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

southern states. The views of the score
tary are 10 many respects SO widely differ
ent from the fierce denuuciations of the
stalwarts, and 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 his representa-
tations Of the views and intentions of the
executive, and the others mistaken. The
expressions Of the secretary, unlike the
chuckling and boasting talk Of Chandler
and others Of change of policy" and a
''stiffeniug 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 ap-
prehend with intelligent men of all par
ties. What the country needs" says Mr.,
Evarts. "and what believe the people
themselves want, is peace and quiet-tree-
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 it 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, bat he
says, 1.-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
tions 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
vindication of the law rests with the gov
eminent, and public excitement, while 1t 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 10 the
southern states may be considered there
fore as the settled determination. So TAI
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 4
the trial and conviction of men charged
with such grave offenses, and the action o
juries in rendering a verdict, their preiu
dces and political sentiments may be ex
pected to operate in southern states jus
as they do elsewhere-just as they do, 70
instance in Massachusetts, or New \ OIL
or Vermont-they will unavoidably
controlled in some degree by local prejr
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 a tree government
The people would be assured that th
president is doing everything in his powe
to vindicate the laws and maintain the in
tegrity of the government. That shoul
satisfy them, and believe it does.
In regard to the Presidents havin
changed his policy the Secretary says tht
is popular error and use of populs
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. 'Presider
Hayes" continues the Secretary. ''ha
never surrendered, abandoned, q
changed any policy, because be has neve
''had any to change" 1.-The equality G
parity of the states-all the states-wa
renstated when he came into office. Tn
results of the war had been embodied i
the constitutions of the Southern state
and that of the general government, g
well 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 VIZ
no occasion for especial or particularizin
methods differing in one sectio
from those employed in anothe
The constitution of the general govern
ment was, and yet is, his only guide, an
all will admit that being controlled
that document he could not be proper
described as being controlled by policl
nor we're his endeavors in the nature
an experiment unless it is an experiment
to adhere closely to constitution
requirements. 1t is true he trus
ed the southern leaders, b,
lieving that they were in earnest in the
professions of determination to preserv
the integrity of American citizenship
their respective states. But the FIRST els
ton has passed and he discovers that h
trust has been betrayed-that is to "a
that these southern leaders have not
have not been able to keep their pledge
They were the natural end legal represe
tatives of the southern people here at Il