Year: 1877

Editor Davenport Ga1ette:--In youl
letter of the 29th ult. you ask me to fur.
nish you, for publication, my views
of the proper policy to be pursued by
the Republican party in this State
touching what is called the President Is
Southern policy. | am not at all sure
your readers will care to know my
opinion on that subject, hut as you
seem to think they may. comply
with your request.


In my judgment any action by the
Republican State Convention, either
approving or disappearing the Presi-
dents policy, would be untimely and
unwise. 1t is evident that an at
tempt to pass any resolution on the
subject would produce division and
dissension in the convention, and any
such resolution, If passed. would not
be held as binding by those who did
not favor it.


The action of the President Is final
in this matter so far as he has acted
what he has done cannot be undone.
Those who do not approve his action
may find fault with it, but they can
not, nor can he, reverse it. They may
scold bitterly, but my observation
has been that scolding is not a very
useful or decorous employment |
In H. xpy1, ~ lao
has done the President has done that
which he believed would but promote
the public welfare. and sincerely
hope that time will show that he has
judged correctly. But if the result
shall show that he has made mistake
l could not condemn him for having
done what he honestly believed was
the right thing to do. On the other
hand, If, as think all good men
hope, the Presidents policy shalt
prove a success, would it not be rath-
er awkard for the Republican party In
Iowa, If 1t should have denounced
that policy In advance? The truth,
as understand, is, that the President
himself regards his policy, as to some
extent, experimental-an experiment
rendered necessary, In his judgment,
by the failure of the former policy to
effect what all desired and desire, the
restoration of good feeling between
the different sections of our country
and the protection of all parties, races
and persons in all their rights, civil
and political, and he and his advisers
have great hope for a happy result.
l confess am not very hopeful-my
fears of failure are greater than my
| hopes of success, but am willing to
wait, and no one will rejoice more
than myself If 1t shall appear that my
fears are unfounded. The result now
rests largely, If not wholly, In the
hands Of the Southern Democrats, and
it seems to me that in view of the ex
pcrience of the last twelve years it re-
quires very vigorous exercise of al
three of the virtues Of faith, hope anG
charity to count confidently upon
such conduct on their part as theil
own good and the good of the countr,
require. There is one thing connect
ed with the Presidents action from
which good must necessarily result
He had, before he acted, the positive
pledges of honor of the Southern lead
ers for the protection of all the civi
and political rights of all persons II
these States. If those pledges shall
be kept, good must result. If thos
pledges shall not be kept, If 1t shal
appear that the Southern leaders an,
the Southern people have had In viev
in making these pledges only par
success and not public good, and tha
they will use the power thus placed Ii
their hands for the purpose Of oppres
sion and injustice still I think goo


must result. The persistent but uttel


" unfounded assertion, that the RI
publican party has acted towards tn
Southern people In . spirit Of vindic