Year: 1877

carrying out MS policy, y those hppeals go
to the extent Of forgetting the past, and ex-
tending the tight hand Of fellowship to one
we denouisce in onr inmost eonsciences as
theimest successful Of couspimtors. May
we ssh whore il the obligation, where is the
necessity, to give Mr.. Hayes more support
than comes from the approval Of such bene-
Hcial acts as lave flowed from obedience to
the Constitution. an instrument he was
sworn to obey? Farther than this the De-
mocratic party cannot go without stultify-
ing itself To- 60 farther, would be to say
that it has gained all BY the unlawful ac.
cessicn Of Mr.. Hayes that il has been con-
tending for since the two parties measured
their strength. To go farther would be to
say that it had no aim and no principle
higher than the security to the South from
intrusive interference by the Federal gov
ern,nent in its internal affairs. If this we're
the only aim of the Southern branch Of the
Democratic party. then truly it has laid
pitiable foundation for national con6>
dence because its principles become loca-
,ized and selfish. totally oblivious Of other
great ideas upon the development Of which
the character aud prosperity o. the country
depend.


- y


But is the Southern Democratic wing,
supposing that it thus narrOws its vision, so
sure that it has made permanent gain Of
its most cherished hopes? We think this
50 doubtful. that We cannot build upon it.
Admitting that Mr. Hayes, BY reversing the
policy o: lis predecessors, has given a GER
tain ilibertJ of action to the South. do we
not know that he was acting under certain
compulsion in doing this much? lie GER
tainly never would have passed the ordeal
Of Congressional scrutiny, never would
have escaped the last crucial test which
would have been applied to his right. never
could have resisted the power Of that stra-
tegy which it was in the hands Of the House
Of Representatives and which it was its
right. and We may add, It's duty TO use, but
for certain secret pledges which disarmed
the ultimate purpose Of opposition, and
opened his way to:the presidential ohair BY
certain promises Of sectional relief. We do
not know who lost more Of honor. Mr..
Hayes. or the bargainers in this traffic. BY
the arrangement which give temporary qui-
ct to one portion Of the South at the ex-
pense Of the rights and interests Of the
whole country. Mr.. Hayes may as well
disclaim his pretension 70 an independent.
original and magnanimous policy. when the
history Of the transactions Of the last win
ter show that the alternatives Of personal
disappointment or perfunctory patriotism
were presented 70 him.


Such being the case Mr.. Hayes cannot
be relied upon with absolute certainty to
hold out in bis new path. lie is enough Of
Republican to dread abandonment BY his
old party friends. lie is not enough of a
Democrat to be sure of his Welcome into the
Democratic ranks. lie is not unmindful Of
the storm gathering around him. He Is
much more likely TO recede from bis pres
snt course than to advance on il If be is 70
do il at the cost Of rupture.


But our tender hearted contemporaries
think that Mr. Hayes needs our hep, and
that We must go to bis aid though We imPe-
ril our own party integrity. Gratitude for
unexpected faSOrs must cancel all resent,
ments for past wrongs. Nov. il strikes Us
that the Democratic party should stand on
lis own ground sithout moving 3 foot To-
ward Mr. Hayes. What that gentleman
has done for the good Of the country i the
clear outgrowth Of democratic doctrine.
That doctrine Is endorsed by the President
almost IN spite OF himself; and we know.
endorsed only % the extent Of seeming -
keep plighted faith.


Shall We 90 TO him? Or should be not
rather come 10 usl But We knos be Is not
going % Dc this when be believes that with
bis younger and freshsr following Of new
generation Of Republican leaders be will
oOufrm tho fortunes Of bis party. And
ean We 70 10 aim. when We know that the
Republican party still keeps alive as vital
principles all that has made the misery and
The disaster Of the country FOR the ten past
years-undying bate 70 the South. belief
10 the absolute sovereignty u the federal
government over our domestic affairs. dis
trust Of our fidelity, denial Of our claim %