The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-08-21
Judge Hughes interviewed.


In recent interview with correspondent
of the New York Herald, Judge Hughes, of
Virginia, said
81 do not think that wise or polite course
toward the South by the republican party,
can work any favorable result for that party
here"
perhaps it has never been tried ~
elias it not? No man pursued more
wise and polite course, not to say chivalric
and generous than Gen. Grant did toward
Confederate officers and soldiers after the
cessation Of hostilities and during his service
as General of the Army. Have southern
soldiers and officers abused him the less for
imputed political misdoings? think not. :"
HAS any special experiment of the sort
ever been tried %
swell, take the case Of Virginia. In the
political campaign Of 1869 party was
formed in apparent opposition to the Dem
ocratic party-a party calling itself conser-
vatiye, headed by Governor Walker. 1t ap-
peared to drive the Democratic party out of
the field. 1t even claimed to be, not indeed
a Republican, but Grant Republican par
ty. It assumed the special championship OF
General Grants policy of Cancellation. 1t
was supported by the Herald, the New York
Tribune, Times and Word in singular &C.
cord. 1t enjoyed the countenance and
largely the patronage of Grants admins
tration. The object was to absorb the ma
al
and to getrid of the extreme IDEAS of ultra
Democracy and secession. The Democratic
party voluntarily gave way to it and united
heartily in supporting its candidates and
and defeated the formation of a conserva-
tive Republican party, dominated by native
Republicans, did 1t realize the expectations
of the Herald, Tribune and Times? Histo-
ry answers in the career Of Gilbert c. Wal :
ker. 1t did not support Grants adminstra-
ton, it did not support him for the Presi-
dency. in 1872. Every mans recollection
mocks at the pretensons OF this Grant Re-
publican party. I think the Republicans
have already pursued a conciliatory policy
toward the South"
"Can you explain why the Republican
party has always been SO obnoxious to the
Southern people?'
81 can, bu. there is no justification for it,
The Republican party has chiefly been
blamed by them for its 'course on the negro
question. In that respect the Repu5 licans
ha1 oil tn ctah n IF r1
ership over the negroes for twenty or twen-
ty-fve years under the Freedmen's Bureau
system or give the negroes the ballot. One
or the other alternative was necessary. They
adopted the latter expedient, which was GER
tainly the one reposing the most confidence
and most power in the Southern whites, and
appealing most strongly to their magnanim-
ity. How this course was met everybody
knows who can estimate the volumes Of
abuse and vituperation that have been Wis
tied upon the Republican party for their at
tempt, as now charged, to put upol us the
horrors OF negro governments. -
Il suppose you can name other overtures
made by the Republicans with similar re-
suits ?''
Eyes, can. A like reward attended the
act of the Republican party in turning oyer
the Southern States from military to domes-
tic rule. Mr.. Greeley, the Southern De-
mocracy's own candidate, thought that
the military governments ought to have been
maintained in the States for at least ten
years. Yet Gen. Grant reported, and the
republicans thought differently. 1t was the
Republican party which restored self gov
ernment in four years after their suppress
sion to States which had conducted against
the government one Of the most formidable
bloody, gigantic and protracted wars known
to history. Did this wise and polite course
conciliate the dominant class of the South to
the Republican party? The conspicuous, Sc
rious, painful, ugly present fact of the solid
South answers that question:"
$50 you despair of good results from the
implication Of any further wise and polite
course %
$50 long as party lines are drawn as they
are there is no chance Of maintaining Wig
orous Republican party at the South. The
existence of organization here only fur~
nishes, despite all logical reflections and
hopes to the contrary, an excuse for keeping
up the old warissues on the stump. Concil-
ation can effect nothing in relief of the
condition implied by the term solid South.
Gen. Grant gave his countenance to Gen.
Kemper over myself in the State canvass Of
1878. Did he conciliate the General or his
party? Who 6ecried him more angrily than
Kemper."
''What is your opinion, Judge, about
President Hayes Southern policy?"
II smiled when l heard that Mr.. Hayes
had appointed Judge Key to his Cabinet
an honest man and good Southern Demo.
cras. While it was thought that all South
ern Offices would go like the Cabinet office,
to Southern Democrats, there were some in
dcations that the Hayes policy would work
good results. But since different belief has
been obtained doubt if Mr. Hayes is in much
higher favor with the solid South than
General Grant had been before going out OF
of1ice.''
''Of parties in the future, what have you to
say, Judge ?''
81 think there can be no other state Of af-
fairs than that applied in the term, solid
South, until the political issues of the coun-
try have become changed. ] think Virginia
and most of the Southern States will GO
with the party Of the soundest economical
principles and measures. ! trust that the
country will bestow its thoughts in the
years Just before upon great questions OF
political economy, on which there will be
no North, no South, no East, no West. I'm
I'll it does, and until the war ideas, war is
sues and war parties disappear, the country
may count upon a solid South as a fixed