The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1877-11-29
The President aud the senate.
Philadelphia Press.


Philadelphia Press.
1t does not appear from the semi-Oii-
cial reports of interviews between the
President and Senators that any definite
line ofactiOn has been adopted to avoid
future misunderstanding. The Sena-
tori are DESTROYS that influential ap-
pOintmGnts in the South shall be given
to Republicans only. They do not
deem 1t safe or polite to bestOw Office
on prominent ex-rebcls. There Is no
disposition TO prescribe the COmfeder-
atps or TO deny them any Of the priyi-
icgcs of American citizens. Their in
tolerance towards Republicans will not
be initiated. In Mississippi, Georgia,
and other States a Republican is as obi
Gus rs was a UniOniSt on the eve of the
civil war. 1t is owing to this bitter
spirit Of animosity that the Republican
party has Withdrawn from the field In
most of the Southern States. 1t is the
] ~ - lllTlullNN III lllf llNAbi VI tllN ~
try where private persecution has sup
pressed the free expression Of opinion
on political questions. The most pre-
cious boon Of republican institutions is
no longer enjoyed by the lOyalists of the
South. In view of such 4 state Of things
it is the duty of the President TO sustain
Republicans, to recognize their patriot
ism and the moral courage they exhibit
in adhcring TO their convictions. There
is not 4 Southern State in which Rcpub-
Leans of proper character and q%ualiti-
cations can not be found to fill every
local office in the gift of the President.
We admit that there has been much cor
ruption in the Republican party of the
South since the war. Unfortunately,
the mcrcenary element came to the
trout and usurped the command and
the patronage of the party, as corrupt
rings, both Democratic and Republican,
did in the North, II the President will
call into activity the pure and honOra-
bic portion of the Republicans, North
and South, aBd will firmly refuse 10
play into the hands of cliques and Of
oifice-secking and office holding combi-
nations, he will revive RepublieaRism
South and give it new strength in the
North. We can not imagine anything
more humiliating or a~ggrayating to Re-
at the risk of life and fortune than to
see themselves neglected and the enc
mics of the Union promoted over their
heads to places where their power for
mischief is confirmed. The effect of
such appointments is demOralizing in
the extreme. They tend directly to the
destruction Of RepublicaniSm in the
South. They reward ~disloyalty and
they punish patriotism.
There is no reason why the President
and Senators should be ut issue. Gener-
al Hayes has gone to the extremist verge
Of magnanimity in his policy to the
South. lie has sought to restore peace by
removing all causes of irritation. He has
rcmanded the South back to self-govcrn-
mcnt. lie has transferred the Govern
mcnt of two important States from the
Republicans to the Democrats. Not
withStanding the deeds Of violence in
Mississippi and clsewhere-the murder
of the Chrisholm family on political
grounds-and other such exceptional
atOCitics, he has refraincd from EXeCu-
tive interference. lie has accepted the
pledges of loyalty and good conduct as
made in good faith. He has put the
South on its honor before the world.
If disorder, anarchy, and violence do
not cease it will be no fault Of his. In
some States his generous policy has
borne good fruits, and it is to be hoped
that law and order will before long
prevail in all. Nothing more can be
asked Of the President. He certainly
can not be expected to sacrifice the
party that elected him to the Presidon-
cy, to SOW the seeds of division in its
ranks, and tc open the way for the sue
cess of its enemies. We most crnestly
hope that in the common interests of
the country and of Republican princi-
pies, the President and Senators will
be able to avoid an irrcparable breach,
and that they may act together. The
Senate has its functions, and the Presi-
dent has his to discharge. They are sepa-
rate and distinct, and neither can be
usurped without detriment to the Gov
crnment. The country expects of both
that they will raise the standard of OFF,
cial qualifications, that they will purify
the public service, and that they will
cooperate in whatever has n tendency
to advance the general warfare, to re-
store prosperity, and strengthen the
foundation of the Union.
Tenncssee's Debt.