Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-05-15
Hnyes' southern Policy aud Demo
cratic Duty.

Hnyes' southern Policy aud Demo
cratic Duty.
To the Editor of the Ledger;
The development Of the policy Of con
citation on the part of Hayes has hal
the effect, and naturally too, of. Greatly
some diversity of opinion among Demo
Gratis as to the best course to pursue il
regard to national affairs. Happil,
this diversity does rot extend far ant
bears the mark of being short lived
In the ordinary course Of events precisel!
what Hayes has done would have CONF
about. No administration could hav,
kept it back, or would have dared to face
the sober public opinion of to-day with
3 continuance Of a policy Of sectional
hatred and vindictiveness. The strokes
which unshackled South Carolina and
Louisiana came because they could not
be Withheld, and he who would tender to
an administration, born in fraud, fulsome
praise for an act which justice de
manded, which the political condition
of the country enforced, and which the
circumstances which brought it into be-
ing. possesses less Of sound judgment than
weak se%ntimentality, and is better fitted
TO take than to give advice, to follow
than to lead.
We say that it was natural the policy
in reference to the South, which Hayes
has adopted, should bring about differ
ences Of opinion as to party plans for
the future. Especially in the South has
the rough hand Of the government been
felt, and after weary years of unrelent-
ing pressure, for that hand to be re.
moved, is to make sn appeal to the weak
and yielding side OF the natures Of these
who have suffered, which it is difficult
to resist.
At such q juncture the mass of the
party which has stood out so faithfully
and so long against the Republicanism
which has eliminated in the crime of a
stolen Presidency, realizes all Of its
weakness and is brought face to face
with its greatest peril. And 1t is just at
this juncture that positive and aggres.
sive leadership is most needed. The
Democrat who becomes exalted to the
pitch of unreasonable forgiveness be-
cause Of one step forward in the path Of
right, or rather, one step backward in
the path Of wrong, should have the truth
driven deep into bis too credulous soul,
that tie order for the removal Of troops
from the State houses of South Carolina
and Louisiana was wrenched from the
hands of Hayes, and hat it was given
up in fear and trembling; that there is
not nor never Was and never can be, a
kind or generous throb in the breast OF
Hayes and the party Of which he is the
chief, for him or the party to which
be belongs, but only %rancorous hate and
uudying enmity that the only path, as
all history proves, that promises safety
lies in a firm and inhexible adherence to
party lines and principles; that the
Democratic party, as it has been during
the last twelve years Of trying and terri.
bic ordeal, is the only organization up.
holding and defending constitutional
government and the rights Of the States;
and that if the Democratic organization
is broken or impaired by dissatisfaction
discussion or desertion, all that has OF
last been gained By the zeal and devotion
Of its members and its splendid victories
will be lost.
We have been unfortunate in leader
ship, and the fact is due, in part at least
to a to great desire 10 follow those who
have sought 10 lure US from the straight
line that lay before us. We should profit
by our experience; and now when the
danger to party unity, on the basis Of
strict party tenets, is greatest we should
see to it that no ear is given to those who
haven proven false guides in the past,
and who utter sentiments and give
advice which, If needed and followed.
will soon give life to discord, widespread,
permanent and disastrous. The South
is the hope of the Democracy in the fu
ture. 10 her compact solidity the lead
ers o. Radicalism read their doom, and
they would prove themselves but poor
apprentices in the trade Of politics il
they did not seek 70 break her front By
affected generosity, BY cheap favors t
her leading men aud by large promises
Of assistance TO help her build up her in
ternsl affairs. She has her future IN hel
own hands, and az that future is bounC
up With the Democratic party and antsg
onized throughout by Radicalism, sh'
should hold her vantage ground firmly
and tread nnainchingly the path she hs.
been p%nrsuing, turning neither to tb'
right nor the left, and regarding Haye.
aud his administration, nov and forever
as public oficers-entitlsd to respeo. a
sueh-Who occupy their places through
the agency Of fraud, and their coucilia
tory policy as a matter Of right forcet
from them, and their expressions o
friendship and good will as the evidence
Of a c%unningly arranged device to be
guile them, as Delilah did Samson, 10 de
prive them Of their locks. w.