The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1877-03-09
PRESIDENT HAYEs's INAUGURAL.

From the inaugural address Of the
President, we make the following ex-
tract:
The permanent pacification of the
country upon such principles and by
such measures rs will secure complete
protection of all its citizens in the free
enjoyment of all their constitutional!
rights, is now one subject in our public.
affairs which all thoughtful and patri-
otic citizens regard as Of supreme inpor-
lance. Many of the calamitons effcts Of
the tremendous revolution which has
passed over the Southern States still
remain. The unreasonable benefits
which will surely follow, sooner OF
later, the hearty and generous accep-
| lance of the legitimate results of that
revolution have not yet been realized ;
difficult and embarrassing questions
meet us at the threshold of this subject.
| The people OF those States are still inn
povershed and the inestimabIe blessings;
\ OF wise, honest and peceful local self
| government are 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-
| interests, public and private of thes.
! States. But it must not be forgotten.
that only local government which rec
ognizes and maintains invioIate the.
! rights Of all, is u true self-governmcnt.
With respect tn the distinct race.
whose peculiar relation to each othe,
nave brought upon us the deplorabl.
complications and perplexities which
t-exist in those States, it must be a gov
eminent which guards the interests o..
both races carefully and equally; ii
! must be II government which submits
| loyalty and heartily to the Constitu
tion and the laWs-the laws of the Ma
| ton and the laws Of the States them
| 5elves-accepting and obeying faith
fully the whole Constitution AS it is.
| Testing upon this sure and substantial
foundation, the superstructure OF bene-
ticent local Governments can be bull!
up, and not otherwise. In futheranct
81 such obedience to the letter and tht
| spirit Of the Constitution, and in behal:
| of all its attainment implies, all so-callei
| party interests lose their apparent i'm
| portance, and party lines may we'll b.
permitted to fade into insignificance
The question we have to consider for
the immediate welfare Of those States.
IS the question of Government or II.
government; Of social order and all the
peaceful industries {; of the happiness
That belong to it, or 4 return to bnrbar
ism. 1t is question in which ever.
citizen of the Nation is deeply inter
ested, and with respect to which W.
ought not to be in Il partisan sense
either Republicans or Democrats. bui
ielloW-citizens and feliow-men to whom,
the interests OF 4 common country and
| I common humanity are dear. The
! sweeping revolution of the entire labo,
| system OF large portion of our country
| ana the advance OF four millions of peo-
! pie from condition of servitude t.
tnat OF citizenship upon an equal foot
tlhs with their former masters, could
| not occur without presenting problems
OF the graVest moment, to be dealt
with by the enamel pnted race, by their
former masters, and by the general
ioVernnent-the author of the act o,
| emancipation. That it was u wise.
just and Providential act, frausht with
good for all concerned, is now rener-
ally conceded throughout the country.
Ihat Il moral obligation rests upon tn,
National Government to employ its
constitutional power and influence t.,
establish the rights OF the people i,
etnaucipated, ami to protect them in
the enjoyment of such rights when
theyare infringed or assaulted, is also gen
orally admitted.
The evils which nfllict the Southern,
States can only he removed or RENE
died by the united and harmonious
efforts of both races, actuatel by mo-
tives OF mutual sympathy and regard,
and while in duty bound and fully de
termincd to protect tho rights of all by
every constitutional means ut the dis
posat OF my Administration, 1 am sin
cerely anxious to use every legitimate
influence in favor OF honest and cfrec
tive local seif-governulent as the tru.
source OF those States for the promotion
OF the eontentment and prosperity OF
their citizens. In the effort L Shall
make to accomplish this purpose, | ask
tue cordial corporation of ali who cher
'Sh interest in the welfare of the coun.
try, trusting that party ties and the
prcjudices OF race will be freely surreu
dered in behalf OF the great purpose to
be accomplished in the important work
Of restoring the South.
1t is not the political situation alone
that merits attention. The material
development Of that section of the
country has been arrested by the social
and political revolution thrO,,ph which