The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-03


is tomorrow or next day to be relegated TO
local self-government The HERALD, as our
readers know, opposed the Presidents
policy of delay we doubted its wisdom
and we dreaded its dangers-less from dis
turbances in the South than from the
gathering storm of the extreme republican
politicians in the North. We thought that
the President would have been wise to have
withdrawn the troops in both the States as
soon as he entered the White House and
while the country was still in its first burst
of enthusiasm over the new policy an
nounced in the inaugural Message.
| 1t is but fair to say, however, that the
Presidents friends urge some strong rea-
sons in favor of the delay. They say for
him that the withdrawal of the troops IS
| only the first, though of course the most
important, step in the new Southern policy;
that thorough reformation of the federal
civil service in the Southern States Is yet
to follow-an undertaking which re-
quires a good deal of time and effort
that the President was naturally anxious
that his first step should not miscarry, be-
cause this would involve failure of all the
rest, and that he thought it necessary to
make quite sure that peace, order and equal
rights would be maintained in South Caro-
lima before he proceeded to withdraw the
troops. They add further, that he had
strong desire to bring about an amicable
and cheerful surrender by Chamberlain, SO
that the important change should produce
general harmony, instead of leaving the
defeated party in state of evaporation.
We frankly acknowledge that there is
strength in all these reasons, and If all now
goes well we shall be the first to praise the
polite wisdom of the President, the more
as he has undoubtedly sacrificed some of
his own personal popularity by his delay.
It is not to be expected that he will publicly
give the reasons which have moved him to
his course, but he would very greatly please
the public and set at rest many doubts which
have sprung up by reason of the unexpected
delay if, when he orders the withdrawal Of
the troops from the State House at Colum-
bia, he would tell the country briefly that
he had always intended SO to do, and that
his delay was not caused by hesitation as to
the proper course, but by strong desire to
make the step safely for all concerned
Such an announcement would renew the
enthusiastic confidence which greeted the
inaugural Message, and he could make it,
not only without improperly, but with
great advantage to the country. There has
been uspicion-unfounded, we believe
that he hesitated because the pressure of the
extreme republican politicians made him
uneasy by their attitude. The country
would rejoice to know that he was never
moved by such fears.
We count it decided advantage for the
cause Of peace and equal rights in South
Carolina, and for the good of the country at
large, that the President and Governor
Hampton have seen each other face to face.
Our correspondents report, what we should
at any rate have expected, that they liked
each other, and no doubt they parted with
a mutual good understanding. Governor
Hampton is said to have given to the Presi-
dent frank, cordial and complete assur-
ance that he would protect equally the rights
of all men in his State, and would punish
promptly and vigorously any attempts of
lawless persons against colored people. We
have no doubt that he will fulfil this
pledge. He is a strong man, a man of great
influence in the State, and the best public
opinion will back him up in all measures
however severe, which he may find neces-
such should occur. He will be conscious
that the eyes of the country are fixed upon
him and upon the State. A large and influ-
entail part of the republican politicians have
no faith in the Presidents Southern policy,
and would be secretly pleased to see it
fail. They would very quickly raise storm
of prejudice against the President and the
South if they could have the chance to
prove that in South Carolina, under Hamp-
ton, colored men fell short of their rights.
We do not fear anything Of the kind but
we warn the people of that State to be on
their guard, and to regard as their worst
enemy any man who harms or wrongs q coll
ored man. When Governor Garland took
possession of Arkansas, in 1875, under cir
cumstances similar to those under which
Governor Hampton will tomorrow take pos
session, one of the first incidents reported to
him was an attempt by lawless vagabond
to wantonly kill traveller on railroad
train. The white people of the county in
which this happened turned out en- masse and
at once, at the call of colored sheriff to
catch the assassin. He escaped into Louisi-
ana, but Garland promptly pursued, and
caught him. The firm and prompt attitude
of the Governor struck terror into the law
less all over the State and encouraged the
good citizens, and Arkansas has been as
peaceful as Ohio ever since and far more
peaceable than Pennsylvania We commend
this example to the Governor and people Of
| South Carolina.
W. uuJarafa n that Mr. Cham he r1ain re-