The Colfax chronicle. (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1876-1877, 1877-03-17
THE INAUGURAL.
n. o. Democrat

Republican party since the close VI
the war. If he shall have the
tirmness and courage to carry out
the broad and catholic views and
purposes expressed in that dOcu-
ment, he will disarm much oppo-
sition to his administration, great
ly reduce the difficulties of his
position, and confer real benefit
upon the country. HE serves his
party best who serves his country
best, says the new President, and
this is a solid basis upon which to-
rebuild the prosperity OF the coun-
try and unite all portions of it as
harmonious whole.
For ten years the party to which
Mr.. Hayes owes his elevation to
the Presidency, has pursued a
policy based upon a doctrine the
very reverse of this, ana ends dia-
metrically opposed to those which
MIR. Hayes assures US he is deter
mined by following it to attain.
In other words, the Republican
party, for ten years, has been led
and controlled by bigotted, vim
dictive, INSCRIPTIONS and ambi-
tious partisans, who have subor-
dinated the public good, and the
liberties and peace of u large por-
ton of the Union to personal and
party supremacy. 1t is needless
here to refer to the misery, ruin,
discomfort and bitterness which
this lack of craftsmanship in the
dominant party has brought upon
the country. 1t is sufficient to
say that sectional hate and inor-
dinate partisanism have brought
about Il situation from which it
will require the loftiest courage,
the profoundest craftsmanship,
and the highest patriotism to ex-
tricate US. Mr.. Hayes has begun
well. No unprecedented man can
dispute that. He had laid down
principles for his guidance, which,
If courageously adhered 20, and
proclaimed purposes which, if firm
~ and resolulely pursued, will
give the Republic peace and pros
perity. The principles and the
purposes are good. Is the man
constituted Of the stuff of which
heroes and benefactors are made =?
This is the question now. Within
the next ten days he will be called
upon to show the sincerity of his
and his capacity to en-
force the statesmanlike Southern
policy he has marked out in his
inaugural, and OF which these ex-
tracts will give the reader an out
line
Difficult and embarrassing
questions meet us at the threshold
Of this subject. The people of
those (Southern) States are still
impoverished, and the inestimable
blessings of wise, honest and
peaceful local self-government are
not fully enjoyed
The question we have to con-
slider for the immediate welfare Of |
those States of the Union is the
question of government or no gov
ernment-of social order and all |
the peaceful industries of the hap
piness that belong to it, or a re-
Burn to barbarism. 1t is a ques-
lion IN which every citizen of the |
nation is deeply interested, and |
With reference to which We ought |
not TO be, III partisan sense,
either Republicans or Democrats, |
put fellow citizens md fellow-men. |
n respect to which the interests |
II a common country and q COM
non humanity are dear.
=" am sincerely anxious to use |
very legitimate influence in favor
If honest and effective local self
government, us the true source of |
hose states for the promotion of |
he contentment and prosperity of |
heir citizens"
These are kindly, nay, noble and
generous sentiments. If the are
lcted upon peace will be immedi-
Itely restored to Louisiana and |
south Carolina; "the question of |
government or no government"
VII be almost instantaneously set
led III favor of government which
vii restore confidence, nourish |
industry and protect life, liberty |
md property; while barbarism |
will roll back before a rejuvinated |