New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-12-06
THE PRESIDENT AND HIS PARTY.

THE OLD DISPOSITION TO ATTACK THE PRESIDENT
MUCH LESS MARKED Now-THE PRESENT FEEL
ING NOT, HOWEVER, ENTIRELY CORDIAL
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRBUNE.ls
WASHINGTON Dec. b.-The strong feeling OF hos
tlity toward the President, which Republican SEN
ators and Representatives took no pains to conceal
yeaf ago, has given place to very general sentl-
ment Of indifference There is less disposition to
attack the President openly. but there are no evil
depces in Washington of any cOrdiahty Of feeling.
The portions of the Presidents message which
were the most satisfactory to Republicans were
those relating to the Southern questions; and yet
even those passages when they were read, were not
all that the Republicans wished that they might
have been. There was too much moderation, and
too little show of the righteous indignation when
Republicans in Congress themselves universally
feel to make the message entirely acceptable ana
If il had been allowed to go TO the Committee of the
Whole in the House of Representatives, with COM
ment upon it, this dissatisfaction would certainly
have been outspoken. Fernando Woods maladroit
attack upon the President for that was
what il was in spite of his disclaimer
was an extremely fortunate circumstance
for the Administration, as we'll as for the
harmony of the Republican party. 1t turned the
dissatisfaction with what was considered the I'M
necessary conservatism Of the President into in
lignaton against the Democrats, and rather forced
Republicans to defend the President for what little
be had said when they might otherwise have found
fault This seems 20 be one, and the most reason
able of the explanations of the absence Of hostile
feeling toward the Administration that was OBJ
seryable last Monday in conversation with Republic
cans about the message.
With a few notable exceptions, the Republicans in
Congress would be greatly gratiied If perfect
understanding could be established between the
White House and the party in Congress, but that
can only be on the basis Of uncOmpromlsing hostility
60 any further coquetting with the Southern
Democracy. Even If this is not possible, the de-
sire for unity and harmony which almost universal
among Republicans at the Capitol will, ii is hoped,
prevent any open rupture with the Administration.
The course Of the President in regard to Southern
pfairs will be watched with the greatest interest
He can do very much to make the prosecutions
in South Carolina effective, or he may neglect
that duty. In she latter case there is danger
that they may amount to nothing. There is an
almost universalfccling among Rcpublicansin South
Carolina and IT finds sympathy III Washington
that while the United States Attorney and Marshal
there are true mon and faithful Republicans, they
Cannst be as vigorous IN the performance OF thelF
duty as they would be if there was not feeling
prevalent IN the state that Governor HamptOnmlght
have something TO say in regard to the appointment
Of their successors If the President could say III
some public way, with as much emphasis as nc uses
in private. that no Southern officer who does his
duty fearlessly shall suffer on account Demo-
cratic hostility, the Republicans Of the South
who have been cheated would have more conf
dence, even # the officers themselves did not pur-
sue the offenders more vigorously; and the Pres-
dent would certainly make friends in Congress.
Mr. Hayes Oh his side, seems NOT to bcin the least
disturbed or anxious about his relations with the
party Business runs along smoothly at the
White House, apparently giving the President very
little anxiety. His friends say that he does not de-
sire to on ariel with anybody but whether Rcpub-
licans like or dislike what he does seems to make
very little difference with him. 1t is just tins com
placeucy that the Republicans do not like They
think he ought to get himself into harmony with
his party. A consciousness of having done what he
believes to have been right seems to make the Pres
ident perfectly coutented and there is no sign that
he feels that he owes anything to the party which
placed HIM i'm bis present position. lie is not lkcIy
10 90 ont in search Of Republican Senators and Rep
resentatiyes 10 bring them into accord with himself
bnt he seems ready to welcome any that come to
him. The attitude Of the President and his party
toward each other is not a very satisfactory one ;
hut il is no worse TO say the least thanlt was year
ago.