The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-12-19

methods and results. His statement /
Of the case. though briei, is compre-
hensive, and from his point Of view
conclusive. The disappointment
W hich the country will now expert
ence will proceed from the insult
cieney Of the explanation, measured
by the standard of the Republican
Party and from the somewhat re-
markable indifference to facts upon
which the President bases his claims
TO success.
The message declares truly that in
the campaign of 1876 the pacifcation
of the South was by both parties de-
clared desirable. No one can pre-
tend, however, that the two parties
were agreed as to the ends 10 be
sought or the means to be employed.
The Democratic Party consistent
ly impugned the policy deliberately
adopted by the Republicans. Its idea
of paeiicaiion was an unquslihed
surrender to the White Democracy
of the reconstructed States. Under
the guise of self-government their SUI
premecY was 70 be made absolute
The Republican Party, on the other
hand, insisted that 10 render pacifca-
ton permanent, complete protection
must be assured to all citizens of the
South ain the free enjoyment of all
their rights" and the exaction OF
guarantees bearing upon this point
was indicated as Republican duty.
Now, Mr.. Hayes was elected to the
Presidency by the Republicans. tie
was their standard bearer in the con-
test. When, therefore, be appeals TO
The party's platform as furnishing a
Justification of his Southern action,
be should be prepared to show that
the construction be places upon the
Cincinnati demand for paci6caIiou
harmoniZes with the construction
which the convention would have
put upon its own proposition. Does
the President believe that be would
have received the nomination had he,
or any one in his behalf, informed
the convention of the course be in
tended to pursue in Southern affairs!
Does be believe that the great body
of the party outside of the conven-
tion would haze accepted him as Its
candidate if his opinions and pur
poses had been understood as as well
as they are now? Unless be can sn-
swer these inquiries afirmatively,
the attempt to fad approval of bis
Southern policy in the utterances Of
his party must be pronounced a
failure.
/ Is the argument founded upon ex
1 perience any more successful! The
President saws that "bene6cent re
suits already apparent prove that
bis "endeavors are not to De regard
ed as an experiment, and should sus
stain and encourage Us 10 our efforts.
Surely "benefcent results" which ad
NIT Of being thus positively stated
are susceptible of some sort of tangi
bic evidence. What is its nature
Where is it to be found We ar
told, in the first place, that "all ap
prehension of danger" is dispelled
next, that q most salutsry chang
in the minds of the people has beguI
and is in progress in every part o
the South. The precise meaning c
the first of these allegations is pal
italy elucidated by a subsequent a
lusion to "the terrible and often fats
collisions which for several years
we're of frequent occurrence an
"haye almost entirely ceased" Thes
collisions, it should be remembered
and the apprehension of DANCE
growing out of them, were in almos
every instance raceable to politics
origin. The Republicans asserte
their rights, as citizens, to meet, dii
cuss, organize, agitate, AID vote; th
Democrats employed their strengt
to render the exercise Of these right
as perilous as possible There ha
not been an election since the Pres
dents "benefcent" policy came ini
play. or we should have some prett
illustrations of the way in which tt
danger of further collisions has bee
: dispelled. Even now the il is know
that the price of peace which Il
President would have us celebra
in hymns of praise and thanksgivin
is the virtual abandonment Of th
Republican party in the Sout
ern States. Collisions have cease
because Republicans, white al
black, finding themselves abandone
by Federal authority, have quietl
succumbed to superior force. The
have no further inclination to XII
y against the pricks for the sake Of
party which-as they see the matt
has left them to their fate. II
Democrats, having got all they wal
4 ed, are for the time quiet /; they I
not kill or MAIN or drive into swamp
simply because men are not ra
enough to avow themselves Repub
cans. As for the "salutary chang
spoken of by the President, except
the sense just portrayed, we knc
10 not where to seek it. The South b
1t become solid Tor the Democrat
g Is that salutary sign: II takes
lr a matter Of course all the Preside
comedies; it dictates appointmer
and does not thank him when th
are made; il assures bin that he b
done exactly what it wanted him
10 do. and that it intends to manif,
its gratitude by strengthening t
IN Democracy, and rendering impossil
ID the election of another Republic
N President Does the President re
OF ly consider these things salusar,
," Are they what be designed? ShoU
y they silence adverse criticism,
It. reconcile Republicans TO a chan
a. which endangers cherished purpo:
q, of their party and casts doubts up
IN its future!
le
But the President assigns oti
II. reasons for his confidence, and pro
n. inen. among them is the stateme
4. that ''public credit in the So1ths
r. States has been greatly strengthene
n by their surrender to the Democra
ot II this were correct, it would be
70 valid argument in bis defense If.
q cnnsenuence of hi nnlicy. I