New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-04-25
HOW THE QUESTION WAS SOLVED.

CREDIT WHICH BELONGS TO THE COMaIssION-PRo-
PORTION OF THE TWO PARTIES THAT THINK THE
ISSUE FOR THE BEsT-Gov NICHoLLs's FIDELITY.
IFRoM STAFF CORRESPONDENT THE TRIBuSE.i
NEw-ORLEANs, April 2O.-Now that the Commits
sion has closed Its labOrs, the work it has done
can for the first time be correctly judged, as also
the estimates of its value formed during Its
progress, when impotence to see conclusion
reached made the public disposed to think that 1t
was delaying rather than Fastening the much
desired settlement of the chronic Louisiana troubles.
The end is attained now, and the Commission may
be fairly said to have justified it's creation and to
have demonstrated the wisdom of President fayes's
method of dealing with the 1t has accom-
plished the task set for it to do. 1t has completed
a constitutional circuit between the President ard
undoubtedly legal Legislature, to borrow smile
from the telegraph. The executive power OF the
nation is put in communication with the law
making power of the State. In place of two hostile
governments, neither with a perfectly clear title,
the Commission leave one honest legal government.
accepted by the people, and competent to protect
the rights of all citizens. When one looks back
upon the eight years of anarchy and misrule which
have afflicted this community one cannot fail to
appreciate the magnitude and beneficence of this
work. corrupt State government; tempered by
fear of the White League and such local admins
trakion grew ont of ignorant negro suffrage,
modified by the barbarities of the bulldozers has
given way to an orderly intelligent, responsible
conduct of affairs.
Ii will be said perhaps that the Commissioners
deserve little credit for this happy change the
people would have worked it out themselves under
the simple condition of cessation of Federal inter-
venton but this is very shallow view to take OF
the situation here. True the Packard pretenson to
government would have disappeared within twenty
four hours after the withdrawal of the troops from
the vicinity of the State House, and the authority of
Nichols would have been undisputed practically
as it now is; hut settlement by the law OF force
would have left dregs of bitterness and discord
which would have delayed if not entirely frustrated
the work of pacification. Dispersed by arms, the
Packard party would have had the power to ruin il
not to rule, and might have sown seeds of discOrd
and disorder throughout the black parishes. The
Nichols party heated by triumph of a nature to
intensity the anmosies of the long struggle. woud
have been in temper that would scarcely have
made it possible for them to accord justice to their
fallen opponents. The old, Louisiana sore would
have been cauterized but not cured.
How different from this is the actual condition of
affairs resulting from the efforts of the Commission
ers. They have brought fully three-ffths OF the
prominent Republicans. including nearly every man
of character in the party, 20 see that the Packard
government could not ha been sustained and to
give more less cordial adhesion to President
Hayes's Southern policy. The wisdom of that
policy under the circumstances, Is thus admitted by
more than majority of the influential Republicans,
and most Of them now glad that. circumstances
have mt last made it political necessity. They are
delighted at the opportunity for their party to shut
the book of its failures and malfeasances and to
ha atf1f YIa of tbaea mo m
secures the State against the danger of disorders
resulting from the designs of the ultra Packard
faction On the other side, the Conservative party
has been brought to take calm sensible, and con-
ciliatory attitude to fully realize its responsibilities
and opportunities, to see the weak spots in its
legal status and to be more than anxious to
Justify the revolution 0hich swept aside the forms
of law to install it IN power. should say that five
sixths of this party has been led into position of
cooperation with the President and honest intention
to protect the rights of the negro. They have not
been driven to this attitude by force neither have
| they assumed it from motives of expediency, but
their consciences and their desire to promote the
welfare of the State have led them to take it. They
| have graspcd the political and economical problems
at last, and understand fully that the pros
| pcrity of Louisiana depends upon amcabe
relations between the two races into
which her population is equally divided. The tenn
| per of the Conservative leaders is admirable.
Nothing could be in better sense or better taste than
the letter of Gov Nichols to the Commission, tee-
| graphed to Washington to-day. His pledge to 90
himself TO the scene of political disturbances if any
should occur shows how earnestly he desires to Sc
cure peace and harmony between the races. | may
saw here that Gov. Nichols has made very favor
able impression upon the Commission, and that all
| its members regard him tSman possessing high
sense of honor clear convictions, and firm will, who
| means every word he says when he promises equal
political rights and equal opportunities for educa-
| ton to the cOlOred people
| The Commission came here with widely different
opinions among its members derived from past pot-
| zeal association and imperfect knowledge OF the
Louisiana situation but they leave in accord as to
the wisdom of the settlement arrived at. think
they were all impressed at the outset OF their work
with the legal strength Of Packards position. One
or two brought with them the idea that some way
might be found to reconcile the people to his rule or
at least to bring about n compromise that wonld
create Legislature in which Ire would nave an
canal chance for recognition. Further investigation
led to the conclusion that Packard possessed no ves
toe of de facio authority and that the rens of gov
ernment had all fallen from his hands without even
the feeblest effort to hold to them, and that he
was really nothing more han prisoner III the capt.
tal protected from arrest by Federal troops. When
thus brought face to face with the real situation,
there was not one of the Commissioners who felt that
he could recommend the President to pull down the
efficient and fully established Nichols government
and set up in its place palsIed incompetent con-
Germ that had not breath of wholesome life in its
body The Commission were thus Of one mind as TO
leaving undisturbed the Nichols administration.
The next question was how to unite the two legs-
l4...an md tnke AWAY from Packard the one nlank