Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-04-24
rae NEW IRA AND ITS ISSUES.

8 strain winch caused the grave
est apprehensiOns. Predictions
were freely made of confusion and
bloodshed. The army was with
drawn from the scene Of Indian
warfare in the West to be scattered
over the South, the national capital
was reinforced, as if to repel an in
vasion Of Confederate ghosts, bust
ness was contracted to narrow linn
Its labor went unpaid aud unem-
ployed, and a feeling of universal
distrust and anxiety everywhere
prevailed. Good and wise men
were ready to despair Of a peaceful
and legitimate solution of the diff
entities which imperiled the Repub-
lie. These were trying times.
Many believed that the end of con-
stitutiOnal government and re-
publican institutions had come.
But when the supreme test
came, and popular feeling was
wrought up to the highest pitch,
a patriotic conservatism was
discovered where least expected.
The Southern representatives in
congress, sustained by intelligent,
law-abiding constituencies steadily
refused to enter into any scheme to
defeat the full intent and purpose
of the general laws, although in
doing SO they lost not only the
President elect but the opportun-
ity which another election held this
year might have afforded. After
the electoral commission counted in
Hayes they could have delayed the
call of States until after the 9TH of
March, and thus prevented his inau-
guration. Such a plan was pursued
by a large number of Northern
Democrats, and would have been
easily successful by the co-opera-
ton Of the South. But having
voted for the electoral commission
in good faith, our representatives,
true to the instincts of their frank,
manly natures, declined to perpet-
uste the unnatural strife, took
a firm, bold stand in behalf
of peace and order, and
thus saved the country from
further disastrous delay and con-
tention. Had the Southern press
and people SO determined Mr.. Hayes
would have been kept out Of his
seat indefinitely, and the public
mind yet remained in a state of
ferment. Mr.. Hayes could not we'll
decline to recognize the action and
the status Of the Southern conser-
yatiye element which acquiesced in
his Inauguration and trusted the
mar without trusting his party.
That he understands this relation
has been evidenced in more WAYS
than one. The browning event of
his administration, the historical
climax, occurs to-day. The last
federal bayonet will be removed
from politics, and the Union is
completely and indissolubl restored.
The army will no more be employ.
ed in the interest of parties
ivil government is supreme ;
the administration is no longer a
partisan machine; all the Southern
States are recognized in the sister
hood of the Union; d%istracting
controversies are abated, and all
the people. find themselves suddenly
emancipated from old issues and
looking about for new ones. The
hour that Louisiana becomes az
free as Minnesota or Massachusetts,
marks a new era in the political
history of the country. The long
taught doctrine Of States rights has
received an Endorsement and new
strength from an unexpected
source. The apprehension gener.
ally shared in, that State line.
would be practically erased and al
powers Of government concentrated
at Washington, ceases to maintain
In conoeding the empty honor o
the Presidency to the Republican
party the Democrats gained highe
prize-all in principle that the,
have commended for since tn.
war. 1t is a bloodless and
final victory won in a night o
despair. The darkest hour wa.