The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1878-01-10


Roberts, OF the New Orleans Times,
having occasioned alarm, as to the flu
ture course OF tho prospective Presi-
dent toward Southern Republicans
and the Louisiana and the South Carr
olina Governments, Governor Hayes,
through his Private Secretary, Captain
to Frankfort, and General James M.
Comfy, of the Ohio State Journal,
since made Minister TO the Sandwich
Islands, denied the reported interview
and all sympathy with the sentiments
therein expressed. tfH l1r
Encouraged and forced forward by
these assurances, the Returning Board
boldly performed it's duty, gave voice
to the murdered Republicans of the
bull -dozed parishes OF Louisiana, and
made Hayes President, and Packard
lGoyernor of Louisiana, by titles in
dissolubly connected in law, In morals
aud in every rule of honor which pre-
walls among civilized men. ll- .''''
& The same etender regard for the Lou
isiana Republicans, and for the result
which they had achieved, continued
Congress The Returning Board were
AODsCu 0nu COuAuCu 0t w 0eAAh SOu
by the Confederate House of Repre-.
sentatiyes. Sick and in prison, they
were visited by Senator Sherman aud
his associates, and urged to stand firm
until relief could come from the ad-
vent TO power of the President. whom
they had made. Before the Electoral
Commission, TO maintain and vindi-
cate their work, Governor Hayes per-
sOnally continued the employment OF
Messrs. Matthews and Sheliabarger,
while Senator Sherman, from his place
in the Senate on December l4th, threat
ened negro insnrrection unless Hayes
should be- counted in, and the poor
coiored mem placed under his devoted
care. .,.,.s-.... .t t... f...i -I.s.-,
There are other remedies. but do
not like to discuss them.
We can teach the negroes that they
have an inherent right of sself-defense
, = The negro might soon be
taught, especially in those. parishes
where there were three black uien TO
one white man, that he has the right
OF sell defense; but who wishes, Ito
even suggest,or intimate, oranticipate
such horrors? Who wishes 10 see q
war of races? Yet, rather than see
W hat has occurred III Louisiana, these
men will learn So that they
can resent these outrages that the ne
gro can defend his cabin, his wife, his
children, IRON these Outrages, aid That
he will be justified by the laws OF God
and man in repelliug these assaults,
whether they come by day or by night.
L DO not want to see this done. fear
it, and vet it will come unless
you give to the negroes the rights Sc
cured TO them by the Constitution of
the United States. Il .i.7 f5a- tfs#r5ss ssa
Il do believe that under q wise pol
icy with ali Administration that will
be firm in maintaining the rights OF
the blacks, as well as be generous to
the whites, all the clouds tina; are now
lowering upon our mouse will have
passed away, and be III the deep bosom
of the ocean buried
With substantial unanimity the Re-
'publicans OF the country seconded the
determination of the Representatives
in Congress to declare aud achieve the
election and inauguration Of President
Hayes and the Republican party was
never more courageous, harmonious
or united than on the day OF his &C.
eession. .f
III. Coming to the Presidency un-
der these remarkable circumstances,
what should have been President
Hayes course? nv 4u.- 81 s.l .Ilsa1.f
l. PROFESSIONALLY he should have
asserted, in every possible way, the
moral aud legal validity of his own
title, and OF every step taken by his
procurement or desire in the long Sc.
ries of events which established it.
2. He should have maintained faith.
full and scrupulous allegiance to the
principles of the Republican party, by
proclaiming which the victory had
been won, and to the men OF that party
whose unprecedented efforts and cour.
age had elevated him to q station oi
the highest honor aud power as its
representative. faG-.r-I sUl-s
3. Above all, he should have avoid
ed any yielding or concession TO the
Democratic party, from which the
Presidency had been SO snddenly un-
expectedly aud exasperatinglywres
1t ia inconceivable that any wise OF
honorable man should be willing tC
take the Presidency and then suffer OF
effect any taint upon his own title
Governor Hayes had it in his power
at any moment, from November TIL
to March 18th, to avOii the responsible
tiles of the Office, but thought not o
doing it. On the contrary, at ever,
stage in the progress of the countings
State and National, his active inf1u
ence was present through his counsel
agents and intimate friends, pressing
forward the struggle. Not declining
but eagerly demanding and taking ths
| place, it necessarily follows that b,
was bound to maintain the integrity
OF his claim thereto, and of the meani
| by which il was made effectual. Any
other course would be sure to bring
deserved condemnation and disgrac,
upon LII Sc # men OF the ar,y wi (
had been prominent in his behalf, anC
upon the party itself.
| TO make concessions to the defeated
Democracy, and 10 abandon the prin
ciples OF his own party, would no
only proclaim his dOubls as to tn.
rightfUlness OF his own election, bu
would also be all admission that sucl
election, even III rightful aud honest
was undesirable for the coontry.
If ihe men and principles Of th,
Democratic party were to control tn,
country, why should they not do 8.
through Samuel j. TildeD, their appro
PIRATE representative? Why the pro
tracted labor. the high excitement, thu
dangerous struggle, the death or th
ruin of Southern Republicans, if tn
principles of the Republican part!
were TO be abandoned and the Ad
mnis!ration to be made OemOcrati
in all respects except in name?
Wisdom and nOnor, therefore,,
seems, to me, clearly required tha
President Hayes should maintain hi
own rightfulness OF title. and stand b
the men aud principles of his party
Had he done so, in Iny belief the Dem
ocratic cry of fraud would have; bee
the merest folly the Republican part
would have remained dominant in ev
cry Northern State, and sevcralSoutt
ern States, and would have swept th
country in the recent fall elections
> Instead OF this. what do we see?
w. Almost the first act OF the ne
, Administration was to fulfill bal