New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-05-22

patriotic and conservative elenientS III thc
Southern States have been found powerless,
for they have not tried to resist the rushing
| torrent of craftsmanship. 1t can only be SAID.
as we say with sorrow. that the few shining
exceptions Of patriotic feeling and personal
good faith among the Southern members, nave
been insignificant in number and impOtent In
| Influence. Madness rules because the South,
| if judged by the acts of its representatives,
cares nothing for gratitude, nothing for honor,
nothing for the public welfare, and nothing
even for its own peace and prosperity. whether
the representatives from the South really rep
resent the people of that section will appear
next Fall.
President HAYES, it has been admitted. has
done more to give peace to the South than
could have been done by his opponent. lie
has firmly held to a liberal course, though
warned n thousand times that il would not be
met generously, or even justly, by the South.
He is not TO be blamed for what he has done,
for a majority of the people unquestionably
wished to give the South fair trial, and would
not have believed, without such trial, that
course of confidence and generosity would be
met with bad faith. In government by the
people it is necessary to convince the people,
if any policy Is to be sustained. So the
South has its fair trial. Troops have been
withdrawn federal interference with local pol
tiles has ceased sef-gOvernment exists
in each of the Southern States men who had
been guilty of most infamous crimes against
freedom of elections and the public peace
have not been prosecuted; officials generally
understandable to the Southern people have
been appointed. No decent ground of COM
" mi - afin
Mains and if the South is capable OF appre-
ciating Justice, and maDifcSting patriotism III
response to generous treatment, it has had
abundant occasion. But what do we see
This resolution, opening the door for new
revolution and reviving the most dangerous
and pernicious party strife, has been passed
by Southern votes.
1t would be very strange if this lesson should
be lost upon the President. He will probably
watch for evidence as to the approval or dis
approval of the conduct of their representa-
tlves by Southern constituencies. But the
question of public order OvershadOws all others,
and the member who has voted to commence
a new rebellion, if reelected may justly claim
that his vote is approved and rewarded by ms
constituents. by such approval he will be en-
boldcned to advance further in the revolu-
tionary path If the South means good faith
as to the past, and peace, order and respect
for law as to the future il Will discard aud defeat
representatives who have voted for a rcyolu-
tionary course. We shall see what the South
means next FALL
1t is not appropriate now to consider what
course should be pursued if the Southern people
sustain their representatives, in the revolution
airy movement. Any statement of possible
changes in the course of the Administration,
however kindly meant, might be construed by
Southern people as a threat 1t is enough Tor
them to know that the act OF their representa-
tives is regarded as an act Of bad faith and a
preparation for defiance of law and reyOlu-
ton; that it must be either indOr>cd and
adopted rs their own by the Southern people,
or emphaticaly dlsavowcd and rcbuked;
and that the President cannot but feel,
if the Southern people indorse this conduct OF
their representatives, that they have forfeited
all clam to confidence, and are in spirit not
more loyal to the Union, the Constitution. and
the laws than they were in April, 1861.
| Like the first shot at Fort Sumter, the first
overt act of assault upon the Presidents title
| will echo all round the world, and far down
the corridors Of time. The Northern people
have ycarned for peace. But they know that
there can be no peace without obedience to
law. They demand not a Mexican, bat an
Anglo-SaXOn peace.