The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-03-23
THE SOUTHERN POLICY.
square and Fair Dealing the Only Chance
for MIR. Hayes.
washington Gazette

washington UaH6Gbe.
The American people are moved by
sudden impulse, and much given to
leaping before looking. They drove
Commission, which was clearly an un-
constitutional body, and which, SO far
from carrying out the intent Of its orig
inators, proved to be mere partisan
machine. SO with the new Administra-
ton. No one expected that Hayes
would do more than perpetuate Grant
ism. His selection of John Sherman
for the first place In his Cabinet
strengthened that belief. He did better in
his other selections, though Mr.. Evarts
is not entitled to much respect, and Mr..
Schurz is a revoiutionist as we'll as a
political weathercock. But Mr.. Hayes
Blaine, and thereby won applause. He
has been commended, too, for his re-
solve to make but few official changes.
This the easily pleased public construe
az carrying out civil-service reform,
though it is simply keeping in Office
the many incompetent and corrupt men
appointed under Grant. In other words,
it is perpetuation of Grantism.
There is nothing Mr.. Hayes can do
that will remove the faint Of fraud from
his title to the Presidency-a faint
WHICH UiuSU ClIuS W III lOI0Fbls buu hO
has great opportunities for doing good,
and none greater than in tho policy ttee
be adopted toward the much abused and
ng.suffering South. He has already
been extolled for his Southern policy,
though he has done nothing in that di-
rection beyond appointing Mr.. Key, q
mediocre man, and one utterly unknown
beyond the limits Of his own State, to q
seat in the Cabinet. He is said to have
meditated sending @ commission South,
which would be an entirely useless pro-
ceeding, for the questions to be decided
are perfectly plain and no amount OF
The Southern question lies in mitchell.
Mr.. Hayes has but one proper course
| to pursue, and that is to re-
| tire, the troops in South Carolina and
| Louisiana to their barracks, and leave
| to the people of those States the settle
ment OF their own affairs. He has no
constitutional right to do aught else.
| A new election would work incalculabie
| injury, and result in no good. The use
| of troops to maintain either OF the State
governments is wrong, and they are not
needed to preserve the peace. Governor
Hampton has but to lift his finger and
the troops in South Carolina would be
annihilated. And 80 in Louisiana. In
both States the legal governments are
not only able to maintain themselves,
| but to preserve the peace. Now, would
| it not be well, before praising Mr..
| Hayes for what it is assumed he intends
| to do, to await his performance OF the
duties devolving upon him. He has
as yet taken no step toward carry
ing out the policy toward the
South with which he has been credited ;
and, moreover, the Tumor is daily gain
| l. 4y,kS RI txNn ivn
| the usurper Packard. It is held by
some that he would be inconsistent if
he did not do so, for it is said, and with
truth, that ii Packard was not elected
Governor of Louisiana, Hayes was not
elected President of the United States.
In point Of fact, neither was elected,
but Mr.. Hayes having been counted
| into the Presidency is no reason why q
fraudulent government should be forced
upon the people of Louisiana. Two
wrongs do not make right, as Mr..
Hayes will find il he attempts to. cheat
the people Of Louisiana out OF their
own.
The Meaning OF the Commission.
[Cinclnnsti Commercially
The appointment of q Southern Com
mission, of which Mr.. Foster. of Ohio,
will be one member, and Vice Presl-
dent Wheeler probably, and fifty,
another, does not indicate the purpose
of President Hayes to be to at once and
finally dispose of the South Carolina
and Louisiana cases. He desires to
have the fullest information and the
latest facts, and possibly the commits
sion will be authorized to negotiate an
arrangement that will quietly put an
end to dual governments in those
States. II it becomes necessary for the
President to decide as between the con-
testants, he will not shirk the response,
bility; but other means are first to be
tried to compose these pestiferous
troubles, and establish peace upon the
conditions named in the inaugural ad
dress. Preliminary to this the troops
will be withdrawn, provided proper as
surances are given that there will be nc
violence attempted on either side. The
peace must be preserved at all hazards
and the rights Of all protected.
Not "smart" Enough.
m