Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-07-14


The heart of the South has gone out
to the family of the stricken Executive,
and its condemnation of the atrocious
assassin has been hearty and universal.
Southern manhood called for this ex-
preston of feeling, and loyalty to the
republic supplemented the impulse that
humanity prompted. The South prays
that the President may rise from his
couch of pain fully restored to health
and vigor. Whilst she does not expect
a political millennium she does look for
such course of conduct on the part OF
the administration, which the President
can so largely shape, as will evidence to
the world that peace and harmony once
more reigns within our borders.
The people were never so much
of one mind and one heart, as on the days
when the slender thread on which the
Presidents life was hanging threatened
to snap.
When the President emerges from his
sick room, and once more assumes the
discharge of his duties. he will stand
confronted with opportunities such as
no Executive since Washington has had
presented to him. He can use them, or
abuse them, or ignore them. He has the
clearest proofs that the people Of the
South have high hopes of the Union,
and are as devoted to the Federal Gov
eminent as any in the land.
He showed a disposition to labor
for the country, and if he needed
encouragement he has had it in abund-
ance. That he will fulfill the promises
of his inaugural both in letter and spirit
we firmly believe.
No one expects him, however, to be
any less a Republican, nor will his OPP
ponents be any less Democrats in conse-
quence of the sympathy which his peril
has excited While our respect for the
man has been increased by his heroism
and endurance, we cannot forget that he
is the leader of a party that has labored
strenuously for the subversion of right
and justice. We expect no concessions.
The South asks only what the
Constitution warrants. All we ask
of him is to see to it that the
laws of the Union be everywhere admin
istered faithfully and impartially; that
the looseness in the public service be cor
rected and punished, and that the execu-
ton of the Federal statutes be confded
to men worthy of confidence and fitted
for their duties. The South is to-day as
firmly welded to the Union as New
England, and is entitled to precisely the
same treatment at the hands of the Fed.
eral Government.
If he resolves to execute the laws in
the right spirit, he will be cordially sup
ported. The measures that he may sug
gest for the welfare of the country will
be criticized precisely as they would have
been had he never seen Guiteau.
If in keeping with the genius of the
republic, they will be approved and sup
ported; but if designed, as much of the
Republican legislation has been, to fur
Their the ends of party or the interest of
corporate power, TO the detriment of the
people, they will be condemned. We
expect no sentimental compliance on the
part of Mr.. Garfield with the spasmOdic
clamOr now going on for reform in the
civil service. He must confine himself
to bis party in filling the offices. The
organs that clamor the loudest for reform
would grow hysteric were he to appoint
Democrats to Office, and his party would
not encourage HIM in doing so.
He can punish rascality, and that we
expect him to do. He can rise to full
appreciation of the dignity of his Office,
and that we feel that he will do. He
can say to our people, you are my
countrymen, as brave, as loyal and as
law-abiding as any citizens of the repub-
lie. There is nelaw for all, and while
l hold my office you shall not have cause
to charge me with shortcomings in its
execution" This we trust,he will do,
and if he essays the task he will have
the support and encouragement of every
honest citizen.