Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1877-04-12
The SOnfhern Policy.

There seems to be good deal OF un-
certainty and not little uneasiness in
the country In regard to tie Southern
policy of President Hayes. This is not
altogether surprising in view of what
has happened, and in further view OF
the present tangled condition of affairs
in Louisiana. Still there ought to be
no mystery in regard to the policy of
the President That was plainly fore
shadowed in his letter OF acceptance,
which was as plainly in accord With
the platform upon which he was NOM.
mated, and that policy was reiterated
and emphasized in his inaugural ad-
dress. 1t Is also to be remarked that
his letter and inaugural were endorsed
by the country. Furthermore, 1t is to
be said that beyond these utterarces
he made no pledges or promises OF any
kind further than to say he wrote his
letter of acceptance in good faith, and
Wonld be guided by it 10 his actions as
President.
The full solution of the question that
remains can better be answered def
nitely by the development of the an
nounced polity. In this way it has
been almost fully answered in the case
euch result as Republicans would de-
sire, but in no other way could it have
been answered without clear depar-
ture from the policy herein referred to.
The President has not recognized Ell
ther Chamberlain or Hampton, but he
has remanded both to the legally con-
stituted tribunals of the State for the
adjustment of their disputed claims.
he has assurances that in this process
there shall be no violation of the peace,
and that, whoever may be declared
Governor, the rights of ali citizens will
be respected and protected without re-
gard to race, color; or previous condi-
tion of servitude. Mr.. Chamberlain,
of course, did not need to make any
pledges of this kind. Mr.. Hampton
made them fully and voluntarily, and
those who met him at Washington, ,and
those who know him, say that he is
not only able but that he will to the
fullest extent fulfill his promises. No
one has right to say he will not lie
true 10 his pledges, or to say that the
provisions of the Constitution of the
United States and the laws made in
pursuance thereof will not be respected
hereafter in South Carolina as they are
in Ohio. This is precisely what the
Republican party has been aiming at
for ten years, or since the close of the
war, and with only partial success. If
the policy of Prcsident Hayes shall Sc.
cure peace and good will and home
rule upon that basis, he will secure
precisely what the Republican party
has striven for, and will achieve a vic.
tory through peaceful means that will
Oe one OF the crowning glories of his
administration 1t may Rot secure the
ascendancy of the Republican party in
South Carolina; but if it shall secure
peace, prosperity, and good govern
Inent, that will make the Republican
party strong in many Places where il
has been weak, and will more than
mpensate fer the l,,ss of South Caro-
lima, If indeed that shall be lost. But
ct any rate, the time has come when
the Republican party must succeed, il
1t is 60 succeed at all, without the bay.
onet. Hayes thought so, manifestly,
when he wrote his letter of acceptance.
and again when he delivered his inau.
gural address, and the result which
promises to follow the Inauguration of
his policy in South Carolina will, in
Out OpiOuiobs ktONC tuo WiSuOID Ol his
conclusions and OF his action. Nothing,
OF course, has been done, and nothing,
we are sure, will be done TO disarm the
Chief Executive of the nation of the
power vested In him to enforce the pro-
visions of the Constitution, but the OBJ
jective point of his policy is to render1
the exercise of this extra
ordinary power.
In regard to louisiana, the same |
principal is involved as in South Caro- I
lima, but the complications are such
that the case is far more difficult of So
lution, and il seems hardly possible to
solve It without concessions on both
,ides. That Packard was fairly elected !
Governor can not, from a national I,
be legally questioned. The
that was counted for the Re-
,ublican Electors was counted for
packard. Iu equity, therefore, there
no difference in the title TO oftiaAJ
Orde