The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-23
The Presidential Tour as . Political
Event.

of Vermont and New Hampshire mas more
than mere social significance. 1t is the
more effective by the prudent abstinence OF
all the party from long speeches or formal
expositions of policy. In politics as IN
diplomacy various instrumentalities may be
brought into play, and it is point OF art
not to make one instrument perform the
office of another When skilful diplo-
mat forwards his objects by dinners
and social entertainments he is care
full not to bore his guests with the
business he wishes to promote. He re-
serves this for his official intercourse, and
thinks it great point gained when he has
established such pleasant personal relations
that he is sure of favorable hearing when
he comes to open the business of his mis-
sion. Mr. Hayes and his advisers have
acted with similar tact during their agree
able trip in New England. They have
frankly accepted the greetings and hospi-
talities Of the people with evident enjoy
ment, and have deported themselves in the
spirit of the quaint old couplet, once re-
peated by Mr.. Webster to Boston audi
ence:--
Ye solid men of Boston, mako no long orations;
Ye solid men Of Boston, drink no deep potations
1t has been a health-giving, enjoyable
rural excursion through the magnificent
scenery of the mountains at the season of
the year when they are most thronged with
visitors. At the Bennington centennial,
which was the occasion of the visit, the
Presidential party fell in with the spirit of
the celebration, obtruding no ELUSIVE ora
tory and no politics, but saying enough to
show that they appreciated their public posi-
ton and recognized the fact that 80 much
courtesy was not bestowed on them merely
as private individuals, and through the re-
naming days Of their trip they have OBJ
served the same BETTING reticence on topics
which could be distasteful to citizens of any
party. 1t being their wish to promote good
feeling and kindly relations, every contro-
verted question was avoided except one,
and that one has pretty well passed out Of
the arena Of controversy.
But the topic to whi:h we allude was
brought forward on every occasion, and in
almost every one of the brief addresses of
response made by the President or members
Of his Cabinet AS specimen we will take
one Of the last of the series, and one made
by the President himself On his arrival ct
the beautiful town of Plymouth, his last
stopping place in the New Hampshire noun
tains, he said, in reply to the warm greet
ings Of the people:-'"The school children
the little girls with fowers-are in token
Of the good feeling you have not only
toward. US but toward all our coun-
trymen of every State. If there is
any sentiment that has guided what we
have done it has been for q common nation
ality. 1t has been our desire to do some
thing for the people of oil the States We
have felt that war should end and that
peace should spread through all our bor-
ders We hope, rs a result of this, that
men shall no longer be said to belong to the
States of Louisiana, Maine or Iowa. but citi-
zens of q common country Beyond these
questions of the general good there are
questions on which all may differ There
are differences about the policy and means
of accomplishing desired ends, but we do
believe that all good people everywhere
desire reconciliation; that the laws are to
be obeyed, and that the rights of each and
every citizen should be respected. whatever
his race or color. That being done we may
be citizens, not of State, but of free and
united country"
This fervent expression of strong desire
to see the whole country reunited in bonds
of fraternal feeling and mutual confidence
is repetition and final summing up of all
that has been said by every member of the
Presidential party from the beginning to
the end of their pleasant tour. We presume
that this sentiment Of national fraternlza-
ton has been made the pivot of every
speech; not by accidental impulse, but
by deliberate generalization. 1t is
all the more remarkable for being
delivered so often to New England au-
diences. 1t was among the republicans of
the extreme North, if anywhere, that the
concilating Southern policy of Mr.. Hayes
would encounter opposition and his
avowal of it in that region, not in tone of
defence or apology, but as thing to- be ac-
cepted without question. ought to assure
the South of President Hayes sincerity. 1t
is great deal better that such sentiments
should be reiterated among the mountains
of Vermont and New Hampshire than pro-
claimed in any part of the South. Had the
President visited the Virginia springs
in August, rs it was at ono time
announced that he would, and expressed
the same sentiments there which he has so
freely uttered in New England, he would
merely have chimed in with the we'll known
local feeling and exposed himself to the
charge OF counting the South But when he
advocates national brotherhood in section
where the obliteration of old quarrels was
most likely to be opposed he may be equally
appealing to the South, but it is the appeal
of statesman and not of sycophant. Mr.