The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1877-04-19
PRESIDENT HAYES NEW POLICY.


ing overheard all that has been doEe in
the line of reconstruction since the close
of the war.
Certain Democrats hope and believe
ocrocy, the elevation of its old leaders,
the abandonment of universal suffrage,
and the abnegation of all right on the
part of the Fe deral Government to pro-
tect citizenship in the Southern States.
Both Republicans and Democrats
holding these views will be disappoint-
ed in the new policy. 1t neither means
the desertion of Republicanlsm nor the
acceptance of Democracy. 1t means
the blending together of a large and
influential element in both parties, and
the breaking down of The color line in
the politics of the South. If it fails of
success, the iault will be with those
WHO have complained of abuses which
have grown out of the color, and who
are now to have an opportunity to cor
rect them by an honest effort on the
part of the President to afford q policy
that will, if accepted in good faith, Sc
cure local self-goyernment, and the ulti-
mate removal of those irritating causes
which since the close of the war, have
tended to disturb the peace and retard
the prosperity of many of the Southern
States.
The policy is on trial, and it should
friend of the Government, irrespective
of old party lines. Its complete success
calls for no abandonment of the right
of suffrage on the part of any class. The
humblest citizen is to be protected i'll
his rights, and it is hoped that under its
friendly influences this protection,
whenever needed, will come promptly
and willingly from the States affected.
If this should prove to be the case, the
military arm of the Federal Government
will not be invoked to do what the
States ought to do themselves, and the
withdrawal of the United States troops
from Southern localities will follow as a
matter of course.
The new policy looks to the elevation
of the best men to Offices of trust and
authority, and if the Republican party
in the South cannot produce men to
come up to the requirements they will
be sought after in the Democratic party.
In other words, good men are not to be
ignored because they are Democrats,
nor bad men preferred because they
claim to be Republicans. Republicans
are to have the preference, all things be-
ing equal, but merit is to be the test,
and whoever fills an office must come
up to this test.
1t has been claimed, and the truth of
the claim will be tested by the new
policy, that there is large and induen-
tial party in the Southern States who do
not countenance the violence and out
RACES perpetrated uron the colored vot-
ers, but are forced to look on with in
difference because they have been ignor-
ed by the Administration. It has been
political crimes committed have been by
a lawless class that could De controlled
and suppressed by the better element,
if that element was invited to advise and
cooperate with the general government.
The appointment of Democratic
Cabinet officer and the general invitation
extended to the Southern people by this
act means that an honest endeaGor is to
be made to bring to the front this better
element Of the South, that has thus far
stood with folded arms, unwilling to
help in the preservation of order, ON the
plea that such help was not invited
President Hayes has extended the invi-
tation, and time alone can tell whether
the invitation is TO be followed by those
good results which are earnestly hoped
for.
If the new policy has no other effect
than to bring the best men of both par
ties closer together and thus dull the
edge of partisanship it will not have
been tried in vain. Party spirit, of late
years. has become excessively bitter
The natural tendency of its continuation
in the same line would be to invite to
blows, and this would involve q civil
war, the most disastrous of modern
times. If the new policy begets more
justice and charity than were found in
the old one it must lead to the pacifi-
cation of all sections and to the speedy
restoration of public confidence, and,
thus, to prosperity.
The new policy also means healthy
reform in the civil service. Perfect in
dependence of influences is to be infus-
ed i'll the offices of the Government
Merit is to be the door of admission,
and merit to be the basis of promotion.
We have claimed, and still claim, that
the civil service of the past eight years
has been, in point of honesty and eff
cheney, equal to any in our history. But
there is room for improvement, and 1t
hes in the direction indicated by the
new policy of President Hayes. Gov
ernOr officials should feel, at all times.
that their positions depend upon their
merit, and that faithful service TO the
Government is surer road to advance
ment than service to any man or party.
Ii the President succeeds upon bringing
about this feeiingof independence among
the federal officials of the land, the re-
form will be hailed as genuine and sub