Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-09-30
THE EVENING STAR.
President Hayes in Missouri.
he rIscussKs TIE STATE AND NATIONAL GOV
RRNNENTS.

President Hayes in Missouri.
He r1scUssEs THE STATE AND NATIONAL GOV
RRNMENTS.
PRESIDENT Hayes and party arrived at st.
Joseph, Missouri, yesterday from I,eaven worth
and were received by local committee, headed
Oy Inc mayor, and committee OF the board OF
trade carriages were provided, and the party
were driven through an immense crowd to the
opera House, where the President spoke, re-
ferring to the general prosperity which he had
witnessed throughout the west, and to the
prospect OF better times for the whole country
He alluded to the fact Of the city or ST. Joseph
anti-slayery sentiment was more decided and
aggressive than in any other state in the Union
during the civil war. Taking up the question
of reconstruction he said:-"It seems to me
that in those reconstruction measures there
were two leading ideas, which, II generally ac-
cepted as rule OF action for the general and
state governments, would go far towards estao-
fishing complete and permanent paciiication In
the country. One concerns the relation OF the
states to the general government, and the
other the rights OF citizens under the recent
constitutional amendments. My first idea is
that equal and exact justice should be
extended to all sections and to all states; that
under the general government equal rights and
fits and blessings should be enjoy ed by all state
and all sections, and that the government
should deal upon the same principles and by the
same methods with Texas and Kansas and VITA
Missouri and Georgia. Now, that prlncipt,
agreed to and established and acted upon, Won d
be so far so well. What is the second? 1t is
like unto the first-that in this country here
after, as allltS Inhabitants have become citizens,
invested by the constitution with equal civil
and political rights, that all government, state
and national should treat all citizens as entitled
to the same equal ard exact Justice rCheers
And by the same methods let all citizens be dealt
With by state governments, and the state gov
ernments by the national government. accord
Ing to the laws throughout, and with these two
things we shall enter upon a career OF pros
q
never known before. [Cheers.l have spoken
OF the national government and Of the state
governments; l must go one step further. All
government in this free country is at last
government of public opinion. Public opinion
is back OF the national and the state govern
ments 1t is public opinion that rules in this
republic. When, therefore, l come into an as
semblage Of my fellow. citizens to talk about
the duty of the government reach back be-
yond the government. The individual who Is
governor, or who is President to-day, passes
away, but the people and the popular judy
meht and their ruling opinion will last through
generations and ages. Now as to popular opin-
Ion, let 1t be sound on these two great leading
ideas and principles: let every man feel that he
can form part of that popular sentiment and
opinion; that he Is responsible for what he can
do to direct Alright the general conduct of the
country as TO the right of states aud citizens.
The misfortune OF the old time was hat there
were in this country two popular opinions.
There was the popular opinion OF the slave
holding states and also that Of the free
opportunities and the new and improved
condition OF our country. Let 1t be under
stood hereafter that in all things there is but
one popular opinion In our country, which
is to decide US in every important event. Having
said this much, l would finally appeal to a
maxim of the old native American party, to
which did not belong, [cheers.l for a settle
ment of this whole question. l did not happen
to agree entirely with that old party, but It did
have as its basis one sentiment with which
l am in complete and entire accord II is the
sentiment OF that party in regard to the Union
the sentiment of that party as expressed In the
motto, 1.-the Union, the Constitution and the
enforcement OF the laws" ICheers.l That
governs the whole business Of the day. Let the
popular sentiment sustain that old principle,
and with favorable condition OF peeuniary
and business affairs we shall enter upon an era
Of prosperity which will be the envy of the CIV
1lized world" Prolonged cheering
Con. Sherman was then introduced and made
a feliciols speech, which was received VITA
much favor.
The party was then driven to the fair grounds
and afterwards re-embarked on the train.
Short sloppages were made at Hannibal and
Atchison, and at both places there was much
enthusiasm.