The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-09
A Sensible Resolution.

fall canvass. 1t is one of the most hopeful
signs OF a revival Of common sense in the
political field that this should be their
determination. 1t shows that they have at
last begun to look events in the face. and
that they mean hereafter to adapt them
selves to the changes in the times. A polltl-
cal party is like newspaper; it cannot ex-
pect public support if it discusses dead Is
sues. The republicans have suffered SO
long and so constantly from the Southern
policy to which they were welded under
General Grant that We only wonder they
did not sooner cast it off, In 1869, the year
when General Grant first assumed the Pres
idency, they had majority OF forty-two III
the Senate and eighty-six In the House.
They were strong enough to do what they
liked, and they SO constantly mis-
managed their affairs that in 1873, OF the
beginning Of Grants second term, they
had but thirty majority in the Senate and
seventeen in the House. In 1876 they were
left with only ten majority in the Senate,
and lost the House and at present their
Senatorial majority has dwindled to two.
and they will lose these next March, while
in the House the democrats have retained
their preponderance.
It ought to be plain to the republican
managers that they have lost their hold on
the confidence and favor of the country ;
and this should be the more clear because
they must see. what is very evident, that
the country has not heartily accepted the
4 - @o1- pOt for nv
Of them, but because on the whole it
thought them less likely to do damage than
the republicans. To 90 on in their old
course after the rebuffs of 1870 1872, 1874
and 1876, would be folly tor the republican
leaders. They have ruled in the South by
the help of deputy marshals and United
States troops, until they have well nigh lost
both houses of Congress and have ruined
their party in all the Southern States and
in many Of the Northern and it is high
time for them to make a change.
So they are going to substitute arguments
for troops. We are little curious to see
with what arguments they mean to appeal
to the Southern people, white and black. 1t
cannot be supposed that Northern republic
can speakers will attempt to speak in the
South only to the negroes, or will make tho
blunder, which has already cost them SO
dear in the past, Of appealing to race preju-
diccs and terrors. Senator Blaine, or Sen
ator Conkling or Mr.. Hale, or Mr.. Foster,
Mr.. Congcr, or Mr.. Townsend would look
ridiculous if they should in a Louisiana
parish or an Alabama or Mississippi county
address themselves only to the blacks and
repeat to them the stale assertions OF the
carpet-baggers that democratic success
meant reinstatement. They will not do
anything so foolish MS this, because the
blocks would laugh at them. They have,
moreover, something else to do down
there besides stump speaking. In
most of the Southern States, thanks
to the republican follies and iniquities of
the past eight years. their party is almost
extinct. In several it has formally dis
banded, and in oil the others it is torn by
internal discussions and weakened by
the disgrace of its former and unworthy
leaders. To make an active and effective
canvass in the South the, republicans must
stained by share in the carpet-bag mis-
rule, and who have character and influence
among their neighbors. If the old carpet
bag leaders are to be once moro brought for
ward Northern republicans will have to de-
fend and justify their criminal maladminis-
tration, and in that case they might as well
save their breath and travelling expenses.
What they need is a thorough reorganiza-
ton Of their party in the Southern States,
with men ut its head whom honorable
Northern men will not have TO defend and
excuse, but for whom they can in good faith
ut least as honest, as able and rs influential
us their democratic competitors When
that is done the Northern speakers will have
room for argument and for the enuncia-
ton OF policy, and they may hope to carry
some Southern districts. Their success
will be benefit to the country and
to the democratic party as well. 1t is one
of the worst of tho evil results of the long
misrule of the republicans in the South that
hatred of political thieves and opposition to
tyranny and the most shameless maladmin-
istration have welded the Southern whites
into solid mass OF opposition to the re-
publican party. The "solid South, rs it is
called is an evil for which the republicans
are clearly responsible; but it is an evil none
the less, and the democrats, il they arc wise,
will see with satisfaction n reformation of
party lines in the Southern States. Until this
happens it will always be in tho power of re-
publican domagogues to raise an alarm in the
North by holding mp to viewa 'sold South"
Nor do we think the republicans need be
without hope of carrying, by proper efforts
and well defined policy, number of
Southern districts. The new policy of the
republican leaders has OF late taken shape,
and it is q policy which will secure them
many and influential adhcrents in some