The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-11-21

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particular circumstances and necessities oil
the Church in this country.
An Interview with Secretary Evaris on
the Issues Of the Day.
WASHINGTON, November 1s.-secretary
Evarts, in thrce.column interview with
the editor OF the National Republican TO-
day, talked freely on the question OF poll
tics in the Southern States. Tic following
are portions OF the interview. The secre-
tary said:
What the country needs and whatI be-
lieve the people themselves want, is peace
and quiet-ireedom from public excite
mcnts OF all kind, that they may settle
down to the serious and more material In
terests OF life. There will be time enough
and plenty of 1t in 1880, in the few months
between the nominating conventions and
elections, to make the Presidential fight.
Interviewer-But, Mr.. Secretary, the
news from the South conveying informa-
ton OF atrocious and wholesale corruption,
or worse, in the late election, attracts at
tention, very naturally, and public discus.
sion OF political topics follows.
Secretary Evarts-Very true, but the
Government will take care OF those viola.
tons OF the law. They were confined to
certain localities wherein the prejudices OF
race and influences Of past situations have
combined to produce disquiet. There
should be no more excitement regarding
affairs in the South than in the North-in
South Carolina and Louisiana than in New
York and Massachusetts,. The vindication
of the law rests with the Government and
public excitement, while it is natural, can
not hasten it.
Interyiewer-But, then, those preiudiced
iuries, how will they operate?
Mr.. Evarts-As they did in Massachu.
sets, and as they do in New York and
Vermont. They will be controlled by To-
cal prejudices, by current events, and by
the influences that humanity is always
amenable to. OF course you will expect
acouittals, and you will not be disappoint-
ed. but this is freedom in free Govern
ment, for freedom does not mean to cir
cumscribe human impulse, and man who
is free is often free to do wrong. They
are now assured that the President Is do.
ing everything in his power to vindicate
the laws and maintain the integrity OF the
Government. That should satisfy them,
and believe it does.
lInteryiewer-Yes there is general
feeling OF relief at the recent change In the
Presidents policy.
Mr.. Evarts-There you fall into popu-
lar error. and use popular phrase illus
tratiye OF the methods OF political man
ayers, but not applicable to the present
Administration in the conduct its official
affairs President Hayes has never sur
rendered, abandoned or changed any pol
icy, because he has never had any to
change. The equality or parity OF the
StateS-all the States-was reinstated when
he came into office. The results OF the war
had been embodied in the constitutions OF
the Southern States and that OF the Gener-
al Government as well as in their laws,
and reconstruction was an accomplished
fact. The troops had been, or were very
soon thereafter, withdrawn from the South
and there was no occasion for especial or
particularizing methods differing In one
section from those employed in another.
The Constitution OF the General Govern.
ment vet is his only guide, and you will
admit that, being controlled by that docu.
ment, he could not be properly described
as being controlled by policy, nor were
his ondeayors in the nature OF an expert
ment, unless II Is an experiment TO adhere
closely to Constitutional requirements: 1t
Is true he trusted the Southern leaders,
believing that they were In earnest In their
professions OF determination TO preserve
the integrity OF American citizenship In
their respective States; but the first has
been betrayed-that is to say, that these
Southern leaders have not kept, or have
not been able TO keep, their pledges. They
were tho natural and legal representatives
OF the Southern people here at the Capt..
tai, and the proper persons, officially ana
otherwise, with whom he should have
consulted in regard to Southern affairs
So you see even his consultations with
them were not In tho nature OF an eSper-
iment. -"
Interviewer-But he appointed Demo.
Gratis to office on their recommendation
Mr.. Eyarts Did he? Well, do wish
some one would take the trouble to make
up list OF his Southern Democratic up:
pointments, and then the public would
understand exactly how much truth there
is in that charge.
InteryiewerSThere was Fitzsimmons?
Mr.. Evarts-Yes; there was Fitzstm.
mons, rs You say. Nowlet me tell you.
] appointed one Democrat from Georgia
CIlilliard) to be Minister to Brazil; that
was the end OF it-of such appointments
mean so far as I was conccrned,--as l
intended II should be, and then the Presi:
dent appointed Fitzsimmons to be United
States Marshall in Georgia. But billiard
and Fitzsimmons are like Falstatf-s men
in buckram-they have been exaggerated
into an unlimited number.
Interviewer-How viii the Southern
leaders feel now toward the President in
view OF his expressed intention to Tigor-
ously prosecute their followers?
Mr.. E.-That Is not q question which
can have any weight with the President.
You may rest assured, however, that the
exertions now being made to execute the
laws will be controlled by men who are In
sympathy with those laws.
Interviewer--That means that the laws
will be enforced by the Republicans
Mr. E.-Precisely. No man who Is re-
luctant to obey the instructions oil the
Administration regarding the punishment
or Prosecution ofthc perpetrators OF these
outraees in the South will betrusted inthC
performance OF that duty. To be vigorous
In the performance Of such an important
duty, the official must be In close and earn.
est sympathy with the underlying motives
which Inspire It's direction and disclose It's
necessity. No words that can command
are strong enough to depictthose atrocities
in their true light. They are horrible be-
yond description, depravel and noxious.
Interviewer-And from what causes do
these atrocities proceedS
Mr.. E.-There Is no use denying the
fact that the Southern people have suffer
ed greatly-the Southern whites, mean
from tho sudden Embarrassment Of their
social system or fabric, the sudden interleC'
ton into their voting aggregate Of an ele'
ment Of ignorance, and the consequent
domination ofuneducated and inexperienc
ed powersin their political affairs, II was
perhaps, mistake that this was done by
The Rnnubliean party OF the North. Bu