The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-03-08
PRESIDENT hayes AND THE
SOUTH.

that President Hayes would be the
greatest benefactor known in American
annals If he caused the political
"South' and the political 'North" to
disappear. Parties based on geograph-
ical lines, the New York Heraid says,
are the potent weapons Of demagogues;
instruments which in their hands have
for many years served TO bury .he real
issues, 10 embaTass the real interests
OF the country and to make the people
of the different sections suspicious OF
each other and ready to sacrifice their
own interests because of suspicious.
The politics of the country, however,
have never before been in condition
when even the wiscst management OF
statesmen was able to eliminate sec
tIonalism from the political issues and
contests. We have at last come to
period and condition OF things when
it requires really but moderate de-
gree OF wisdom to accomplish this end.
The spirit OF the country, and espe-
cIally of the Southern States, is ripe
for such a change. Mr.. Hayes will
enter on the presidential office in a
very peculiar manner, bound to heal
up the old wounds; to create harmony
between tho sections; to be an unpar-
tisan president. The manner in which
he was chosen. the extremely narro"
majority which is claimed for him even
by the most Jealous Republicans, adj
nonish him, if he needs the admoni-
ton, that he is not the president OF a
party, but of the whole people. In
fact, all the circumstances attending
his elevation place him necessarily
above tho control Of party influences
and lead Of the country to expect OF
him in an uncommon degree independ-
ence of party trammels or traditions.
He comes into his great Office as much
through the patriotic moderation OF
the Democrats, and notably of the
Southern Democrats, as by the action
OF his supporters. 1t can be fairly
said that no president, in recent years
no president, perhaps, since Wash
ington-has entered on the Office SC
little bound to party, so greatly and
solemnly bound to take into his judg.
ment and his confidence the whole
country.
Fortunately, the course of events
since last November has prepared the
way and the mind of the country fol-
such a harmony of political interests
as we have in mind when we propose
the disappearance of the ''politica
South" After q canvass of unprece
dented ferocity came disputed elec
ton, rousing party feeling to the cx
tremest pitch and threatening the
country with civil war. The greatest
wisdom, patience and moderation have
been required to save us from so terri
BILE a calamity, and the country ha:
seen, with surprised admiration, that
in this grave emergency the Southern
Democrats in Congress have been fore
most aud conspicuous for their patriot
ism, their wise and statcsmanlike mod
Grafton and desire for peaceable so
luton. They had very much at stake,
for in two Of their States misrule haC
reached height which was no Longer
endurable, and they were assured of {
remedy at Mr.. Tilden's hands, anC
might readily have been excused if
under the circumstances, they had re
manned quiescent and allowed thu
Northern men to settle the dispute
even by arms. But they planted them
selves firmly on the side OF peace. La
mar, Ben Hill, Gordon, Hampton
Nichols, Randall, Gibson, Hancock
all the Southern leaders, declared 70
peaceable solution, supported ever.
measure looking to this end, dis
countenanccd the counsels of rash anC
violent men, and are to-day opposing
the attempt of mischief makers to dc
lay the electoral count and plunge tn,
country into confusion.
Recent events have in fact brough
the North and the South face to face
and shown us of the North that W,
may and ought to trust these Southern
men; that they are sincerely patriotic
and eminently wise and statesmanlike
We speak here what is openly sale
everywhere in the North and we be
lieve President Hayes will find no nc
of his so surely and universally popu
lar, so readily approved by all, excep
perhaps by self-seeking politicians, a
a frank, cordial acknowledgment b.
him OF this sentiment of new born re
gard for and confidence in the patriot
ISM and craftsmanship of Southern
men-men who now call themselve
Democrats, but who have shown them
selves to possess spirit far abov
party.
We do not know whether Presiden
Hayes means to ask any of the South
ern leaders to take office in the Cab
net. We should suppose he would
but we can imagine such men replyin
to him that they prefer to wait-to Civ
him fair and independent support ii
his policy has become known 10 thel
people; and We should consider sue
an answer wise. But we think hiI
bound as the first step in his admins
tration to settle the condition of Sout
Carolina and Louisiana; and, fortl
natoly, the way is clear for him tber,
He has emily 10 get the undertaken
from Governors Hampton and Nichol
that they are able TO maintain peace i
their States and TO do equal justice t
ell il he wilhdraws the troops.
needs no positive act of his to rctur
those States to peace, order and pro.
perity.
AS to his Cabinet and other appoint
ments he can hardly do so ungracloU
thing, or one so unwise, AS TO ca
into high places men who have mad
themselves justly odious to Souther
men by taking part with those shal
Republicans who have misruled in III
South. He could make no more serio,
mistake, for he is bound to make h
administration fairly acceptable to a
sections, and We believe that such
his honest desire. Give them ia
chance, and the old, the presei
hatreds will quickly die out, as Il
country wants them to. But TO civ
them a fair chance to die out it
necessary that extreme men Of DO;
sides shall for a while take back seats
that mere paltisans shall give way
men on both sides who, in this Bit,
and dangerous struggle, have prove
themselves patriots and not partisanl
The men with whom President Hayt
should advise in the South must DC re,
Southern men, not shSms or ghost!
they only can help him TO reform III