Year: 1877

| WHICH IL cOUiu DC improved, eitneI III SuS


stance or temper. 1t may be said that


promises are cheap and performance diff


cult; but, however true this may be as o
! general rule, we can see no good reason for


distrusting the new Presidents ability to


fulfil the engagements which he has volun-


teered to make. Indeed, he will find it
| easier to keep his excellent promises than
| to break them. They reflect the just
! sentiment and deliberate wishes OF
majority Of the American people OF both


political parties. and President who pro-
claims his purpose to do the things which
! the enlightened public opinion Of his coun-
| trymen most urgently demands cannot fail


if his methods should be as skilful as his OBJ
| jects are well chosen With such a chart as
| President Hayes has marked out for his ad-
m;ristration he will sail with the current
and not against it. His letter OF acceptance
I, might have been regarded as snare to catch
votes and classed with electioneering
. premises which are SO often made only to pc
broken But the repetition o! those prom
ises with more explicit emphasis in the in
augural address would merely furnish his
opponents with weapons unless he means


20 execute them in good faith. At any rate,


as we cannot yet judge him by his acts, it is


fair to judge him by his pledges and until
he does acts by which the pledges are for
feited, common candor requires that we ac-
cept his declarations. He has at least made


satisfactory beginning SO far he has
evinced wisdom that would not dis
credit the most illustrious Of his
predecessors. It is the clear duty of
the country to encourage. support and
strengthen him by such strong testimonies
of appreciation and Endorsement as will en-
of public sentiment. 1t will be easy for
him to keep his admirable pledges if they are


warmly responded to by the applauding
voice Of the whole people. Even democrats
should give him generous good words, see
ing that he engages to do the very things
which they would have expected Of Mr. Til
den. 1t would puzzle them to tell in what


respect Mr.. Tilden himself could have pre-


pared a more satisfactory inaugural address.
The address is devoted to three capital


and two subordinate subjects, understand
ing the word subordinate to mean, not


unimportant, but not of immediate urgency.


The three urgent topics, on which it is


shape its policy at once, are the Southern


question, civil service reform, and the


finances the two which are not so pressing


are our foreign relations-which are left


in so satisfactory state by the re-


firing administration that they present no


difficulties which engage public attention
and universal education, which is rather the


business Of the States than of the federal
government The most urgent subject Of
all, the one which requires the promptest


action by the President, is the settlement


and pacifcation of the South on the basis of


local self-government. This question meets


President Hayes at the threshold of his ad-


way, before many days shall have gone over


his head decide it he must, not merely by


declarations, but by immediate practical


action which will test the value of the
declarations, and either establish their sin


cerity or expose their hollowness. Within


few days President Hayes will be compelled,


by the force of circumstances, to recognize


either Nichols or Packard, and thereby


commit himself beyond retreat to sustain


the one he acknowledges until the expira-
ton of his term of Office. 1t is incon-


ceivable that the President should have


taken the strong ground he has done in his
address if he felt any doubt as to whether
- 1


the ensuing week or month. We believe


that he has infexibly made up his mind


that he has planted himself immovably on


the right side of this important question.
Nothing could be more explicit than this part


of the address. ''The people of those States,


says President Hayes, ''are still impover-


ished, and the inestimable blessing of wise,


honest and peaceful local self-government is


not fully enjoyed. Whatever difference of


opinion may exist as to the cause of this


condition of things. the fact is clear that, in


the progress of events, the time has come


when such government is the imperative


necessity required by all the varied inter-


ests, public and private, of those States"


He maintains, very Justly, that efficient and


tranquil selfgovernment is possible only


when resting on the foundation of


equal justice to all citizens, and
| in his attempts to establish local
| rule on that secure foundation he


asks 'the cordial cooperation of all who


cherish an interest in the welfare Of the


country, trusting that party ties and the


prejudice of race will be freely surrendered


in behalf of the great purpose to be accom-
plished.' He expresses solicitude for the


material welfare rs we'll as the political


tranquility Of the South, and thinks it


''needs and deserves the considerate care Of
the national government within the just


limits prescribed by the constitution and