New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-03-20

! the South ana as no othcr hohihi"i"" 49,
! have been more effective than that OF Mr'
Douglass TO secure the confidence OF the COL
ored element, so 10 other man in the country
can do more than he to bring the colored peo-
ple to approve and trust the measures neces-
sary fer the restoration OF peace Had MI.
! DouoIass been defeated by n Republican SEN
ate the Democratic party might have gained
! uucb. but the cause of reconciliation would nave
lost far more.
The best of il is that he has been confirmed
| by the aid of Southern Democratic Senators.
| Their frank declarations and Their votes give
now emphasis TO the assurance that the policy
contaminated will not sacrifice the rights OF
the coored people, but, on the contrary, VIII
bring them better protection than uhl'eu
States bayOncts can give. Let them undcr-
stand, as by these votes they may, that the
proposed policy will bring strong body Oh
Southern whites to the defense OF the coiored
man in all his rights. With that assurance
the colored people themselves may well pray
for the change. Without it, President Hayes
could not contemplate that change. SO long us
there is no public opinion at the oOuth I'd
maintain equal justice and equal rights, so
long the Federal Government VIII be 1OTceu
from time TO time to interfere for defense.
But whenever Southern men of influence ana
character come forward with the solemn pledge
that they will undertake to secure full protcc-
tion for coored citizens, full enforcement of
impartial laws, and full defense for such citi-
zens in all their rights, then the President may
well hope that better day is near.
The fatal fault of the Republican policy
hitherto was that it always relied upon force,
and not upon the willing support OF Southern
white citizens, for the maintenance OF rights
guaranteed by the Constitution we know IL
may be urged that, prior to this time, all ap-
meals TO Southern whites have failed that
they. rather than the Republican party, are
responsible for the use Of force, and Tor the
extreme measures to which recurring resort 10
violence has led. There is much truth III the
plea, but there is also much truth on the othcf
side The conduct of the Republican leaders
has been such as to repel that better class OIL
Southern men whose aid was needed. Even
when they were most inclined to listen, and
TO take INTO their own hands the maintenance
of order, Republican partisans have prcclpl-
tated new conflicts upon them, and aroused
again all the old prejudices 1t Is well II the
country has at last an Administration able 10
see the truth that there Is on both sides. III Is
well it, nj last be the cause what 1t may,
opinion mt the South has reached such point
that the appeal to Southern whites may not be
made in vain
We do not undertake to anticipate or define
the steps by which the President will seek to
overcome difficulties in Louisiana and South
Carolina. Perhaps errors in the methods chosen
nav spoil all. But the spirit i'll which the
President approaches the task is the only one
which gives Il chance of success. 1t Is precisely
the spirit in which Mr.. Greeley sought to solve
this difficult problem. TO The coorcd man ne
gives proof that the Administration does not
forget nor abandon HIM, but seeks to bring to
his aid new and UNNECESSARILY more effective
protection One influential white Democrat III
a parish can do more than company of cav
airy to prevent whippings and assassnatfons.
If such men will undertake the task, and that
in earnest, there will never be need OF another
Federal bayonet outside of the forts in Louisiana.
By what methods President Hayes may bring
about this hearty determination Of Southern
men TO remove all need for the inteIposltlon
of troops in any Southern State we have yet
to see, but the aim is grand and wise one,
and its success would be no less blessing to
the Southern blacks than TO the Southern
whites.