The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-11-14
THE NEW WAR no ne wAaED
AGAINST HaEs0UTH.
what zrsslaenf Hayes Tnrsaasns.

saSeesT - b
fFrom an ilssrview reported stl,e washington
9sepubiicancf yesterdayJ g
!" In fact, II am reluctant forced 20 admit
that the experiment was u failure THAT -,
his southern policy. The nrst election OF
importance heid sincG 1t WIS ntrrmpteu LAS
proved that fair elections, with free SUI
frage for every voter In the South, are an
impossible i1ity.~aln der the existing conds-
ton OF things.o
Interviewer: - And the Republican par
ty, except in North Carolina, has thereby
been wiped ont OF existence in the South p
The President: cit Is not because the
Republican party appears Us the sufferer IN
these results chat I complain. It Is because
free suffrage and freedom OF political rights
have been iuterfered with that am called
upon to take cognizance Of these distur-
Dances. II the facts were exactly reversed,
and il tue Republicans had committed
these outrages upon the Democrats, my
duty would be the same. 1tWllnot do fcr
me-, or for any official before whom these
questions may come, to. treat them otherwise
than in non-partisan way. The partisan
press WIN naturally take partisan view OF
the cnse, and I,will be held to account for
aiding the Republicans, the Stalwarts, |
mean, in Haunting the bloody shirt, as it is
called"
interviewer: 'sYes; it has been charged
that you are following in the footsteps OF
your predecessor"
The President: swell, I expect that
all that and more. can't expect to hold
the Office do without. being kicked and
cuffed little, You know. But for all that
I shall do my duty as the Chief Magistrate
OF all the people. Democrats and Republic
cans alike; and II, in the faithful execution
OF the laws, justice shall demand the pun
ishment OF this or that imam, whatever his
political connections may be, l shall not be
deferred by partisan criticism. All that l
know is that great crimes have been CON-
mitted, and it is my duty to aid in the pun
isbment OF the criminals"
Interviewer: And you do not think the
southern leaders, the Democrats, I mean,
who have promised so often to protect the
blacks Of the South in the exercise Of their
rights, are responsibefo these crimes?"
The President: "Frankly, | do not.
Governor Hampton, for example, has tried
repeatedly to reprcss the violence which has
characterized the campaign in South Caro-
lima and failed. Such Republicans as Judge
Lee and Dir. Rainey and ex-State Senator
SwaiIs, of that State, have advised me OF
these facts. They say that Hampton cannot
control the Red Shirts, as they call them,
and they have repeatedly informed me OF
speeches he has made deprccating violence
in the conduct Of the campaign. And 1t
appears that Governor Nichols, IL Louisi-
ana, is earnestly opposed to these proceed
ings or the same kind Of violence in his
State.
Interviewer: "Then the officers Of the
Department of Justice have been instructed
to carry out the proceedings already begun
against these depradatorS 2"
The President: mot only against those
who have already been arrested, but against
others who will soon be arrested. It is pro-
posed to make q clean sweep OF this bust
ness and exhaust every legal resource in the
execution OF justice. The integrity OF
American citizenship has been grossly VIC
lated in widespread localities. 1t must and
shall be vindicatcd."
Interviewer: "Will it be necessary to
make any removals or changes among the
district attorneys in the southern States 2"
The President: 81 hope not and believe
not; but il it is discovered that any officer
OF the class you refer to is not earnestly en-
deayoring to do his whole duty in the mat
ter there will be no hesitation in taking
proper steps to replace him, and to secure
vigorous prosecution Of these cases."
Here the interview came to an end.