The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1877-04-21
FeE the CHdEF.
THE WISDOM 0F THE PRESIDENTS
POLICY.
BY EMERSON BENTLEY.


as clear as the MONDAY sun, it dazzles
and bewilders the average politician,
but it's inherent wisdom cOmmends it
to the statesman. In outline it con-
sists in the withdrawal of the military
arm of the government from the set
Element OF domestic disputes within
the States. 1t is notification to fac
ton leaders that every tub must |
stand on its own bottom "-the people |
of State being the best judg es and
arbiters of their own local discussions.
Schemes of fraud are no longer to be
projected, in the spirit of narrow
minded partisanship, based on hollow
legal forms, with reasonable expec-
tation of outside or national assist
ance in infusing them with life. Party
leaders are brought to the contempla-
ton of the first principles of the
American form of government and
hereafter will be forced to the legiti-
mate influences in the perpetuation
OF parties. 1t is absurd to expect the
national government to govern the
local affairs of States by proxy, when
direct government is prohibited by
| the constitution.
Those who are deprived of tempo
rary political advantages, of more
delusive than real value, are dis
pleased, and accuse the President of
betrayal of the trust confided in
him by his party. The President di-
reefs them to aD examination of his
record, before and after nomination,
the Cincinnati platform, and TO the
utterances Of his supporters, and re-
affirms his devotion to the letter and
spirit of cardinal Republican doc
trines. The fidelity of the President
is unquestionable.
4 His opponents are agreeably sur
prised. They turn from the imagi-
nary slough. of !despond, into which
they believed they were cast at the
close of the unfortunate Presidential
contest, and look up to the Repub-
lican chiettain as a sincere executive
of impartial justice. A healthier cur
rent infuses the political thought of
the country than at any period since
the war. Partisan fevers are soothed
by an anodyne. A firm hand, aud a
strong cabinet, are ut work for the
country's good, and even chronic
grumblers become patriotic ut the
spectacle.
Let it be understood that President
Hayes is not initiating Andrew john
son. The policy of to-day is concili-
alton within all reasonable limits, and
:, not an indiscriminate betrayal of the
Republican party. To properly ap-
:, preciate this we must not lose sight
of the essential fact that the. struggle
:, between the two civilizations, free and
slave-must continue until one or the
other is subordinate to a definite and
positive national sentiment. These
:, forces will keep open sectional di.
: visions and interpretations of govern
: ment. The bayonet will not effact
d erroneous doctrines, or ensure thu
e dominancy of any doctrine. The bat
e tie of ideas must be fought with the
o approved instrumentalities of thu
9 age-the school house, the pulpit, thu
+ newspaper, the mass meeting. The,
J may work slowly-too slow for thos,
i of the unphilosophie and impractical
BILE temperament who delusively hop'
e to suppress the teachings of century
7. in few days or a generation-bu
l. they work surely and we'll. TIL,
/ physical theory of government is ex
e ploded. Reconstruction is not fail
IS ure, for it has bridged over, in a sal
l. utary manner, the intense passion
1T born in the hour of defeat but th
Is governments established under
ID were temporary devices, which thei
Is founders evidently hoped and desire,
|, would be supplanted by more sub
of stantial structures. They have al
ot succumbed to irresistible forces, an
he the wisdom of the Presidents polio
s. is the bringing of the country to th
eff contemplation of this truth.
&c The President deserves our heart
l. cooperation in the practical inaug
II uration of his policy. The countr
I'd NAV be trusted as the Interpreter {