Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-07-27

dition of his elevation TO the Presidency.
It was his judgment of his duty under
the Constitution and the demands of Just
and wise statesmanehip. Consequently,
the prosecution Of the Returning Board
is not violation of any agreement OF
understanding. II merely shows, what
no intelligent man like the President has
ever doubted, that the irreconcilable ele-
ment is very powerful in the Southern
States. But that fact cannot affect his
constitutional duty, which would have
been the same whether Cows Nichols and
Hampton had shown n peaceful and
friendly disposition or not. 1t is an error
of the same kind to suppose that the ex-
pectation of a summary division of the
Democratic party in the Southern States
was one of the reasons for the Presidents
view of his duty. That a constitutional,
just and generous policy would tend to
heal party bitterness, is plain; but the
duty was imperative, and would have
been performed with or without such
prospect; and it could hardly have been
expected by any intelligent political OBJ.
server that the Presidents course would
at once disintegrate the Democratic par.
ty in any Southern State, or that he
would be sOrely disappointed If it did
not. What he has done has been done
because he believes it to be right, and
nothing has occurred, including the pros
ecution of the Returning Board, that was
not very possible or probable.
The result of that prosecution can in
no degree whatever affect the Presidents
title or position, and the action against
the board will have no weight whatever
as a judicial investigation. 1t is a mere
political movement, and it is perfectly
understood. A judgment against the
board as fraudulent, which is, of course,
to be expected, would not affect public
opinion in the least, because the public
mind was long since made up. The title
of the President is as perfect as that of
any President could be, for it is founded
upon a law which has been implicitly
obeyed. The actual honesty of the cleo
tiOn or of the returns at the polls was
not the question before the commission.
If it had been, there would have been
little possibility of ever ascertaining the
proper result. The commission acted
indisputably in strict accordance with
the law that constituted it, and the charge
of mere party spirit lies as heavily against
the seven as the eight. A judgment
against the Returning Board would merely
affirm the familiar condition of affairs
during the last winter, which made the
commission indispensable as the alterna-
tive of civil war. But it would morally
settle nothing, because it would not be
accepted as just. 1t would be servicea-
BILE in one way, however, for, as parti-
san attempt to prolong a difficulty which
has been finally and lawfully adjusted, it
would deepen the lines of division be-
| tween the honorable and patriotic men in
the Southern Democratic party and the
| irreconcilables, and thus open the way
! to still better mutual understanding be-
tween good citizens of both parties and
sections. That, indeed, is the tendency
of the Administration of President Hayes
and that is its glory. 1t appeals not tC
mere party spirit or sectional rancor, bu
to the sincere faith of all patriotic Amer
leans in the practicability of common
understanding and cooperation ever
after so long and radical a difference
The more plainly this is seen, the stronge
will be the Administration and the create
the American principle appear.-HdT
per's Weekly.