The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-03-15
The Inaugural Address

President Hayes formal declaration
of intentions is so wise and satisfactory
that it is difficult to point out any par.
ticular in whiSh it could te improved,
either in substance or temper. Ii may
/ be said that promises are cheap and
performance difficult; but, however
true this may be as general rule, W,
can see no good reason for distressing
the new Presidents ability to fulfill the
engagements which he has volunteered
to make. Indeed, he will find it easier
TO keep his excellent promises than to
break them. They reflect the just sen
ument and deliberate wishes of a ma.
jority of the American people of both
political parties, aud a President who
proclaims mis- purpose to do the things
which the enlightened public opinion
OF his countrymen most urgently de-
mands cannot fail If his methods should
be as skillful as his objects are well
chosen. With such a chart as Presi-
dent Hayes has marked out for his ad q.
ministration he will sail with the cur
rent and not against it. His letter of
acceptance might have been regarded
as snare TO catch votes and classed
with electioneering promises which are
SO often made only to be broken. But
the repetition of those promises
with more explicit emphasis in the in
augural address would merely furnish
his opponents with weapons unless he
means to execute them In good faith.
At any rate, as We cannot yet Judge
him by his acts, 1t is fair TO Judge him
by his pledges; and until he does acts
by which the pledges are forfeited,
common candor requires that we ac-
cept his declarations. He has at least
made a satisfactory beginning; so far
he has evinced wisdom that would
not discredit the most ilustrious of
his predecessors. 1t is the clear duty
of the country to encourage, support
and strengthen him by saoh strong
testimonies of appreciation and in
dorsement rs will enable him to see
that he has hit the true vein of public
sentiment. 1t will be easy for him to
keep his admirable pledges if they are
warmly responded to by the applaud
ing voice of the whole people. Even
Democrats should give him generous,
good words, seeing that he engages to
do the very things which they would
have expected of Mr.. Tilden. 1t
would puzzle them to tell in wha. re-
spect Mr.. Tilden himself could have
prepared a more satisfactory inaugural
address.
The address is devoted to three cap
ital and two subordinate subjects, un-
Outstanding the word subordinate to
mean, not unimportant, but not
of immediate urgency. The three
urgent topics, on which it is
necessary for the new administration
to shape its policy at once, are the
Southern question, civil service reform
and the finances; the two which are
not so pressing are our foreign rela-
tions-which are left in so satisfactory
state by the retiring administration
that they present no difficulties which
engage public attention-and universal
education, which is rather the business
of the states than of the Federal gov
eminent. The most urgent subject of
all, the one which requires the prompt
est action by the President, is the set
Element and pacification of the South
on the Easls of local self-government.
This question meets President Hayes at
the threshold of his administration
Decide it he must, in some way, before
many days shall have gone over his
head; decide it he must, not merely
by declarations, but by immediate prac-
teal action which will test the value
of the declarations, and either estab-
fish their sincerity or expose their hol
Iowness. Within few days President
Hayes will be compelled, by the force
of circumstances, to recognize either
Nichols or Packard, and thereby
commit himself beyond retreat to sus-
tain the one he acknowledges until
the expiration of his term of office. 1t
is inconceivable that the President
should have taken the strong ground
he has done in his address if he felt
any doubt as to whether he might
not have to retreat from it within the
ensuing week or month. We believe
that he has infleXibly made up his mind /;
that he has planted himself immovably
on the right side of this important
question. Nothing could be more ex-
plicit than this part of the address.
''The people of those States" says
President Hayes, ''are still impov-
erished, and the inestimable blessing
of wise, honest and peaceful local
self-government is not fully enjoyed.
Whatever difference of opinion may
exist as to the cause Of this condition
of things, the fact is clear that, in the
progress of events, the time has come
when such government is the impera-
tive necessity required by all the varied
interests, public ana private,
of those States" He maintains,
very justly, that efficient and
tranquil self government is possible
only when resting on the foundation
of equal justice to all citizens, and in
his attempts to establish local rule on
that secure foundation he asks "the
cordial cooperation of all who cherish
an interest in the welfare Of the coun-
try, trusting that party ties and the
prejudice of race will be freely sur
rendered in behalf of the great pur-
pose to be accomplished" He ex-
presses q solicitude for the material
welfare as we'll as the political tran
guilty of the South, and thinks it
''needs and deserves the considerate
care of the national government within
the just hmits:prescribed by the Con.
stitution and wise public economy"
This passage will be interpreted as fa.
voTing internal improvements in the
South by aid from the Federal govern
ment.-Neso York Herald.