New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-12-26

need not have been wasted. The truth
is-if we may be permitted to say
we were not thinking what this impulsive
newspaper charges us with thinking-THE
TRIBUNE has not intimated in the remotest
manner a desire to return to the military pol
icy. It has never considered it desirable, or
under existing conditions COnstitutlOnally pos
sible. 1t insisted on the withdrawal OF Fed
eral interference in the Southern States, not,
as has sometimes been represented, as
part of mutual understanding or bar
gain between the Southern Democratic
leaders and the friends of the present
Administration, but simply and only be-
cause such interference was believed
to be unconstitutional and illegal. 1t has
never treated the insane behavior OF the
Southern Democrats as "a violation OF any con-
tract or agreement, and never dreamed OF
return to the military policy In The way OF
penalty or forfeiture, though of course any
one who desires exercise can set up that man
of straw, and beat and bang ut to his heart'scOn-
tent. When The TRIBUNE, in its work OF
gathering and laying before its readers the
intelligence of what is happening in the world,
uncOvcrs such gigantic conspiracy Offraud, vlo-
lencc and int mdatiOn as that which gave the
Democracy q Solid South, its eDdeavOr Is to
treat the subject calmly and djspassionately.
and with as little of partsanship rs the con-
ditions permit. That the facts have partisan
bearing cannot be denied. That they affect I'M
pleasantly the organs and semi-organs OF the
Democratic party is quite probable. But that
should be 70 reason and is no excuse for I'M
puting arguments, deductions and conclusions
from them TO those who brought the facts to
light.
We are not urging and have never urged
return to the military policy. What we are
doing and propose TO continue in, is the col
lecting of facts and information from all
Trustworthy sources concerning the actual
political condition of the Southern States the
degree of freedom exercised by the cOlOred
voters, the degree of honesty practiSed In
elections. the purposes OF Southern white
Democrats IN aIlying themselves with the
Tammany Democracy OF the North, and what
may be expected from the control of all depart
mcnts of the Government by such cOmbina-
ton. We believe the alliance means mischief
and only mischief. We hive tried to think
that the South stood by and believed in the
utterances of a few of its clear sighted lead
ers, who discuss the situation wisely and
temporarily. Much as we respect and honor
them, the hard facts force upon us the con-
viction that they do not represent their peO-
ple We see that the White Democrats OF the
South are simply bent on regaining power IN
this Government by fraud and violence in
their own section, and alliance with the Tam
many Democracy at the North Without
asserting for ourselves that exceptional
degree of virtue which would warrant us in
pronOuncing all who differ dishonest, we
may still affirm our honest belief that these
things mean mischief and danger to the Re-
public. Whoever shall jump 10 the conclusion
from this, however, that THE TRIBUNE favOrs
return to the military policy, would be
in error, and if he should get excited
over it and denounco "THE TRIBUNE'S
logic as having "falsehood for its
premises and the bayonet for its
" ultimate point he would become ridiculous.
What The TRIBUNE does favor is making the
people of this country fully acquainted with
the truth and TIE facts. 1t will do its duty in
this regard, and if afterwards a majority shall
override ITS opinions and commit the Govern
mcnt to the hands of the Democracy, it will
Try to bear that misfortune with philosophy.