Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-03-09
President GarleId's Opportunity.


With very few exceptions the South
ern press has unanimously pronounced
the inaugural address of President Gar
field to be an admirable document. In
the opinion of many, it was little toe
universal in its scope, and was some.
what too non-committal in its character,
thus conveying the impression that II
was to great extent composed OF plati-
tudes and glittering generalities. This,
however, was only to have been expect
ed in an address in which brevity
and general touching upon the promi-
nent questions of the day were impera-
lively demanded at the same time, and
the prevailing sentiment is that 1t was q
conservative and patriotic composition.
Now the great question is. ''Wil MT
Garfield carry out practically in his al
ministration the conservative and nom
sectional views expressed in MS ad-
dress9" The country has had good
cause to feel very suspicious OF the Ut
terances of public men on pubic occa-
sions Grant once said, 'Let us have
neace. and received great applause for
his patriotic epigram. But his idea of
peace was filling the Southern States
with troops; taking possession OF
Southern Legislatures by force; VIC
lating the will of the people
by setting up over them carpet bag des-
pots who had been rejected at the polls,
and maintaining the same in power at the
point of the bayonet. In other words
his policy toward the South was "to Gre
ate desolation and call it peace.
Hayes, when he entered upon his fraud
ulent occupation of the White House,
uttered many high flown sentiments full
of patriotism, and made speciality OF
Civil Service Reform" Yet
his administration, begun in fraud,
was a fraud throughout He
did not establish a military
despotism in the South, because the days
for such outrages had well nigh passed
away even before Grant so reluctantly
retired from his second term, but his
latest expressions regarding this section
were full of hate, venom and malicious
falsehood. As to his civil service reform
farce, it has long since become the laugh
ing stock of the country. Hence it is
that ne question is asked in all earnest
ness Z viii Garfald prove recreant to his
patriotic professions, o. viii he consent
to become merely partisan toolY'
If he should prove recreant he win, to
express it mildly, show himself utterly
devoid of political sagacity. No Presi-
dent since the days of Washington has
ever been afforded so grand an Opportu-
My to make for himself and his posteri-
ty a most enviable name. He enters
upon his Office finding the country split
in twain, for he was elected President
only because his partY-by the free use
of money, and the treachery of North
ern Democratic leaders-were enabled
to array an almost solid North against a
solid South. He has it in his power,
however, to break up this feeling
OF sectionalism, and become President
of the whole country, for while the South
is chiefly Democratic through devotion
to the principles of Democracy, she has
also, in great degree, been made solid in
her political sentiments through motives
of self-interest and self-protection. Re
publicanism in the South has heretofore
meant simply thievery and scality in
all their most hideOus phases. A Southern
Republican has thus been, more or less,
heretofore regarded as a traitor to his
section and his State, and so Radicalism
has been invested with an odiousness in
this section which has kept men of self
respect from enteringi its ranks This state
of affairs Mr.. Garfield can materially
alter, if he will; for while we candidly
admit that he cannot hope to induce the
South to abandon her Democratic prin-
ciples, he can, by wise and just admin
istration, remove from Republicanism
its odium, so that Southern man can, if
he chooses, be Republican, and still be
regarded by his fellow citizens as an
honest man and gentleman.
This is Mr. Garfeld's grand oppor-
tunity. If he sees fit to improve it, and
make himself in reality President of the
entire country, he will receive the ap-
prevail of all right thinking and fair
minded men in the land. and will achieve
for himself a reputation as a patriotic,
conscientious President and statesman
a reputation which will promptly be
accorded him by every one of his fellow
citizens of all shades of political senti-
ment whose opinion is worth having,
and which will rebound to the lasting
honor of himself and his descendants.