The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-11-14
WASHINGTON.
The President Interviewed ON the Sub.
Jeet OF the solid South.

Ehe President Interviewed ON the Sub
jeet OF the Solid south.
The National Republican of Washington
in IN editorial interview with the Presi
don't on Tuesday, on the Southern situa
ton, says:
"In answer to question as TO whether
the Southern policy had been discussed il
the Cabinet, the President is reported tC
have said: That Is mistake; the time
for discussion has passed. II Is now too
late for anything but the most determined
and vigorous action. The determination
was reached several days ago, and the de.
liberations of the Cabinet on this subject
since then have been comparatively brief
and confined mainly to the consideration
Of tho duty Of the Attorney General in the
premises The President has always
thought that his policy would win back
the South. He was asked how he account
ed for the result in the face OF the fair
promises OF the South. That question,
said he, leads me directly to discus
sion OF what has been latterly termed the
Southern policy OF the administration,
When that policy was first inaugurated It
was with aR earnest desire to conciliate the
Southern leaders to round Off the sharp
angles OF sectional difference and TO soften
the asperities OF political strife. No one
will deny that the attempt 10 enforce this
policy was most earnestly made, nor that
1t was carried out with u conscientious
desire to accomplish the result for which
1t had been inaugurated. OF the personal
and partisan sacrifices | made in this
effort, and OF the consequent interruption
OF Certain relations which had previously
existed between myself and some OF my
supporters, haye nothing to say Just
now. But 1t appears that the leaders who
made those pledges either did not exert
themselves to keep them or were unable
to do SO. In fact am reluctantly forced
to admit that the experiment was fail.
ure. The first election OF importance had
since it was attempted, has proved that
fair elections, with free suffrage for every
voter in the South, are an impossibility
nnder the existing condition OF things"
at is not because the Republican party
appears as the sufferer in these re-
suits that complain" continued the
President, sit is because free suffrage
and freedom OF political rights have
been interfercd with that | am called upon
TO take cognizance OF these disturbances.
II the facts were exactly reversed, and II
the Republicans had committed the out
RACES upon the Democrats, my duty would
be the same. 1t will not do for me or for |
any official before whom these questions
may come, TO treat them otherwise than
In a non-partisan way. The partisan press
will naturally take u partisan view of the
case, and will be held TO account for aid
ing the Republicans-th stalwarts, !
mean--in ihunting the bloody shirt, as It
is called" Mr.. Hayes said further: ~
can't expect to hold the Office / do with
out being kicked and cuffed little, you |
know but for all that shall do my duty
MS the Chief Magistrate OF all the people,
Democrats and Republicans alike, and il,
in tho execution Of the laws justice |
shall demand the punishment OF this
or that man whatever his political connec-
tions may be shall not be deferred by
partisan criticism. All that know is that
great crimes have been committed and 1t
Is my duty to aid in the punishment Of the
criminals" The President said that Gov
ernor Hampton, for example, has tried re-
pcatedly TO reprcss the violence which has
characterized the campaign in South. Car
olina, and failed. Such Republicans=as
Judge Lee, and Mr.. Raincy and ex-State
Senator Swails, OF that State, have advised
me OF these facts. They say that Hamp-
ton cannot control the red shirts, as they
call them, and they have repeatedly in
formed me OF speeches he has made dep
recating violence in the conduct OF the
campaign. And 1t appears that Governor
Nichols, in Louisiana, is earnestly OPP
posed to these proceedings or the same
kind Of violence in his State.