Year: 1877

with tba Southern States and people Il Iodnu
in the attitude of nearly all the influential
newsnancrs of the South which represent III
any degree the sentiments OF conservative CIT
liens. Many of them have been very oitter
toward the Republicans party.in the beilef that
its success meant the continuance OF the poiicy
of Grants Administration and the perpetual
ton of Federal interference and carpet
bao governments at the South. They
wouId not believe the assurances given in the
letters of acceptance 0f the RepuhiIc'n canul-
dates, and they placed no dependence upon
the professions of the platform or the promises
of leaders. Their hostility to the party was
consequently of the mos! uGcomprOnIislng char
actcr, and their opposition to the ticket rs per-
si,tpnt and determined as it was sincere. Inc
tone OF tine Inaugural Address and the char
actcr Gf the appointments thus far made, fore
shadowIng as they do an entire change oi policy
in the respect of Southern affairs, have haa an
excellent effect upon public opinion at the South


iudgino from the ntterances Of the press. We
do not mean by this that there has been any
fling like sudden conversion or that any OF
these opponents of public opinion have cVihced
disposition to glsh over the prospect or TO
commit themselves in advance to the Rcpub-
lean party or to the support of the Admins
t,ation. They are not acting hastily no! with
oni due drlibcratiOn and careful considerations


The good sign is in their manifest disposition
10 giyc tho Administration far chance, and
neither condemn it in advance, without hear
in, or trial, nor withhold from ii cooperation
and support in whatever it may undertake
that promises to hc for the general welfare


II seems to he such natural and reasonable
thing for people to do to approve and com
mend policy which sets ont to redress their
grievances and comply with their desires, that
under ordinary circumstances ii would hardly
be deemed a merit but the quality OF par
fisanship j. 80 tenacious, and the prejudice
and di>trdSt it cngendarS are so deeply rooted


that special merit does attach to any conccS-
sion Of sacrifice even small a the gia-
cious accordance of a favor from an OPP


Ionent In this natter there is Sacrfic"
OF rooted prejudice and Of partisanShp
that might me called hide-b0und, and
tlough there is still enough OF lingering in
cYrdulity and disrlst Of the motives of the
Administration TO hinder any demonstration OF
eagcncss or cntlIusiaslp, there is so much Of
tDliEtlUN anu HOi5tluIb'NN, dh'l w
meet half way all conciliatOry measures, that
We cannot refrain from congratulatng the
whole Southern people upon the encouraging
prospect held out As much by their own rea-
sonablc behavior as by the fOreShldowings of
a new Southern policy. THE TRIBUNE while
striving earnestly for good and honest govern
,nent at The South, free from Federal interfcr


encc and opposing consistently and constantly
the mischiey0uS adventures and their schemes
has always held that the intelligent white ma
tivcs Of those States were reapIng the fruits
Of their own blundcrs, and that II lay in their
power At any time TO remedy the evils of their
situation Their first mistake was in refusing
tO take any part IN politics Immediately after
the war; the second III renewing their fatal
alliance with the Democratic party when they
Gin resume political action. That alliance
continually suggested the renewal of ,he spirit
and the revival Of the purposes o! the old or
gauiZatiOn, and the country was too fresh from
the strain and havoc of the war TO brook any
attempt 10 unsettle its results. Ii was human
nature working ont that led them into the old
assOcuti0n 70 oppose in the forum of politics
the party that had defeated them in the field
of war. But it would have been the highest
wisdom and the broadcst craftsmanship, it
would have been common sense if they had
practically accepted the results of the war,
and sought good government and honest ad-
mimistratiOn at the hands of the party which
alone had the power to grant it.


The two terms OF President Grants Admin
istration were, it must be admitted, period
Of hOpclrssncss for them. That period has
passed. Their opportunity now is to meet the
advances OF the new Administration in a
spirit Of Cancellation, and to give it the
confidence, support, and cooperation to which
it is entitled, and without which all
efforts to restore tranquility, peace, and
prosperity will be useless and vain. Whatever
adjustment of relations between the Southern
State governments and the Federal Gov
ernment may take place under President
Hayes's Administration will be permanent and
stable. Being satisfactory to the South, the
Democrats can make no issue against it ac-
complshed by an Administration of their own
choice the Republicans will be estOpped from
opposing or tampering with it. 1t has long
been apparent that any satisfactory solution
of the Southern question, to be permanent and
abiding, must come from the party which brought
the country through the war, and has con-
sequently the best tight to close up all its
issues aud settle the basis of lasting peace.
The only fear was that it could notsrse above
heat and passion and prejudice and meet the
requirements of the occasion with wisdom,
craftsmanship, and magnanimity. That fear
exists no longer. A new day dawns for the
Southern people, new era of reconciliation,
peace, and prosperity for the whole country,