Year: 1878

| ,,. From the Washington Star e.. r..r..
THE PRESIDENTS POLITICAL POSITION.


NO CHANGE OF POLICY.


The following statement defines the posi-
ton occupied by the President upon the
southern question. In view of the reports
that have gone out as to his teetotal change
of base; his entire abandonment Of his south
ern policy and his reconciliation with the
stalwart republicans, this exposition of his
views is perhaps timely. The purport Of this
exposition is that he has made no change of
policy only be is determined to protect the
citizens of every part Of the Union in their
rights, He does not yet believe in bayo-
net rule All violations Of the law, he still
holds, should be punished by civil process "if
possible" Therefore, when it was learned,
prior to the recent elections, that republican
voters in certain southern states would be in-
terfered With in the exercise of their franchise
rights, the Attorney General ordered the o.
S. District Attorneys for those states to see
that all violators of the law in this respect
were promptly arrested and brought to trial.
And after the elections the advances for "con-
ciliation" from those arrested were not needed,
and the Attorney General was, on last satur'
day, instructed to prosecute offenders to the
utmost limits of the law. But it is urged that
neither of these instructions could be regard
ed as change of policy. We think it may
be explained that the President has not aban-
donedhis policy Of seeking to reconstruct the
South without the aid of the bayonet, but
that in resolving to punish offenders to the
full limits of the law be has concluded, like
the old man in the fable, to try the virtue of
few QegaD stones to dislodge the rude boy
in the apple tree, in place of the ineffective
tufts of grass. II is to be hoped that, as in
the fable, "the rude boy will hasten down and
beg the old mans pardon" ,r...


The following is the statement" which
was submitted to the president and received
his approval before publication. 1t may
therefore be regarded as semi.oficial:


Two positions of great importance in the
politics of the country have, within the past
few days, been assigned the President. One
that he has abandoned in toto his southern poll
cy the other that he has, by giving way in
that policy, brought about reconciliation"
between his administration and the so.called
"stalwart" wing of the republican party, the
elements of which have been, since the inaugu.
ration of the conciliation policy, alienated
from him. Both of these statement are eth
er untrue or are given an improper coloring


AS TO THE REPORTED CHANGE OF POLICY


regarding the south, there is nothing in it.
The method of dealing with the southern
states which the President has seen fit to pur-
sue is the same now an it was when Inaugural
ted. This policy" was in no respect
whatever an ''experiment." The President
considered, and still considers, it matter Of
duty to see that in administering the laws of
the land, the constitutional rights of every cit
izen, in every portion of the country, equally
and alike should be fully respected and guard
ed. 1t is pretty generally conceded that the
south, under bayonet rule, was not en- joying
the free government vouchsafed it by the con-
stitution. To remove that rule was duty
the President considered devolvng upon him,
and it was accordingly removed. He has
gone on with the determination Of securing,
as far as lay in his power, that ... ....-


EVERY CITIZEN SHALL BE PROTECTED


in the full and free exercise of all his rights
and privileges. With this determination has
been coupled very strong desire not to use
the military branch of the government, except
to quell insurrection and put down riots. All
violations of the law should, he has always
held and still holds, be punished by civil pro-
cess if possible. Therefore, when it was learn
ed prior to the recent elections that republl-
can voters in the south, notably in South
Carolina, Louisiana and Alabama, would
certainly be interfered with, in the exercise
of their franchise rights, the attorney general
ordered the attorneys for those states to see
that all violators of the law in this respect
were promptly arrested and brought to trial.
And after the elections, notwithstanding the
advances for compromise from those arrested,
the attorney general was last Saturday in
struced to prosecute offenders to the utmost
limits of the law. Neither of these instruc-
tions could be regarded as "a change of poll
cy." They were but the carrying out of the
Presidents determination to see that the laws
are enforced everywhere.


STATEMENTS ABOUT THE PRESIDENT ABAN-
DOMINO HIS POLICY UNTRUE.


The statement that the President has re-
Gently said that he had tried the plan of con.
ciliation and found it complete failure, IS
untrue. The president has never made such q
statement. H. is true that be does not think
the south has responded as it should to his
good intentions; but, nevertheless, ne does
not intend to change, in any manner whatever,
the course of his administration upon this
account. This course, as has previously been
said, is not southern policy. 1t is not in
any true sense man policy-it is the en-
forcement of the laws by civil processes.


As TO THE ERA OF RECONCILIATION.
AS to the other statement that there has
been a reconciliation between the admins
tration and the dissatisfied leaders OF the re-
publican party, it may be stated that in order
that there might be "a reconciliation" as the
phrase is, it would be necessary that the
President should come at least partially to
the way of thinking held by leaders Of the
party with which be is to be "reconclled.
The President has never seen any reason why
he should cease to do his duty because some
portion of his party were dissatisfied with his
methods. He has always desired and still
desires that the utmost harmony should exist
in the party. If leaders Of the party, after
interchanging views with him, see that they
have misunderstood his course and conduct,
and think that it would be good that past diff
ferences should be healed, the President is
ready to respond heartily. That such is the