Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-11-22
The Presidents Policy.

interview with the President on affairs in
the Southern States. the Washington Star
prints the following, which is said to have
been revised By the President himself
Two positions of great Importance IN the
nolitics of tie country have, within the past
few DAYS, been assigned the Presdent-one
that he has abandoned in toto his Southern
nolicy the other, that he has, by giving
way in that policy, brought about recon,
citation between bis Administration and
the sc-called "stalwart' wing OF the Repuo-
lican party. the elements OF which have
been, since the inauguration OF the conciiia-
ton policy, alienated from him. Both oil
these statements are either untrue or are
given an improper coloring. As to the re-
ported change of policy regarding the South,
there is nothing in it. The method OF deal
ing with the Southern States which the
President has seen fit to pursue. IS the same
now as it WAS when inaugurated ms
policy was in no respect whatever an
e1perincnt. The President considered,
and still considers it, matter OF
duty to see that in administering
the laws Of the land. the consti-
tutional rights Of every citizen, IN every por,
tor of the country, equally and alike should
be fully respected and guarded. 1t is pretty
generally conceded that the South, under
bayonet rule. was not enjoying the tree gov
ernment youchsafed it by the Constitution.
Tc remove that rule was a duty the Presi-
dent considered deyOlving upon him, and 1t
was accordingly removed. lie has gone on
with the determination Of securing, as lar as
Law in his power, that every citizen shall De
protected in the full and free exercise OF all
his rights and privileges. With this deter
m;nation has been coupled very strong de-
sire not to use the military branch OF the
Government, except to quell Instruction and
mt down riots. All violations OF the law
should, he has always held and still holds,
be punished by civil processes, if possible.
Therefore. when it was learned, prior to the
recent elections, that Republican voters IN
the South, notably in South Carolina,
Louisiana, and Alabama, would GER
taiuly be nteriered with in the exercise
of their franchise rights, the Attorney
General ordered the United States District
Attorneys for those States to sec that all
yiolator- Of The law in this respect were
promptly arrested and brought to trial and
alter the elections, Notwithstanding the ad-
yanccs for compromise from those arrested,
the Attorney-General was last Saturday, In
structed to prosecute offenders to the utmost
limits of the law. Neither OF these ihstruc,
tons could be regarded as " a change oil
policy.' They were but the carrying out
| Of the Presidents determination to see that
the laws are enforced everywhere. The
statement that the President has recently
said that he had tried the plan of concilia'
| tion and found it complete failure Is I'M
true. The President has never made such
statement. 1t is true that he does not think
the South has responded as it should to hi
good intentions, but, nevertheless, he doe:
not intend to change. in any manner what
ever. the course Of his Administration upor
| this account. This course, as has previously
beep said, is not Southern policy. Ii Il
not in anv true sense man policy. 1t i
the enforcement Of the laws by civil pro
cesses.
As to the other statement, that there ha.
been a reconciliation between the Admins
tration ard the dissatisfied leaders OF TIL
Republican party, it may be stated that II
order that there might be "a reconciliation,
As the phrase is, it would be necessary tina
the President should come at least PARTIAL,
to the way Of thinking held by the leader
of the party with which he is to be recon
ciled,' the President has never seen an,
reason why he should cease to do his dut
because some portion Of his party was dissatis
fed with his methods. lie has always desired
and still desires, that the utmost harmon.
should exist in the party. If leaders OF tn
party, after interchanging views with him
see that they have misunderstood his cours
and conduct, ard think that it would b
good that past differences should be healed
the President is ready to respond heartily
That such is the case is. TO doubt, true, an
the party which elected the President t
Office is certainly, now, with few exceptions
'ready." rs Representative White, G
Pennsylvania, says, "to look to future re
suits. and forget the effete past with its pas
differences. II this is reconciliation, we
and good,