The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-01-10
THE HEAD OF THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY.
The Situation Beautiful and Lovely to
Behold.

The Situation Beautiful and Lovely to
Behold.
The New York HerdldS Washington
correspondent says the president has re-
Gently spoken with considerable freedom
to several old personal friends about the
political future and the present situation.
He is reported to have said that so far he
has met with no surprise: that what has
happened was foreseen by him before he
left Columbus, and that he has seen no
reason to change in the least the course
which he laid out for himself before he
came to Washington The results OF the
southern policy have been such as he ex-
pected, He is not surprised that part Of
the republican party opposed that policy
nor at the vigor of this opposition, and as
he foresaw and expected this he is not dis.
appointed that greater political results
haYe not been reached in the southern
states as the fruit of that policy. 1t was
inevitable that an attempt to arouse and
create a solid north against the policy Of
reconciliation should maintain so far as
possible a solid sonth. If the republican
leaders had at once heartily accepted the
southern policy, he is reported to say, the
solid south would have crumbled to pieces
before this; but he did not expect that,
and he is satisfied with the benefcent
results so far attained
The present excitement on the question
will not last, he is reported to say. No
party could be formidable or could hold
the confidence and support of the people,
which should plant itself on dead issues,
and he believes that the republican leaders
will soon see this and will cease their agi-
tation of this subject He has entire con-
fdence in the future of the republican
party, and believes that it has the brains
and capacity to take up the new and live
questions and to deal with them as the
best sense Of the nation demands. Those
who refuse to do this and who cling to old
and dead questions will inevitably drop
into the background The American peo-
pie do not stop to look backward Their
desire now, he believes, is for harmony
between the sections, for a revival Of
industry, q renewal of commerce aDd 6
new period of prosperity, to be secured By
Intelligent legislation and not by empty
disputes over sectional issues If The
republican party could commit the blundel
Of allowing itself to be made sectiona
party it would inevitably lose the favor o
the people. The time for sectional partie
has gone by; there is no longer occasion
for them, and as a republican as well as
good citizen it his strong desire to see tn
republican party represented in ever,
state by a sense of the intelligent apC
property class. He believes tina
as soon as southern men are convinced
that the republican party will not assum
hostile sectional attitude this will com
about, But he is patient: and believe
events will move slowly. If he is right
reported he attaches but little in
portance to the angry opposition of SON
of the republican leaders. 1t is mainly, /
thinks, personal in its nature, and person
issues cannot have a lasting life or impo
tant results in the face of real question
He appears to have made up his mind
suffer a certain, a perhaps uncertai
amount Of annoyance; but he believ
that it takes two sides to make a QUAR-
and he does not quarrel with any one. F
thinks Of those who oppose him that theyt
so under a misconception, and will by and
be this. He sees, he is reported to sa
that he has made mistakes 10 details.
the multitude and variety of affairs calir
for the action of the executive this
unavoidable, especialIyswith.a new admir-
istration. But his, general policy, he
persuaded, is not only for the best inte
ests of the country, but has the sympatt
OF the people and Of the body of the r
publican party, and he believes that Il
people will presently openly adhere TO tn
policy as necessary to their security, we
fare and prosperity.
The reform Of the civil service is nece
sarily slow work; it requires cautio,
action in great number of cases, b
though, in the opinion Of some friends
reform, he has acted too slowly, be b
lieves thoughtful men will soon recogDi
the fact that new spirit has begun
animate the public service that the wo
Is better and more efficiently done, becau
the old officers whom he has not remov
feel that they are watched and that tn
must attend more carefully than ever
their public duties. He believes, il
said, that the public service is now mc
correctly and effectively conducted thar
mas been at any period since the war, q
while he is by no means satisfied that
highest standard has been reached, o
while he does not mean to relax his effo
to improve it, yet he is satisfied with
results so far attained.
BEN BUTLER IT is SAID,
Is going to take hand and bring
amiabe goodness embodied under
presidential broadcloth to the test of
investigation, A special to the st. Lc
Republican has 1t, the Indications now
that some sort Of a resolution will he
troduced in congress to investigate