Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-04-27
The Presidents Policy.
VIEWS OF HON. JOHN KAssoN.

VIEWS OF HON. JOHN KAssON.
Hon. John A. Kasson was welcomed home
by his friends in DesNloines, Iowa, on Fri
day. In speech upon the occasion, he
said that he had strong fears in regard to
the results of the new Southern policy of
President Hayes. In Lou isiana, especially.
he greatly feared that the result would not
be what all would wish. lie thought,
however, that the policy of President Hayes
was founded in the purest and most pat
riotic motives, and he earnestly prayed that
it might be successful in the highest degree.
No person need fear that President Hayes
would prove unfaithful to his party or coun-
try. He was animated to-day by the same
patriotic devotion that marked his career in
the past. His purpose was to strengthen
his party and reunitc the country, and Mr..
Kasson begged his hearers to suspend judg-
ment until the Presidents policy was fairly
tried. If, when tried, this policy proves a
failure, President Hayes il ready to change
it, and to protect the rights Of citizens by
every power of the Government. Mr.. Kssson
said he understood the Presidents position
to be that he had no authority to nse troops
except to suppress domestic violence beyond
the control of the State authorities, and
that he could in no way interfere with
the affairs of State, unless such violence
existed. He could not interfere un-
less wrong things were done by
force. Governor Packard is man
of high character, and Mr. Kasson believed
he was rightfully elected Governor, hut the
President cannot decide that question unless
in case Of insurrection. In Iowa a wrong
man might be installed Governor. and if
done peaceably, the President could not
interfere. The question is not "Who Is to
bo Governor ~ but sis there domestic
violence ~ The President has not decided
merely that there is not now such insurrec-
tion as to demand the presence of troops.
Mr.. kasson begged the people to carefully
consider the position in which the President
was placed. lie was not prepared himself
to upreservedly indorsc the new policy, but
he wished it to have the fairest trial
possible If this trial failed, if the South
abuses the confidence shown it, il it is not
received with decent respect, if the rights oi
all men were not maintained inviclnte. he
believed the President would prove firm and
steadfast in his devotion to the Republican
party as any patriot could wish. lie would
not attempt 10 conceal hls fears Tor the result,
hut besought nil to wait for the outcome
before passing Judgment He Ind lost ~
confidence IN President Hayes. though
forced to be anxious about hi~ Poliry.
VIEWS ur PROF. J. NJ. LANG$ToS.
Prof John NJ. Lang>ton. of Howard Uni
versity, who Is an intelligent aud educated
coiorcd man. lecturcd III Jersey city, IN
Tuesday. before large audience q" The
Other Phase of Reconstruction. " Prof
Iangstou said many of the friends "i the
eolored people lear the result ot
the present plan OF paeifcatiun. Mere
party success was not. in his Judgment. the
supreme end, but rather the substantial ecu
eral good of the people. llo believed that
the plan of pacific reconstruction was best
Tor the black man. who could not prosper
under political strife. Good nclghborhood
established, protection afforded hlm as To
other citizens, OH the whole it will be profit
able for the black. and he will improve him
self in all respects No negro can be Il free
man until he has been taught that God has
given him hands and feet and intellectual
power lie wished to see the negro eman-
cipated indeed, and not emancipated only
from bodily CHAINS. This would be assisted
by numerous influences. among them the
presence of Northern white men in the
South. and the enunciatiou Of broad prinei-
pies of freedom.
President Hayes, in commenting on the
platform in his inaugural address, said the
first necessity for the South was peace,
which could not be obtained if the constitu-
tional liberties of the people were habItually
disregarded The speaker maintained that
if Hayes is called of God, rs Lincoln and
Grant we're. and accomplishes his work, and
there shall indeed be no North. no South. no
black, no white, then we should erect high
shaitto his memory and inscribe on it Grand
er than ALL for grander than all he will
be; and he the speaker held that he
would not be true to himself or his country
if he did not acknowledge it. And now,
with the field before us. the practical ques-
ton presents itself, how shall We proceed?
One method has failed, either through the
unhandsomc acts of political adyenturers,
the interference of the Government troops,
or the course Of the dominant white class
The new plan must be tried. and it must IN
yclve no betrayal Of plighted ialth. M sur
render OF principles.