Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-03-14
The Situation.

Since our last issue President Hayes has
nominated and the Senate has confirmed the
Cabinet. Some of the nominations were
surprise to certain Senators, and to some
were evidently dstasteful yet burying their
private feelings, the Senators confirmed them
with substantial unanimity.
These nominations are excellent ones, and
they show a broadness of view and Catholi
city of spirit on the part of the President
quite refreshing. They also give an earnest
of his firm intention of standing by the
sentiments enunciated by him in his letter of
acceptance and his inaugural. Nothing mere
or better could be desired. Already many
of the more sagacious and liberal of the
democratic Senators have declared their in
tention of sustaining his action as long as
he pursues the course he has marked out.
This is as it should be. The situation in
certain localities in the South has been for
years a reproach upon our country and its
institutions. In endeavoring to replace these
states upon an equal footing in the Union,
the President and his policy will need and
should receive the cordial support of the
best men of all parties, and its success will
depend almost wholly upon the spirit with
which it is received. If the educated and
influential classes at the South shall honestly
and earnestly meet the efforts of the Presi-
dent in the same cordial spirit with which
they are preferred, we regard the Southern
question as settled for all time, and shall
welcome reunited republic, where each
state shall be entitled to its just recognition,
as heartily as any Southerner in our entire
country.
To this end he has recognized the South
in his Cabinet by the appointment of u
Southern democrat to the position of Post
master-General. Nor will he stop here. He
will seek information and advice from lead
ing Southern statesmen, and endeavor to
learn from them their needs, and to have
them suggest remedies. Although the South
ern question will be the first to be consid-
cred, nothing will be done hastily. The
status in quo in no Southern state will be at
present disturbed. When the time for ac-
ton does come the policy adopted will be
put into operation with the greatest vigor
and determination, and the whole power of
the administration will be used to make it a
success.
The President, too, retains his views upon
the subject of civil service, and evidently in
tends to practice what he has preached.
Here, too, the war will be brisk one all
along the line, and here, too, the Presidents
hands should be strengthened by the better
elements of all sections, irrespective of party
lines or affiliations. To be sure, revolutions
are not consummated in day. The press.
ure upon the President will be severe, and
he will be more than human if he does not
make mistakes. Yet he enters upon the
duties of his office with such honest nten-
tions and with such earnest zeal as a re-
former in these matters, as we have never
witnessed before. Let him then have the
honest support of the honest men of the
country, and his administration will mark
an era of good government heretofore UNI
known in this country.