The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-11-20
Secretary Evarts and the Presidents
Policy.

mas the substance OF IeDgtny interview
between the editor of tho National Repub-
licaR at Washington and Secretary Evarts
on the political aspect of affairs 10 the
southern states The views Of the score
tary are 10 many respects so widely differ
ent from the fierce denuuciations Of the
'stalwarts," aud convey such different i'm
pressions in regard to the presidents policy
from those which have lately been pro-
mulgated by the radical element Of the
party, that sensible people cannot but hope
the secretary is right 10 bis representa-
tations Of the views and intentions of the
executive, and the others mistaken. The
expressions of the secretary, unlike the
chuckling and Boosting talk Of Chandler
aud others Of a change of policy" and a
''stiffening of the presidential backbone"
are more in accord with the gravity ofpub-
lie affairs and realizing sense of the re-
sponsibility which Of necessity attaches to
those who are charged with the admins
tration of the government,
Speaking Of the constant excitement in
which politicians manage to keep
the country involved for the greater part of
the time, and more particularly of the con-
slant efforts to keep alive disturbing ele-
ments 10 the southern states, the secreta-
rvs sentiments will find approval. we APP
prehend, with intelligent men of all par
ties What the country needs" says MIR,
Evarts "and what believe the people
themselves want, is peace and quiet-free-
dom from public excitement Of all kinds,
that they may settle down to the serious
and more material interests Of life There
will be time enough and plenty OF 1t in
1880, in the few months between the nom
mating and the elections, to make the pres
idential fight"
Expressing himself more specifically con-
corning the reports of atrocities and whole
sale corruption in the late elections of the
south and the natural, and, to some ex'
tent unavoidable public discussion OF
these topics, he admits they tend to attract
attention and keep alive discussion, but he
says, 4"the government will take care of
those violations of law. They were con-
fined to certain localities wherein the pre-
JUDGES of race and influences of past situa
tons have combined to produce disquiet.
There should be no more excitement re-
garding affairs. in the south than in the
north-in South Carolina and Louisiana
than New York and Massachusetts,. The
vindicstion of the law rests with the gov
eminent. and public excitement, while it is
natural, cannot hasten it.
The reports that the government in
tends to bring offenders to trial and tC
punish the violaters Of the law in the
southern states may be considered there
fore as the settled determination. So fal
as the elective franchise has been corrupt
ly and violently assaulted or its prerorga
tives unlawfully denied the punishment o.
such misdeeds should, upon due convic
ton, be resOlutely inflicted. In regard t
the trial and conviction of men charged
with such grave offenses, and the action O.
juries in rendering a verdict, their preiu
dices and political sentiments may be ex
pected to operate in southern states JUS
as they do elsewhere-just as they do, 70
instance 10 Massachusetts,, or New Y OH
or Vermont-they will unavoidably b
controlled in some degree by local preju
diees, by current events, and By influence
that humanity is always amenable to. o
course, says the secretary, acquittals ma
be expected,-under such circumstance
they would occur anywhere-such result
are only freedom in tree government
The people would be assured that tn
president is doing everything in his powe
to vindicate the laws and maintain the in
tegrity of the government. That shout
'satisfyithem, and believe it does"
In regard to the Presidents havin
changed his policy the Secretary says th5
is popular error and use of popula
phrase which is Illustrative of the method
Of political managers, but not applicabl
to the present administration in the cor
duct of its official affairs. 'Presideu
Hayes" continues the Secretary. ma
never surrendered, abandoned, Q
OhobROu any pOhCyj DCCduSc He HAS uSNS
had any to change" 1.-The equality O
parity OF the states-all the states-wa
reinstated when he came into office. TIL
results of the war had been embodied i
the constitutions of the Southern state
and that of the general government, a
we'll as in their laws aud reconstruction
was an accomplished fact. The troop
had been, or were very soon thereafter
withdrawn from the South and there wa
no occasion for especial or particularizin
methods differing in one sectio
from those employed in another
The constitution of the general govern
ment was, and yet is, his only guide, an
all will admit that being controlled b
that document he could not be properI
described as being controlled by policy
nor were his endeavors in the nature c
an experiment unless it is an experiment
to adhere closely to constitutions
requirements. 1t is true he trust
ed the southern leaders, be
lieving that they were in earnest in thei
professions of determination to preserv
the integrity of American citizenship i
their respective states. But the FIRST elsc
tiOn has Dassed and ha d;scovoro tb.4 /: