
Southern States, then there was no
hope, and the Republican party Of
Summer, Andrew. Giddings. Seward,
and Lincoln would have ended under
leadership which il is not pecessary
to describe. It would have ended. al
so. unlamented by hosts OF the most
devoted Republicans in the country,
who have acted with the party not for
nsrsdnal man N ll6s 6ss sst r; not iesa ,trong and
sincere in his old antislavery convic-
tions than Colonel Higginson, writes
and his words express the conviction
OF mnltitudes OF quiet citizens:
MY judgment clearly approves the policy
OF Mr.. Hayes, yet my feelings rebel. II Is
bard even appai emily, 70 desert Chamberlain,
Packard, and the freedmen, vet 70 II ineylta-
bic. Chamberlain IL n martyr 10 the public
good; but no man l. DC for public life II he Is
not willing to sacrifce himself. II need be, for
the public good. After the Abandonment Of
bayonet rule In Georgia. Alabama and Mis-
sissippL II IL at once Irritating and useless TO
maintain IL In South Carolina and Louisiana.
The bayonet rule, TO be efficient must be
maintained with high hand. The country
viii no longer permit that. For Hayes 10 at
tempt II would be 10 doam bis administration
10 disastrous failure, II the South falls 10 re-
spond to generous treatment IL it oppresses
the freedmen, the result win be North unit
ed for corrective measures, and II would be In
no worse condition for them in Louisiana and
South Carolisa than II l. now In other South
ern Staica"
Those who are lost In wonder as to
what is to become OF the party under
President Hayes, have but to ask them
selves what would have become of 10 il
hA he'd ynajrtaipai military inteyfasS
ence in the Southern States, and had
refused TO undertake n reform of the
civil service system. IL the influences
and counsels that were recently para
mount were still in control OF the Ad-
ministration, the Republican party
would have been annihilated at the
next election. Undoubtedly the Pres
ident's action is patriotic and not par
tisan, that is 10 say, his first thought
| is not the effect of his measures upon
the party. but upon the general welfare.
In his inaugural address, speaking OF
the Just settlement OF the Southern
question, he said, plainly and frankly;
I'm furtherance Of such obedience TO the
letter aud the spirit Of the Constitution. and
In behslf OF all that its attainment implies, all
so called party interests lose their apparent
nlIied 10 sink into insignilcence. IL s
| question In which every citizen Of the nation
\ Il deeply Interested, and with respect 10
which We ought not TO bc. In PARTISAN sense
either Republican or Democrat. but fellow
citizens and iellow-men TO men whom the
Il
humanity are dear"
II is the Presidents distinction thai
he meant precisely what he said. HI
has not acted for party, but for tn,
country. He has not hesitated to take
the risk OF exciting strong hostility te
his conduct within his party. But with
out the will and the power 10 take thal
risk, he would not have been sustained
as he is to-day, by the warm and earn
est sympathy Of the country. He hal
signally illustrated the truth Of his owl
words, HE serves his party best who
serves his country best.
Certainly, il his conduct has not beer
determined by the mere desire OF hold
ing his own party together, he hai
probably not concerned himself will
anxieties about the formation OF new
party. The President announced, il
accepting the nomination, that h'
should not be candidate for q secont
term. His inaugural address, his cab
met nominations, his measures in Tia,
Southern States, his course in regar,
to the civil service, all show that hi
purpose is a patriot Presidency. Th
small party majorities in Congress IN
dicate that his policy, so long as II
general character remains unchanged
will be heartily supported. Four year
Of such situation will naturally pro
duce great political changes. The 10
cal affairs OF every State being unde
it's own control, and national policie
Of finance, of improvement, of foreig
relations, being the chief questions,
Is plain that both Republicans an
Democrats will wear party chains muc
more lightly, and, with the settlemer
of the great issues upon which partie
have divided, new party association
become more practicable and probable
The common remark that the Presider
! is pursuing Democratic policy, an
that consequently the Republican pa
ty will disappear and the Democrats
party be left united aud supreme,
not very wise. For, the moment TN
/ the Southern policy Of the ReprblicsI
. 10 welcomed by the Southern Dem'
Gratis. the convictions OF many Of tho.
: Democrats upon questions that WI
. then become prominent will inevitabl
I attach them 10 Republicans, who are
: closer sympathy with them than man
q Democrats. The situation which =
!. lakes the bopds of one party ineyitab
4 weakeas those Of the other. Parti
are not arbitrarily made, they are d
vsloped; aud with q truly patriotic, abl
tirm. and wise Administration, We mi
9 peacefully await Developments. lHs
2 pes's Weekly.
II