The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-03-12

tend the close of his official career.
When Mr.. Hayes became president,
the country had not yet recovered
from the effects of the fiercest poit-
icaI struggle in its history; and al
though his title to office had been
iudically affirmed by the Electoral
Commission. which the Democrats
themselves had created, there were,
undoubtedly, thousands Of citizens
who refused to accept the finding of
that tribunal, and withheld from the
President that support and reeogni
ton which were lawfully his due.
Moreover, he was confronted at the
outset with questions of policy affect
ing the immediates welfare of the
country. The duty deyolved upon
him of bringing order out of the
chaos which existed in several of the
Southern sta es /; of restoring the
finances of the nation tc a specie ba
sis, and to re. establishing economy
and honesty in the civil service of the
government. That he pursued the
only safe course that was open to
him for the successful discharge of
that duty. it is now impossible to dis
pute. The withdrawal oftruops from
the South, which the stalwasts re-
garded as a fatal act Of weakness, was
really but a part of the Iogic ofevents,
and the recognition ofthe Democratic
state governments was equally the
result of the force nf circumstances.
The President might, indeed, have
maintained the policy of his prede
ceesor towards the South; but 1t
would have profited nothing to the
country or his party. He erred, it
is true. in supposing that the South
would receive his cOnci iatory adj
vances in the spirit in which they
were conceived ; but it was the South.
and not the President, that suffered
for this mistake. In 1876 the major
ity of the Northern people believed
that the South had not had "a fair
chance to show its loyalty to the
Constitution and the amendments,
and that the politicians were running
the "eutrage mill" with 1.-THE water
that was past" There can be no
reasonable doubt that the renewed
political solidity of the North in 1880
was largely due to the continued dis
orders and election frauds in the
South, Notwithstanding the with
drawal of the federal troops and the
non. interference of the federal gov
eminent in state affairs. Mr.. Hayes,
perhaps, expected the consequence 0l
his conciliatory policy would be the
breaking up of the old political divi'
siOns south of the Potomac; and that
is, indeed, likely to be the result in
the near future. but the event was
further off than he supposed. 1t will
be fastened by the firm stand which
the next Congress is likely TO take
concerning the election frauds in
South Carolina and Mississippi.
But, while Mr.. Hayes has not ac-
cOmplished all that he hoped to &C.
hieve by his Southern policy, his eX.
pectations have been more than real
lied so far as the resumption ofspecie
payments is concerned. Secretary
Sherman will, of course, receive the
chief credit for the operations which
led to the establishment Ofspecie pay
ments; but, had he not been cour.
agenusly supported by Mr., Hayes in
his veto of the Silver bill, his plans
could never have reached their full.
filment.
Mr.. Hayes will not be can0nized
by the politicians, but it may safely
said that his administration has
Injured to the benefit of the whole
country. 1t first brought us peace
and afterwards prosperity, and the
people, irrespective of party, are not
inSensible to its virtues.