New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-04-05
SOLYING THE SOUTHERN PROBLEM.


Decent and honest men of both parties
rejoice that there is prospect that the South
ern question may be peacefully and honoraDiy
settled Some Republicans there are, u is
true. who concede that the objects sought are
desirable, but do not believe that they can De
attained. To them time will probably bring q
different belief. Some Democrats there are
who continue to vent their spite in relteratlon
of the charge that President Hayes has broken
his hedges or removes the troops from South
Carolina only because he cannot help himself.
II has been shown that Mr.. Hayes made no
pledges. 1t now appears that he Is actihg
precisely in accordance with assurances gwen
by those who knew his opinions before the
election and afterward. Exactly the course
which he proposed in his letter OF acceptance,
nearly a year ago, he is taking as President.
II il plain, also, that those were in error
who expected fierce uprising OF Republicans
against the policy of the President. Among
the millions of Republican voters, possibly
there are some hundreds who are as destitute
of common sense as Mr.. Phillips. The PLAIN
ueop,e know that the policy OF everlasting
hate has utterly failed, effected no good what
ever, compacted the property-owners OF the
South against Republican principles, cost the
party thousands of votes at the North, caused
thousands of colored men to be shot, and
brought ruin upon the South, and greatly aggra-
waited our industrial and commercial disasters
If Mr.. Phillips knows no better than to pound
his head against a stone wall until he drops,
other people do No amount OF vituperatlOn,
though uttered in classic phrase and with hu-
mainly for a false pletense, can make men
blind to the fact that it is neither humane.
WISE nor patriotic TO keep alive strife which
costs the negroes everything, rObs the country
of prosperity, and brings no good to anybody
The almost unanimous verdict of Republicans
is that some new method must be tried. They
have confidence in Mr.. Hayes, and III his adj
visers-the greater because men like MIR. Phil
lips abuse them. The Republican voters in
tend to give the policy of the President fair
trial. and sincerely hope that it may succeed.
But the wise men of the South Will not
misunderstood the purpose OF the President,
nor the acQuiescence of the Republican voters.
He does not intend to see the laws disregarded
in any State, OF any class of citizens robbed OF
their rights. If he did intend such thing,
the Republicans would not sustain him. He
acts because he wishes to reach good govern
ment, peace, and full protection for the rights
of all citizens, by kindly methods. The Re
publicans sustain him because they think 1t
time to see whether such methods Will not
attain those ends. But the ends must be
reached. 1t rests with the Southern people
themselves to say whether this kindly effort
shall fail. 1t rests with them to show that the
President was not wrong in saying, with the
Cardinal statesman, "Take away the sword;
Estates may be saved without it,"
With the Southern people, we say, but in
fact, with the Southern leaders. The condition
of public opinion at the South, as in all
countries trained to aristocratic modes, compes
us to look to the few men who actually shape
and lead 1t is not possible that they mistake
the spirit in which the new course is taken.
Neither can they deceive themselves az to the
temper of Northern voters. If this course fails,
if the Southern leaders have not the wisdom
or the power to make it a success, the Repub-
lean party will be UNNECESSARILY stronger at
the North for having made the effort in good
faith Nor can Southern leaders who are tit
to lead forget that continued strife, injustice,
embittered partisanship, and indulgence OF
brutal men in brutal methods have brought
disaster to all industry at the South, barred
its gates against immigration and capital, and
caused incomparably greater evils than the
peculatiOns of corrupt officials The thieving
has been bad. But the partsanship and dis
order have been worse. He is not n statesman
nor a true friend to the South who does not
swiftly and joyfully grasp the opportunity to
put an end to the strife between labor and
property, between white and black, between
those who wore the gray and those who wore
the blue. In place of the Mississippi plan"
must come ready and equal protection for the
rights of all citizens, if the PROSTATE South is
to rise. BayOnets will no longer hold it down.
Carpet-bag devices will no longer fetter it.
Then if the South cannot rise to a full par
ticipation in genuine American treedom-lib-
erty regulated and guarded by just laws jeal-
Ously enforced-the world will know what is
the matter. Unrestrained power, now given to
Southern leaders, carries with it absolute re-
sponsibility. They can make, and they can
ruin A President and people, not forgetting
Justice, but full of kindly trust, will wait and
hope.