The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-18
Grants Bad Faith.

When the President voluntarily and dis
tinctly pledged himself, last week, not to
interfere in Louisiana. mt least until the
committees OF investigation had reported,
there were many who accepted his prom
ise, and looked forward with hope to
satisfactory solution of the present
complications. We did not share IN that
confidence, and have not been disap-
pointed.
From the hour when GRANT announced
his purpose, he was pursued aud pressed
by the conspirators to recede from posi-
ton which would necessarily weaken their
game, and in tho end strengthen the
hands of their opponents. Tne false pre-
teuce of government under PACKARD,
without any substance behind If, aud no
thow of popular countenance from any
quarter, but a few negro politicians and
their deluled followers, melting away by
Its own inherent weakness, was not
cheerful spectacle for those who were
claiming Louisiana for HAYES and PACK
ARD. On the other hand, the hearty. united
and vigorous support extended to NICHOLS
by the body OF property holders aud good
citizens. his prudent course aud the main
tenance of perfect order in tho midst Of
peaceful revolution. were we'll calculated
TO inspire trust and admiration every
where. 1t was plainly manifest. il let alone,
that the peoples own Government would
be an accomplished fact in n few days,
without disturbance of any kind, aud By
the operation of moral forces alone.
The success of NICHOLS was regarded by
the conspirators rs foreboding the inevi-
fnbIn H.lf.,pt Of
sity of Withdrawing from him even the In
direct advantage Of non-intervention at
Washington For it was plain If the Con-
Iervative Government went into fun ope-
ration, carried public opinion with IT, won
the respect and confidence OF both sides.
aud presented the contrast which would
surely follow to carpet-bag rule, that IL
would be almost impossible 10 uphold the
villainy of the Returning Board before the
country. Therefore, tho whole force
of the Republican managers was mass
ed upon this exposed point. SHER-
MAN, MORTON, CHANDLER, GARFIELD,
CAMERON, and HALE, with n crowd OF
lesser lights from Congress and the
partisan committees who ran tho cam
pagn. all combined for interference, US
the only mode OF arre-tng a stampede IN
their own ranks. A. any cost ths fraulu-
lent Goyerlmcnt mu be maintained, ai q
prop Of the great conspiracy.
And this step had TO Zoe taken quickly
Tor with the desertiou Of PiNCuBACK and
some OF his friends from the bogus Logs
iture, the refusal Of others who hll been
traulueutly returned 20 accept seats and
the signs Of general dis.utcsiation, it was
evident the whole supc structure would
tumble down anl sink in,o the mlre. This
urgency was SO great that ECGENF HALE,
fon-ia-law of XAcu CuANDLER. and one Of
GRANr's ENJOYS 90 tho Returning ard TO
tce HAYES counted in, was dorutcd to seul
n telegraph message TO PACKARD on SAtur-
day night in these significant words "lf
you can holl out for twenty four hours
the Precedent viii recognize YOU"
The result has proved that he spoke by
authority, aud knew GRANr would
violate his plelg'. In the broad view,
this action adds seriously TO tho dini-
culties OF the situation. 4 cheerful spirit
was manifested in Washington nj the close
Of last week, with the expectation of an
honorable and satisfactory compromise for
counting the votes for President THIS
Lad faith proVukcs distril-t and suspicion,
and DISHES hopes that were thought 10 DO
well founded.