Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-03-16
The Party and the President.

The feeling of the people generally to-
ward the President does not admit of
doubt. Here and there partisan animos-
ity displays itself with as much malig-
nifty as though the election were still
pending, but the exceptions are so rare
that they only render more conspicuous
the prevailing disposition to make allow
ance for his difficulties and judge Of his
policy by its results. The parrot cry of
fraud" will wear itself out All but
the most atrabilious of mortals will grad
ually come to be ashamed of attacks
upon the man on account of real or imag-
mary defects in the system. Meanwhile
reputable Democratic journals in the
North, and the great majority of Journals
in the South, recognize the favorable inn
preston produced by Mr. Hayes inaugural
address, and by his intercourse with visit
ors of either party since his arrival at
Washington. There is no affectatiOn of
ardor or admiration on the subject. The
outlook is all the better because every
trace of warm personal feeling is absent,
Its presence, in the circumstances, would
do more harm than good. 1t would be used
as an argument against Mr.. Hayes in his
relations to the party that elected him,
and it would be rendered worthless by
the suspicion of sinister influences as its
exciting cause.
The tone of the Southern press is, in
deed, as far removed from bitterness as
from adulation. 1t is discriminating,
but withal hopeful; not willing to accept
the mere promise of good things TO come,
but evidently yearning for the new de-
parture" that shall leave the South free
to determine its party affiliations, and
prepared to estimate the new Admins
tration by its own work. More than this
could not be reasonably expected. The
principal fact to be remembered is, that
the moderate, conservative course of
Southern Representatives during the re-
cent crisis has its counterpart in the
conciliatory tone of influential Southern
newspapers. AS distinguished from the
sensational stuff of certain Northern pa
pers, their spirit at the present moment
evinces a readiness to sacrifice party to
patriotism, and to throw no impediments
in the path of the President who shows
an honest desire to reduce just and con-
ciliatory professions to practice. 1t is
evident that while the Northern Demo-
cratic leaders are watching for Opportu-
mites to make mischief as between the
President and the Republican party, the
South is prepared to forego the grstiica-
tion of partisan spite in consideration of
measures tending to the paciication and
prosperity of its people.
The question of immediate Importance
is: What is the attitude of the Repub-
lican party out of doors with reference
to the policy foreshadowed by the Presi-
dent and the Cabinet he has selected to
aid him In it's execution? Rarely has
unanimity been so complete as that
which is manifest in the comments of
the Republican newspapers on the posi-
tion assumed by the President. The
discussion of the personnel of the new
Cabinet is as diverse as the sympathies
of those who conduct it. But even those
who express misgivings as to the ap.
pointments have not a word to say against
the character or ability of either of these
gentlemen.
The distinctive feature of the Repub-
lican criticism is as creditable to the
party as it should be satisfactory to the
President 1t is frank acknowledge
ment of the excellence of the policy
foreshadowed by him, and of his right to
choose his own advisers and assistants
without interference. An examination
of the comments in greater detail is not
less encouraging. The party as whole
is quite up to the mark indicated by Mr..
Hayes. The determination to see justice
done to the Southern Republicans is
earnest, but it does not rely fOrits efficacy
upon passions and prejudices. The ad-
hesion to the party organization in its
integrity is sincere.
On broad and firm ground, then, Re-
publican opinion, as indicated by the
party press, is a unit in support of the
President. And as it is WIN the Presa,
so is it with representative men and or
ganizations within the party. Every
where the feeling is one of thankfulness
at the change implied in the purposes
and methods of which President Hayes
is the exponent. So far as the members
of his own party are concerned, they are
overwhelmingly on the side Of the Presi-
dent and the position he has assumed.
He has, in addition, the hearty approba-
tion of the moderate men who ordinarily
stand aloof from parties, and whose
judgment may be accepted as the reiec-
tion of a power which will be worth
much to him in the fulfillment of his
arduous task.-N y, Times.