Year: 1877

of Hayes and Wheeler on
he 5th of March. The election will ever
be disputed one, as it would have been
had the decision of the Commission been
reversed. That the successful candida
tes owe their success to the unlawful acts
of the Louisiana Returning Board will
always be claimed by their Democratic
opponents, while their friends will not
concede but the decision has been in ac-
cordance with the law and the facts.
With that however we now have nothing
to do. The political tricks Of both par
ties have produced a strange tumble Of
affairs which thinking, patriotic minds
felt could not be settled in the manner
established by long precedent, without
danger of provoking bloody collisions
The determination to submit the contest
ed points to the Commission met with a
hearty response from the people Of all
parties. And we do not doubt but its de-
cision will be acquiesced in, with the same
spirit which would have been manifested
by the Republican masses had it been
given the other way.


Upon the new administration so soon
to commence, rests the future of the Re-
publican party. If, as President, Mr..
Hayes carries out the policy announced
in his letter Of acceptance, it will build
up future for the party and its grand
principles UGH as will sweep the nation
in four years from now. The people are
not Democratic, the record OF the party
which has usurped that name is too much
tainted to commend itself to the masses OF
the population. Under the specious cry
Of Reform" it attempted to cover its
past and to some extent succeeded. How
much of true reform was embodied in
Samuel j. Tilden will puzzle any friend
Of honest government and purity Of cleo
tions, who ha taken the pains to watch
the process of unearthing the attempted
Oregon fraud. Where an attempt to de-
feat the will of the people when it has
been expressed in a manner which ad-
mits of no controversy, by the lavish use
of money, was traced 50 close to the per
son of the Great Reforne er as in that case,
the true men of the nation, who love
good governm ent for its own sake, with
out reference to the party which gives it,
have no slight reason to rejoice that such
an unscrupulous trickster has been kept
out of the Presidential chair. What The
administration of Hayes will be the fu-
ture only can tell-what the adminstra-
ton of Tilden would have been can be
readily told. The worst elements Of the
party would control an administration
which owed its existence to violence and
fraud, and would seek to perpetuate its
power by the same means.


There has been spirit displayed by
the Southern Democrats in Congress in
referer ce to the Electoral bill, and the
subsequent action ander it which is worth
ty Of all praise. While Northern fan
atics would counsel resistance, delay, and
notification of the work of their own
bands, the leading Democrats of the South
have acted in manner which shows that
they intended to keep faith, whatever
might be proposed by their hair Drained
Northern associates. 1t is to the coun sells
of such men as Reagan, Lamar, and Ben
Hill that the stand taken by the Democra.
tic House to interpOse no delay but pro-
coed with thecount is chiefly due. 1t i:
true that any proceedings calculated tC
evade the result of the Commissions in


quiry would have been violation o


good faith which would rebound to The


injury Of the party guilty, but we do no


believe this to be the reason for the act


ion of the Southern Congressman. They


had pressed the passage of the Electora


act, in the full belief, probably. that it


findings would be in accordance will
their own judgement, and were not dis
posed TO back out because the even


proved them to be mistaken. The ap


pearance Of such spirit among thos


who may reasonably be supposed to rep


resent the extreme of Southern sentiment


cannot fail TO produce in the minds o


conservative, candid Northern men


reciprocal feeling, which will not rest un


til it is satisfied that the abuses of loca


government which the South deplores ar


righted. We trust that Mr.. Hayes, il


the organization Of his Cabinet and i
his appointments to lucrative position


of trust will ignore the claims of the mer


politician in favor Of men of this charac


ter. Reform in the Civil Service canno
better be inaugurated than by the appoint


ment of Southern men to Southern off


ces, and such course will at once q


more to alay any uniounded feelings G
, distrust and soreness growing out of tn
result Of the late election, than any Other
The South, if we are to Judge by the nj


terances of those who represent it, want
, peace; wants a settlement of existin
| troubles in such n manner as will Civ


security for the future. And the Sout
cares little or nothing whether this secu
z rity is given by a Republican or Dem
cratic administration, SO long as it rest


on substantial basis.


The appointment of Mr.. Bristow as
, member OF the Cabinet would give tn
a new administration a claim upon tn
q confidence of the people from its con


mencement. There is little doubt br


Hayes owes his nomination in the fir
instance to the influence of Mr.. Bristow
q f lends, who saw in him the same inteQ
rity of character as commended Bristol
I to their admiration. Repubijcans an
G Democrats have confidence alike in Bris


tow, and would hail his appointment q
y an earnest that all abuses of governmer