The true northerner., 1877-04-20
THE PRESIDENT.
He Submits Himself to an Interview, and
Talks Freely About His southern Policy.

He submits hfnseu to an IntefNieW, anu
Talks Freely About His Southern Policy.
President Hayes has been interviewed
by press reporter regarding his South
ern policy, the result of which, as tele-
graphed from Washington, we print be-
low:
He (the President) had no concealments in
regard to his Southern policy, which, how,
ever, had been foreshadowed in oral and
written utterances; and in this connection he
adverted to the gubernatoiial campaign in
Ohio in 1875, which resulted in his election
over Gov. Allen, the people OF the State having
full knowledge Of his sentiments on national
questions, including, of course, those which re-
lated to the South. The opening speech Of q
gubernatorial candidate is generally considered
10 be the keynote of a campaign, and in such 2.
speech, early as the 31st of July of that year,
at Marion, he freely and distinctly expressed
his opinions. This speech was published at
length in all the Republican and many other
newspapers, and therefore his views were gen.
orally known. In that speech, after congra'u-
lating his felow-citiZens on the complete tri-
umph over those who sought To destroy the
Union and the grand results of the war, he al
luded to the coming together again OF Northern
and Southern men in spirit OF harmony
and friendship, including those who had
fought one another, and, as prominent feat
ure IN this evidence of good feeling, he on that
occasion spoke Of the kindly manner in which
i
to the South. In this era Of good feeling and
reconciliation. he further said, there were still
persons who talked of bayonets and who sought
to revive the prejudices of the past. This was
much 10 be regretted, but there was enough 20
ill every heart with gratitude, the house being
no longer divided, and all the. inhab-
itants having n fair start in the race
for life. In this and ali his other
speeches he earnestly CONDEMNED the reopening
of the old issues between the North and
South, assuming that the time had come for g.
complete reconciliation. The President, in
the National Republican Convention which
nominated him for the Presidency passed
resolution sacredly pledging the Republican
party TO protect every citizen in the United
States in all his civil and political rights, and
declaring that the permanent pacifica-
ton of the South should be effected
/ by removing all cause ef discord. The
spirit of this resolution was in perfect
accord with his own views previously ex-
pressed, and he repeated them III his letter OF
acceptance of the domination, and more fully
elaborated them in his inaugural address, con =
sistently maintaining the policy of reconcilia-
| ton and local self-government apart from mill
! tary support, and when he entered upon the.
duties of the Presidency he intended that this
policy should not be one Of sentiment merely,
! but Of actual administration. He spoke with
emphasis when he said MY belief is that
this course tends to give good government 70
| the South. 1t tends TO secure peace between
sections and between races and parties at the
South, and it tends to secure the rights, inter-
ests and safety Of the colored people. There
/ fore | am in favor of the policy. do pot know
whether | shall succeed in carrying it out, be-
cause there are Northern and Southern men
who in various ways may possibly thwart me.
but of one thing | am confident, namely, i
think it my duty to try to carry out the policy,
and / am going TO do it.