The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1877-03-14
After Bullying, Bribery.

claring for week past that divers
Southern Democrats to whom the
friends of Governor Hayes had come
with offers of liberal policy towards
the South, in return for support against
all fifibnstering schemes in the House,
were quite willing to join the Repub.
leans in forcing the electoral count to
a speedy conclusion, OH condition that
the Administration party would pass
as pledge of good faith a resolution
recognizing the Hampton government
in South Carolina and the Nichols
government in Louisiana. The peo-
pie W no put this tale about maintained
plausibly enough that if Hayes intend
ed to establish these governments it
would be IA graceful act Oh the part of
the Soutiterners to anticipate him in
his conciliatory measures. As no Re-
publican seemed willing to put the
professions of amity which Foster was
making i'll behalf of Hayes into practi-
cal shape, enc of the Southern Demo
Gratis Mr.. Schleicher, of Texas, did so
yesterday; reciting that it is an Amer.
lean principle that free government
must derive it power from the consent
Of the governed; and that as the Hamp-
ton government in South Carolina and
the Nichols government in Louisiana
alone command the support Of the peo-
pie of those States. they should there
for be recognized as valid by Con-
gress. This tombstone, when applied
to the glitteiing promises of the Re-
pubIcans, proved them to be cheap
pie-crnst. To pnt the resolution upon
its passage the rules had to be suspen-
ded, and to do this required MAORI
IT, Of two thirds. III Il full House such
Il majority caunot he secured without
accessioDs from the opposition. and
the relative strength of the parties
generally remains the same. The Re.
pubIicans voted solidly against tue
suspension of the rules, and conse-
quently Mr.. Schleicher's resolution
fell to the ground. To make still
more evident the hollowness of tile
pretensions of liberal feeling towards
the South which had been made, and
further to unmask the bitter intoIer-
ance which still aniinates Republican,
ism, Mr.. Watterson rose and offered a
second resolution reciting the fact that
President Grant had authorized a des-
patch to he sent to Governor Nichols
telling him that his government could
be sustained as representing the
best elements of the State
and approving Of the Presidents ac-
ton. This resolution simply Endorsed
language used by the retiring Repub-
lean President, which was entirely in
keeping with what was said to be the
policy Of the incoming Republican
President. Again the Republicans vo.
ted solidly against suspending the
rules to pass it. 1t is impossible to
doubt that such action as this indi-
Gates the deliberate determination of
the Republican party to pursue u hos
tile course toward the South. As we
have repeatedly shown; the Republi
can party cannot consistently pursue
any other course. Not to pursue smell, |
a course would be to blot aud confuse ,
the distinguishing colors in its OVID re-
cord: to condemn its own achieve
ments, to deface its own work, to con
fees its boasted Presidential victory an |
oper fraud. These significant votes !
give fair warning to Southern Demo
Gratis that any intrigues entered iuto to
secure future favors by snbservience 10
the complications arising out of the
counting of the electoral vote, vii. |
prove delusi0n and snare. Self |
Southern men may be per-
fectly certain that Southern men who
refrain now from voting in obedience
to their convictions, will find them
selves ere long the dupes of a set of
politicians, who are ready /
10 pledge themselves to bpstow the
moon aud all the considerations stippIed
1pon the midnight sky for the sake of
l temporary partisan advantage. The
rejection of Mr.. Schleicher's resolutions
tlso gives fair warning to Mr.. Hayes
hat the way in which he MIST walk is
already laid down to him. The way
S fixed and the leading strings are
'eady. His small personal plots and
cortrivauces to get into the
Presidency are all well enough, but his
in Congress have given him J
grim admonition that the party whose
creature he is neither can nor will fall
lily the law of its evil being beyond
he Threshold of his Inauguration. If
lie wants the advantages of Republican
leadership, he must accept its ignomi
~ also. He may wear the livery of
Heaven until the 4th of March if he
iDds it convenient, but the devil will
,ut him into scarlet and black the next
lay. The party has now got to that
POINT in its career at which it must 90
,eyoud hypocrisy.