The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-03-16
QUIZ DUTY TO OURSELVES.

utterances to our representatives q
Washington, has given unmistakabl'
limitations OF his desire to be relieved
from the embarrassment which the ne
cessity of taking positive and affirma
tive action upon the Louisiana cast
would entail upon him. He has, to The
surprise and confusion OF his politiea
associates, planted himself firmly upor
the time honored Democratic doctrine
that 1t is not the province OF the FEEDER
al government to intervene In or med
die with the political affairs Of the sew
eral States, and has announced to the
country his purpose to aid, in every
proper and constitutional way, the es.
adjustment of local self government
throughout the United States, and par.
tioularly In theSouth. In response to the
inquiry whether he proposed to recog-
nize the Nichols government, he re-
marked q few days ago that the habit OF
calling upon the Federal Executive to
recognize governors was q part OF the
very system to which he and the South
ern people were 30 much opposed, and
which he was determined to destroy,
and he reminded his interlocutor that
he had not recognized Governor Robin
son, of New York, or any of the govern.
ors Of tho other States, and hoped no
occasion would arise for his doing SO.
In word, Mr.. Hayes has given every
assurance that could be asked of him,
and even more than could have been
expected. that he is perfectly immova-
BILE In his determination to abstain from
any interference with the domestic Of
fairs of the several States, except such
as is made incumbent upon him by the
constitution In certain emergencies
therein specified. We know that his Cab.
met was constituted as 1t IL for the pur-
pose of carrying out his openly avowed
Southern policy. The presence OF ex-
Senator Key, of Tennessee, in that
Cabinet, IL OF itself alone sufficient
guarantee that entire good faith will
be exhibited toward the South In
this, to us, ali important matter.
Moreover, Mr.. Hayes knows that bis
policy will be sustained by the vast ma
jority OF the Northern people, who are
practical by nature, and who
have more respect for even merely
de facto government, which Is In actual
operation, than for the purest de .jure
In the world. They know
that there are so many and such large
material interests bound up In the per-
manent establishment OF the Nichols
government that It's overthrow would be
equivalent to the substitution OF chaos
for order and ruin for prosperity. In
short, Mr.. Hayes, his Cabinet and his
whole party, with the exception OF few
desperate carpet baggers and ultra Rad
Icals, are OF one mind in regard to the
absolute necessity Of upholding the
government, whether they be-
Lieve 1t to have been fairly elected or
not, and they have no more idea OF re-
and sustaining the preten-
,ions OF Packard than General Grant
had OF supporting McEnery four years
Ego. We may us we'll, then, dismiss
rom our minds any lingering appre-
tension OF unfriendly interference on
he part of the Federal authorities.
But, while we have no fault to find |
With the action Of Mr.. Hayes and his
supporters toward Louisiana, we do not |
ike the timidity, over.caution and lack
II public spirit displayed by some of
he people of this city toward the
government Of their choice. ALI OF
IS have proclaimed to the world, on
very possible occasion, our firm resolve
. acknowledge no other government in
his State than the Nichols govern
lent. We have declared that that
overnment alone possesses our con-
dence and affection: that to 1t alone
ould we pay tribute, and that to main
lin 1t in existence we are willing to
eril our fortunes and our lives. These
re fine words, but fine words butter no
arsnips. What the Nichols govern ,
lent needs, and what our present
demands, Is. that every citi-
IN of Louisiana prove by his acts the ,
18th that is in him. We have not the ;
ightest doubt that even those citi- =,
,ns to whom we have reference are
1tirely sincere in their professions Of ;
,nfidence in and affection for our gov !
'nment, but are they doing their :
hole duty toward that government? :
lille no intelligent observer of current
'ents at Washington admits for mo- :
emit the possibility of the recognition :
Packard, we are sorry to say that !
ire there seems to exist among a few
mid people grave apprehension lest,
spite, the positive assurances
at have been given to the contrary, =
ere still turks in the mind of Hayes q.
q secret purpose of sustaining that =
rant pretender-thus stultifying his :