New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-01-26
Up WNOIiN EIIL.

Mr. VOOUS BILL.
We should really like to know what Mr.
Fernando Wood is after. He has succeeded
with great trouble in getting his resolution
through the House of Representatives Tor the
appointment of committee to inquire lhto
the use of troops at the South during the late
political campaign, and in due course OF time
we shall have as matter OF course TWO
irreconcilable partisan reports from his COM
mittee which will leave the subject Just about
where it stands now. The Democratic majority
will pass upon the sO-called "bayOnet poiicy
of Gen. Grants administration the same I'M
suaring censrre which has been passed upon IL
SO often bcfofe; and the Republican minority
will find in the prevalence OF lawlcssncss at
the South an ample justification for such
measures of precaution as the President saw
fit TO adopt. Between these contradictory
opinions we do not believe the people Will
take the trouble to decide.
The fact is, the old question of the Use OF
troops at the South is not just now available
as political issue. Gen. Grant Is about 10 re-
tire into private life. If he has made any
blunders III sending troops to the South at
election time, he will never have an oppor-
timity to repeat them. As the end OF his term
draws near. the public shows less and less dis
position to inquire closely into his political
transactions. 1t would be glad to have HIM
close his period of Office in peace. 1t would not
rake UP old errors without necessity. 1t would
forgive and forget the mistakes of his clVl
administration III its rcyiylng gratitude Tor Ills
military services. As a partisan movement,
therefore. MIR. Woods resolution is a serious
mistake. Many people will consider it quite
as impertinent to the present state of atfsirs
as would be an investigation into the use OF
the New-York police on certain occasion
twenty wears ago, which Mr.. Wood would
probably prefer not to remember. Many other
people will be reused by it to a sympathy
with the President whom Mr.. Wood desires to
wound
Besides that there is nothing in the present
political situation to justify the inquiry, there
is another reason why shrcwd politician
might have been content to leave 1t alone. 1t
is not at ali certain that fair investigation
would reveal just what Mr. Wood seems to
expect. For many years the Use OF troops at
election time, authorized by the Enforcement
acts. has probably never been accompanied by
80 little abuse as it was during last Autumn
There va, little if my resort to the violent
methods OF the famous "Outrage campaigns"
of Alabama and Louisiana. Caya!ymen did
not ride through The "dSafiectcd" districts car
rving bundles Of blank warrants; and Federal
maiSha!s, with troops at their elbow, did not
brcIl; UP conservative meetings By arreStng
leading Democrats for constructive int'nida-
ton and dragging them the whole length
OF he State for examination before partisan
commissioner. This year tha troops seem
yeal!y to have. been used to keep order rather
than 10 influence voters and II it Is admitted
that the General Government has any business
to so police duty at all in the Statcs-as the
Enforcement acts seem tO reqgtirc-Mr. Woods
c0n0littcc will hardly make our flesh creep by
narratives Of the campaign, unless the army
has committed indiscretiOns wlllch We at the
North do not even suspect. We dare say the
soldiers will come ont of the ordeal with great
credit.
Then an inquiry into the use of troops Mt
the South must naturally involve not merely
the orders under Which they acted but the
purposes for which they were sent into recon
s,ucted States, the character .ot the disturb
ances which thGy were required to qucll or
prevent. III IlliS blitllch OF lllC investigation
we can venture to promise Mr.. Wood no end
OF discomfort. For while the military force OF
the Federal Government has been used with
Il moderation and discretion, unhdpply rare
in tie earlier years Of Gen. Grants admins
tralion, il is undcniablc that the proyOcations
for military Interference have been unusually
severe. Mr.. Woods friends have been en-
Gagged III pasimes which will not bear the
light lntin;iditi0nn has risen in some parts
OF Louisiana to the dignity of wholesale muir
der; and III South Carolina the turbulence of
what Mr. Wood doubtless calls an Ignorant
and bruta!izcd negro population has been
cmulalcd II not surpassed by the gentlaI"aniy
aud chivalroua white man. If we are to listen
To any par, of the story. We must have il all.
Then we shall probably lind that even the
presence OF bayontts has not been enough 10
3ecult for The Southern Republican IN oppor-
tunly 10 vote according to his convictions.
Perhaps fuller discussion of the question
may do gOOd help lis To mark the cOnsiitu-
tioual boundaries Of State and Federal au-
thcrity, point out the dangerous tendencies of
some of our recent legislation, illustrate the
path to the much needed reform in the recon
,tillcted States But these do not seem to be
exactly the things for which Mr.. Wood has
been reaching.
"GR4FEIIRD TdLh"