New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-04-12

eminent cannot be attained through his party,

eminent cannot be attained through his party,
even with him as its nominal leader
at is hard on the Southern men who elected
"Hayes,r many will say. This feeling exists,
and must be frankly met. Members OF the
| Whisky Ring also helped to elect Hayes; is 1t
.'bard on them" if the Administration refuses
to wink at whisky frauds7 Thousands of Off
Gals helped to elect Hayes who form part OF
| the corrupt and demOraizing machine which
any real reform of the civil service will smash.
| Selected solely for political services, held IN
place solely by political influence, they can ex-
pect no consideration whatever from any adj
mnstration which tries to manage affairs for
| the good of the public and not for the benefit
| of individuals or parties. Is it "hard on
| them" if the Government tries to do business
on strict business principles' In short not
one of the reforms which the Republican party
and its candidate promised can be effected
without turning the back upon some class OF
men who "helped to elect Hayes" The mil
lions who have no part in peculation and no
desire for Office, and who have adhered to the
Republican party through all its errors ana
defeats, gave it their votes once more IN
November because they believed that its
pledges would be redeemed and the needed
reforms would be effected. Either they must
be abandoned " or the men who thought that
solemn pledges were frauds, and that the new
Administration would forego all reform rather
than abandon" men who helped to elect
Hayes.
The Republican politicians of the South have
had their day. Opportunities were given them
l. b txtrioa in
A most glorious and most solemn trust was
committed to them when the task of recon-
struction was placed in their hands and all
the power of the United States put forth to
sustain them. How have they met that trust?
For years their power has been absolute;
where have they produced good government
They have been tried. With rare exceptions
they have failed disgracefully. Even the few
who have tried to do their best have been
swept away by the current, have allied them
selves with known plunderers in order to
secure party success, and have no chance what
ever TO hold place or influence save by con-
necton with a political combination which has
made itself curse to the States i'll which 1t
exists and disgrace to the Republican name.
The Republican leaders of the South cannot
complain that twelve years Of trial in unre-
strained power have not been enough. Ma
jorities of forty thousand in South Carolina
and Louisiana have been thrown away. Dele
cations of earnest Republicans, who own prop
erty pray for the success of State tickets for
which they did not vote. The Republican
leaders of the South have been tried, fully and
faithfully, and they have failed.
The duty of the President is not to sustain
or abandon individuals or parties, but to pro-
mote the best interests of the country. He
"serves his party best who serves his country
best" SO believing, the President finds that
She Republican politicians at the South have
failed; that the policy of force is utterly pow
erless to protect the Republican voters or to
give peace and prosperity to the country. But
one other mode is left. The Southern whites
have claimed that local misrue has made them
hostile to Republication, and that, once rid OF
local corruption and tyranny, they are ready
TO protect all citizens in all their rights. 1t is
possible to put them to the test. That they
have the power to do what they promise, no
one doubts. 1t is easy to learn by trial
whether they have the will. How could
President, conscientously seeking the peace
and prosperity of the whole country, pursue
any other course2 The Southern whites have
mower to protect all citizens. The Southern
Republicans have been tried, and have failed.
At last the politicians of that kind are "aban-
" doned,n precisely as a bursted gun is thrown
aside when soldier wants to do his duty in
the fight.