New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-11-13
THE pRFsIpENT INDIGNANT.


THE PRESIDENT INDIGNANT.
s,x,s rup INTEGRITY or AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP
90 prrN grossly VIOLATED IN THE SOUTH,
.SD MUST AND SHALL BE INDICATED.
,py TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNEl
v.su,yerox Nov. 12.-Tho following will APP
near in 7he National Republican tomorrow morning.
VERY naturally, in view of the Democratic con
dnct of the late campaign in the Southern States
the President has been frequently interviewed by
leading Republicans from all sections of the country
and esneciaIly from the South. The fact that the
section have violated all the pledges
made TO him to accord to the blacks their rights and
privileges of citizenship, and have thereby robbed
che Republican party of its due proportion OF repre-
sentaion in the next House, has prompted these in
,terviews, the ultimate design being to urge the
President to exhaust the legitimate resources of his
office in bringing the perpetrators of these great
crimes to Justice. But the President in his utter
ances at these interviews has carefully and persist
emily refused to take partisan view of the situa-
ton.
His attention was called yesterday to an editorial
paragraph in the morning National Republican an
nouucing that the Southern situation would be
earnestly discussed at the regular Cabinet meeting
To this he replied: "That a mistake the time for
discussion has passed. 1t is now too late for any
thing but the most determined and vigorous action.
This determination reached several days ago,
and the deliberations of the Cabinet on this subject
since then have been comparatively brief, and con-
fined mainly to the consideration of the duty OF the
Acknowledgement In the premises"
To these remarks the interviewer replied APPROX
tpclv and then asked the President. how he ac-
counted for the result of Solid South in the face of
the pledges of fair dealing by leading Southern
Democrats
The President-That question leads directly to
adiscussion of what has been latterly termed the
Southern policy of the Administration. When that
policy was inaugurated it was with an earnest de-
sire to eoncliate the Southern leaders, TO round OF
The sharp angles of sectional difference, and
10 soften the asperities of political strife
No one will deny that the attempt to en-
force this policy was most earnestly made
nor that it was carried out with conscien-
hous desire to accomplish the result for which it
had been inaugurated. OF the personal and parti-
san sacrifices made IN this effort, and of the cOn-
SEGMENT interruption of certain relations which
had previously existed between myself and some OF
my supporters have nothing to say Just now. But
it appears that the leaders who made these 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 a failure.
The first election of importance held since 1t was
attempted has proved that fair elections with free
sibity under the existing condition of things.
Interviower-And the Republican party. except
in North Carolina has thereby been wiped out OF
existence in the South.
The President-It is not because the Republic
can party appears the sufferer in these results
that complain. 1t is because free suffrage and
freedom of political rights have been interiored
with, that ! am called upon to take cognizance
of these disturbances. If the facts were
exactly reversed. and if the Republicans
had committed these Outrages upon the Demo
Gratis, my duty would be the same. 1t viii
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 a partisan view of the case, and
will be held to account for aiding the Republicans
-the d" Stalwartsr mean-in fauutng the bloody
shirt, as il is called.
Interyiewer-Yes; it has been charged that you
are following in the footsteps of your predecessor.
The President-Well, expect that all that and
more can't expect to hold the office do without be-
ing kicked and cufed little you know. But for all
that, shall do my duty as the Chief Magistrate of
the people, Democrats and Republicans alike; and
if in the faithful execution of the laws justice shall
demand the punishment of this or that man. what
ever his political connections may be, l shall not
be deferred by partisan criticism. All know is
that great crimes have been committed, and 1t is
my duty to aid in the punishment of the criminals"
lnterviewer-And you do not think that the
Southern leaders-the Democrats, | mean-whO have
promised so often to protect the blacks of the South
in the exercise Of their rights are responsible for
these crimeSf
The Enthusiastically, / do not. Governor
Hampton. for example. has tried repeatedly to re-
press the violence which has characterized the cam
paign in South Carolina, and failed. such RepuD-
icans as Judge Lee and Mr.. Rainey and State
Senator SwaIs, of that State, have advised
ma ~ HAMPTON
Them and they have repeatedly informed me of
speeches he has made depreeating violence In the
conduct Of the campaign. Aud It appears that Gov
ernOr Nichols in Louisiana rs earnestly opposed 10
these proceedings ana the same Rnd OF NlOouce III
his State
InfeTyiewer-Then the officers OF the Depart
mcuk of Justice have been instructed TO carry out
the proceedings already begun against the depre-
datorsf
The President-Not only against those who
have already been arrested but against Others who
will soon be arrested. IL is proposed TO make
clean sweep Of tis business aud exhaust every legal
resource in the execution OF justice. The integrity
OF American citizenship has been grossly violated III
widespread localities. Ii must and Shall be yindl-
Gated.
removals or changest4mong the District-AttOrneys
III the southern Statesf
The President--I hope not and believe not; but if
il is discovered that any officer OF tho class you refer
to is not earnestly endeayOrlng 10 DO his Whole duty
I'm the matter there will be no hesitation IN taking
pJopsr steps 10 replace him, and to vigorous
prosecution of these cases.
ANEW AND AGGRESSIVE POLICY.
ORDERS SENT TO THE MARsHALs IN TIE SOUTH TO
MAKE ARRESTS
IBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRTBUSEi
WAsuINGTO,- Nov 1.-THE Administration has