New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-26


Senator MUtou's opinions with regard 70
The title of the Kellogg, Packard, and Cham
bcrlun governments are well known, and ne
discusses the question now in somewhat
fauiiiaE strain. lie has always insisted that
,he night of the "caIpci-bac administrations
Go use a convenient general tcrm) was per
feet: ne believes that they were fairly
elected and regularly installed; that they were
necessary for the prosperity OF The South and
the personal safety Of the negro; that the
Fcj,;al mower was homd-at least M Ia a
recent timc-to sustain them by military force,
and that Congress was bound to recognize
them in passing upon the cred initials Of the
claimants of seats. Senator Morton, III
-hort belongs 20 that wing of the
Republican party which habitually regards the
conservative resistance to the cdTpct-1aS adj
'ministratiOns y as The violence Of an earned
"minoYity," and the rcorg 'nlzntion of the
Louisiana and South Carolina Legislatures as
the triumph of an actual, aggressive rebellion
won by firearms and boodshed. We believe
this TO be a rhetorical exoggerdtion, miSlcad-
ing and dangerous We do not admit that the
violence which has prevailed in certain parts
Of tie South has amounted to Instruction :;
We hold that thc Packard and Chtmbcrlain
governments fell, pot in consequence Of al
lacks from without, but because they never
had strength enough to stand alone; and We
look upon the efforts of the National Govern
mcut to keep them ON their feet az great
misfortune tor the country and a toreprd incd
failure. These, however, ~" points anon which
there has been great difference Of opinion
among Republicans and although We dissent
nom senator Morous cancualGns we respect
the sincerity Of his convictions aud The con
si,tc.cy with which he has ,u>t ned them.
Iu considering the present political 81 .atipn,
however, We find Nh Morton agreeing in at
least one very important matter with the
Judgment of TIE TRIBUNE. lie admits that
whatever might have ben done by President
Grant. President Hayes has never had it in
bis power 10 sustain the Packard and Cham
bolajn governments. "On the 4th Of March
me found them existing only in name SUI
rounded 10y enemies, living only from day
TO day n the presence and protection of
" Umtcd states troops.n He reminds IL that
thr Democratic House threatened to destroy
thc army unless it could make sure that the
troop. would not be used in the South, and that
"tne Republican majority in tie Senate upon
"thc Southern question was bat nominal, if it
existed at all" Tins is sensible. Mr. Nor
.,n we think might have gone further, and
defended the President upon broader ground !;
but the facts are iast as he states them; and
this Il, his conclusion: While in my judgment
cit was clearly right for the President under
81 the Constitution to recognize the Packard
" government and support it by military power,
d. ite undertaking would have been futile and
the failure disastrous; with divided public
"opinion and both houses of Congress against
"Iim ne would have failed in the end" 1t
i, the HIGHT of absurlily therefore 20 accuse the
President of deserving" the Southern ncpub-
Uclus and sacrificing his party. lie had no
choice but TO retreat from the untenablc po-
.ltion occupied by his predecessor, and he de-
serve, the highest praise for the manner III
which he has executed the delicate maneuyer.
senator Morton takes no very rosy view of
the character OF the Southern Democracy He
believes if 10 be still dangerous, tyrannical,
violent. INSCRIPTIONS; it has crushed the
Eenublican party of the South by systematic
mas,,crcs. Ii will always fight against equal
rights. 1t has no purpose of keeping It's
promises to President Hayes. How does he
suggest that We shall meet the peril OF the