The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1877-03-31
THE SOUTHERN POLICY OF PRES
IDENT HAYES.
BY EMERSON BENTLEY.

10 De pulSueu ny Aooioo"o 'S vs. |
with reference to the complaints and
instructions of the Southern States.
Several have attempted to speak for
the President, and to define his course,
possessing no authority to do so, and
have created erroneous impressions.
Among these, as outlined by Demo-
cratic organs, is the strange delusion
that the President in Difference to the
nearly equal division of parties, or
the proves of insurrectionary claim
ants, will substitute the st. Louis |
platform for the Cincinnati one as his
guide. The grounds of this belief are
as vague as the comforts of it will be
valueless. While the Republican
President, following the clearly ex-
pressed will of his party, desires to
remember with gratitude the patriotic
services of Southern Congressman in
defeating the filibustering clement OF
their party in the disputed presiden-
tial election, he does not propose to
be faithless to the more solemn pledges
given to the voters of the country.
The obligation to them is primary
to the Southern Congressman second
ary. Nine -tenths of Democracy would
have demanded Mr.. Tilden, if elected,
to pursue an identical course in the
Presidential Office.
The President believes heartily. the
truth he uttered when he said :" He
who serves his country best, serves
his party best" This is the key to
the Southern policy. There will be
efforts to adjust amicably, within the
boundaries of the constitution and the
laws, the unhappy insurrectionary
troubles of South Carolina and Louis
lana. For the other States, an appll-
cation of sound civil rules will be
made to give efficiency and ensure
popular respect for the agents or rep
resentatives of national rule. There
is no desire, sign or necessity for "A
surrender of any principle enumerated
by the Republican party ; but there is
most cordial invitation extended to
former opponents, or the better class
of them, to cooperate in the impair
tial execution of the laws of the coun-
try, heretofore impeded by the tor
: pidity of some and the active resist
ancc of others. The restoration OF
peace to disordered localities is to be
attempted by calling into exercise
the reason and duties of citizens, and
, dispensing, if possible to do so, with
the military prerogatives OF the ex
ecutive power. How far this policy
will be successful depends upon thu
support it receives from the people
who are most interested in its success
This is the policy of President Hayes
in outline, as we derive it from tin
record of his public career before ant
after his accession to the presidency
The appointment of Southern
Democrat to the Cabinet was wei
considered. There was nothing "emo
tionaln about it. D. NJ. Key is a
. exceptional Democrat with n notabl
record. He used to be Wing, bu
II fought in the Confederate army frOr
the beginning to the close of the wal
He was popular in Tennessee as
: man of fine abilities, and above al.
" as a just man. He had served a shoI
u period in the United States Senate
y and was the solitary Democrat OF tina
> body who voted to Investigate TIL
u election crimes of Mississippi. H
D. was pleased with the Republican ma
o. tional ticket before the Novembe
: election, and told his people, til
n country was fortunate in having be
% fore it such honorable men to vote fo
% and it would prosper even if the
n should be elected. But his sense {
Ia Justice and manly candor was to
IN much for the BourbOns of Tennessee,
10 and the appointed successor ofAndre
Ie johnson was defeated by the Legislf
a. ture, and sent into retirement, bt
,e cause they deemed him non-repre
10 sentative of their views of publ
policy. They elected Isham &. Harr
as his successor, the most obnoxior
g and demagogical rebel to be found
al all the limits of the State. Mr.. Re
le received the full Republican legisli