New-York tribune., 1879-09-19
PLiIN woRDs on STATE RIGHTS.

The address of President Hayes at louncs-
town on Wednesday was exceedingly felici-
tious. for Doth place and time contributed to
give his remarks peculiar weight AT foungs-
town, in the heart of the iron region, the de-
preston of industry was greater four years
ago than in any other part OF that State.
| Many furnaces and mills were dark and silent.
/ Hundreds Of worSmen were out OF employ
mcut Wives and children by the thousand
waited woaIily for the dawn Of better times,
/ and not a little of the blame for the prevail
/ ing distress was lad upon the Republican
party. Early in the campaign of 1879,
/ when Republican speakers visited loungs-
town, where the Republican maiorities
/ had usually been overwhelming, they found
scarcely the scmblancc Of an organization.
/ There was "a soft money Congressman, with a
soft-money committee n sOit-money post
master and an overwhelming soft-moncy SEN
tmcut. Ii seemed a hopeless task to over
come the feeling that then existed, ard there
can hardly be said TO have been a genuine
Republican party in Mahonug County until
after the speech of General Wood.or \
sllrcwd observer said Of the situation early
i'm that c0ntesti "lldd the vote been taken
"then. Mahouing would have given 1900 Dem
ocra,ic majority" The county had given
12tO majority for Grant in 1872, and
when the great struggle of 1875 was ended,
it still gave majority of $50 for
William Allen against Rutherford b. Hayes.
But Republicans were convinced, one 10y one,
/ that the only hope OF prosperity was in firmly
defending the honor OF the Nation. Each year
they saw more clearly that the repudiating
Democracy was only preventing the rcstora-
ton of prosperity upon solid and enduring
/ basis Soit-money notions lost their power
as men became more familiar with financial
problems. Staunch Republicanism revived with
the revival of business, and with clearer proof
of the aggressive and revolutionary aims Of
the Solid South. The county gave 23O majority
for Hayes against Tilden, and can safely be
expected to poll an oid-time Republican
majority now that the general revival Of trade
and manufacturing has given proof that the
Republican course was right.
Thus Mahoning is Il typical county. The
temper of the State is shown III the temper Of
the people about Youngstown. And when
President Hayes pointed thelA to blazing fur
mace stacks making perpetual dawn IN the
sky every night, and to crowded mills and
busy factories and the happy homes of busy
workmen, he knew that every word went
home to the hearts of his hearers. Before
him were the very men, by the hundred,
who had voted for soit-money candidates in
the hope of getting industrial relief, and had
lived TO be heartily glad that they were beaten
at every election. Before him were multi
tudes who had learned that every promise
made by the Republican party had been
kent. and that the return of a glorious pros
peIity had been brought about by Its sturdy
and untuching fidelity.
The President did not dwell upon theme
so inviting There was no need; the brains
| and hearts of his hearers lacked no incen-
tive to uphold that financial policy which had
| brought prosperity to the town and comfort
| To lis homes. But he placed III strong light
his reasons for resisting to the utmost the
revolutionary attempts OF the State Rights
Democracy, and his reasons will move thou
sands of voters to follow his example.
1t was with rare felicity, too, that the Ia
test Republican President quoted at length
from the first of Republican Presidents. He
cited language which if uttered for the first
time hy statesman of to-day would be
| deemed extremely radical and utterly stall
wart.r Ii l. well, amid all the I" gush "
which has dcluged the country, to recall the
nloin. strong words Of the man who was at
once the most conservative and the most
prlctical If early Republicans. Mr. Lincoln
did nothing for revenge, hat he sacrificed
nothing to a silly and scldy sentimentalism,
and his Republiclnism, ii tested by the events
of to-day. would have been even more un-
compromisng than that of Mr. Blaine or
Mr.. Conkling. lie did not believe in doing
single thing co humlliate or punish the rebels
for their rebellion. But he did not believe
in leaving the slightest possible vestigc of the
wretchcd hcrcsy OF State Rights, or the faintcst
trace of resistance to the radical changes
which the war had legitimateiy wrought. In
ouoting Mr.. Lincoln, the President recalls the
n.ople TO remembrance of the teaching ol
Rcpubican statesman more kim and gentle in
,pilt than himself, and yet more stern and
rigid IN his adherence 10 the logical results of
Republican principles than any man who has
followed III his footsteps.
If the war to which Abraham Lincoln gave
his whole soul is to be a failure. if the Nation
which he gave his life to save is to be again
DEGRADED by transformation into league of
wranging and heterogeneous States, IL will
not be with sanction in the teachings of
President Lincoln, or with any aid or tOlera-
tion In the conduct of President Hayes.