Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-04-06
The President and the South.

Democrats Of the bilious and vindictive
sort are taking for themselves a very large
contract 10 the business Of eating their own
words. Day after day they assert, with all
the feverish positiveness Of men who know
that they are in the wrong but do not want
TO own Il, that President Hayes will not set
tie the southern question that he is con-
irving ways 10 cheat the con6ding southern
democrats that he is compelled by mem.
bcfs OF his own party to disregard the pledges
OF his letter Of acceptance and Of his inaugu-
raj address, and to treat with indifference
the opinions Of Mcssrs Evarts, Schurz, Key,
and Devcns. A few weeks hence these as
sertions will probably seem very ridiculous
President Hayes probably will not pursue
precisely the methods which extreme parti-
sans on either sido suggest. Evidently he
means To hear both sides, and, as far as he
has constitutional power, to do justice to
both. But when result is reached. whether
by methods which please either party or not,
there is a strong probability that the ill'nat-
ured democrats will find themselves In q par.
ticularly embarrassing position.
Thus far there is no reason to doubt that
the president intends to keep faithfully every
pledge he has made To secure a genuine
reconciliation and an enduring peace at the
South is his object. He knows, we must
presume, that this cannot be attained by
wholly disregardiOg the legal or equitable
rights Of either party. 1t can be had only
by securing for the republicans, and espe-
cially the colored men, Of the South ample
protection in the enjoyment Of their rights
it can be had only by securing ample protec-
ton for the rights OF democrats and white
men also. We may as we'll face the fact
that this is not the simplest task in the
world. President Hayes doubtless realizes
its difficulty. He has seen that the southern
question has proved too much for several
administrations and several congresses that
it has grown more complicated and diff cult
every year; that we have spent twelve
years in making tho tangle worse; and that
those Who think that they can end it by any
single act or simple process are the very men
whose one-sdedness Of vision makes their
advice least valuable. All the simple solu.
tons offered involve injustice to somebody
1t would be very simple, but very unjust, to
leave armed white men to settle the question
by force. To maintain Mr.. Packard and his
legislature 10 power by mere force Of arms
if possible, would be equally simple ant
equally unjust. The property.owners o.
Louisiana have right to be protected
against the corruption which has made theiI
property almost valueless and tho coloreC
people of the state also have a right to b,
protected against violence. II is not sur
prising if it takes time to effect settlement
which shall secure both ends, nor is the de
lay evidence Of disposition to neglect either
On the contrary, it is proof that the admin
istration desires to secure both. Either sep
arately might be secured by simple pro
only by some adjustment which shall res
upon and be maintained by the voluntary
agreement of men Of both parties.
The president deserves credit because h,
makes haste slowly. His course shows de
sire to effect a settlement which shall not in
volve a new disturbance after few weeks Of
months. The vexed question will not sta
settled until it is settled right. Injustice I
either side would only prepare the way 70
greater trouble hereafter. Hence the presi
dent is right in taking all the time necessar,
to reach Just settlement, and the man
critics. who complain because he does not in
stanty adopt the narrow views Of one sid
or the other, only manifest their own inca
pacity to solve the problem. 1t is quit
possible that the president may fail. N
man, VIC presume, would more readily adm
the peculiar difficulty Of the problem or tn
possibility of failure through the adoption {
mistaken methods. But the president dc
serves the more generous and hearty supper
because he seems to realize all the difficu
ties before him, and to DO anxious not
evade any Of them, as a narrow partisa
might, leaving greater mischief to be mi
hereafter, but to overcome them thorough
and permanently. That he may succeed
the endeavor every patriotic citizen must sill
cerely hope.-NeW York Tribune.