Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-11-18
The Change In the Presidents SO
called Southern Policy.

The Change In the FreSfOenL'S so
called Southern Policy.
The Washington correspondent ftbe Chicago
Iuter Ocean says .
A friend Of Secretary Chandler says that he
asked him what he came to Washington for,
and the Secretary replied:
IL came here to stiffen the President's back
bone, and if he has any stuff in him now is the
time he'll show it,
This no doubt expresses tho meaning Of the
conference, which lasted tho whole Of Monday
evening. Another friend of Secretary Chand.
Ter expressed tho same thing 10 different way.
Ho.is man 10 bigh position, and would be adj
mitted to conGdcuoo as soon as any one. lie
says.
eyes. it is true that Chandler came hero to
appeal, il necessary, to the President; but he
found the President more in harmony with bis
views than he expected.
You will remember thst predicted there
would 10 the future bs perfect harmony between
the President and the stawart element of tho
republican party. You need not be surprised
to see Senator Cooklug at The White House
when he comes to Washington. The President
is done with traitors.
This is not the manner 10 which the Prasl.
dent has been accustomed to talk of the subject,
but certain orders that have gone out from the
Department of Justice to Federal officers 10 the
South gave the color of truth to the words, and
the remarks of Cabinet officers and others in
intimate relations with the President were to
the effect that the interview sounded as if it
was genuine.
II KNOW" said one Cabinet ofictr yesterday,
"that the President is very indignant at the
way in which his generosity toward Southern
democrats has been responded to, and that he
is very angry at the manner in which their SOL
emu pledges have been violated. and l have
heard him talk very like what is quoted as CON.
ing from him.
In conversation with Private Secretary Rog-
ers, the correspondent learned that the inter
view represents With surprising accuracy, ex-
cept in one or two sentences, what the President
feels and what he has stated to several gentle
men within tho last few days, and Rogers |
remarked to him this morning that very
clever hand had been at work ct it. When
questioned further, Mr.. Rogers suggested a
talk with the President himself. OF the result
of this talk, wherein the President, as usual,
declined to be interviewed, the correspondent
writes:
While there may or may not be any signia.
canoe in the condolences that are pointed out
in the earlier lines of this dispatch, the interview
with the President which appeared in the Re-
publican newspaper Of this city, and was tee-
grsphed extensively over the country. is regard.
ed SIS very significant, as indicating al abandon
mept of what hes been known as the Southern
policy and confession of its failure 1t is assured
that change in tn temperament of the Admin
istrstion has taken place; that in the future the
relations existing between the President and his
party will be different from those of the past;
that hereafter the differences in the Republican
ranks will be entirely healed, and that the Pres.
ident will enjoy the intimate confidence Of the
leaders of his party from this time on.
The chain Of circumstances seems to prove
the accuracy of this opinion In the first place.
| ex-Secretary Chandler, Of Michigan the most
radical of all Republicans. who has been farther
removed in opiEions and association from Presi-
dent Hayes than any man in his party. and who
has not been accustomed to speak respectfully
of the Presidents course, appears suddenly in
Washington, and meets, by appointment, Sens.
tor Cameron, of Pennsylvania who also belongs
10 the extreme radical wing of his party, and
represents the adherents and advocates Of mill
tary rule IN the South. Chandler and Cameron
at once, upon coming together proceed to the
White House, and are coseted for long time
with the President. Mr.. Chandler has not been
in the White House before since he ceased to be
cabinet officer, and 80 bitter bias he been to-.
ward President Hayes that he has never paid
him the customary call Of respect when in
Washington, although he has frequently had
opportunity of doing so. Both Chandler and
Cameron refused very positively to intimate the
subject Of their conference with the President
and explained that it was merely social visit
But man of MI. Chambers business habits and
engrossing cares does not come from Michigan
to remsin twenty-four hours only in Washing.
ton for the purpose Of paying q social visit.