Year: 1875

2. That executive patronage and influence was
being exerted to extend executive power and to Sc
cure reelection Of President Grant.


3. That favoritism was used in the distribution of
patronage. t~


Time may or may not have justified US In our ac-
tion- The question now is, whether these reasons
are, or should be, still potent, in determining our
political course.


Reconstruction Is practically accomplished.
Whether wen done or otherwise, It's done. One
hundred ex-Confederate officers are seated in the
halls of Congress, Confederate generals are honor
ed guests side by side with Union generals, in the
shadow of Bunker Hill. In the South, the grave
of the Union soldier is strewn with flowers by fair
hands, while in the North, the poet of the slave has
sung the praise of StonewaI jackson.


1t is confidently asserted that the history of the
world has not afforded an example Of SO much pro-
gress in healing the wounds of great civil war, in
so short time. Utmost of the Southern States
the State governments are as untrammeled as in
Ohio or New York But while this is SO, events
have taken place in several of the Southern States
and notably in the State of Louisiana, which have
been the occasion of just criticism of the present adj
ministration. Conservative men of both political
parties have united in condemning this Federal in
terference in State affairs notwithstanding the nm
doubted fact that for this interference there was
some excuse, because OF the lawlessness which pre-
vailed, unchecked by State authority If this mat
ter was distinctly presented as political Issue, in
way that justified the hope that Federal assump
tion would be rebuked, without thereby bringing
upon the country other and greater evils the Lber
al might well consider whether he would cast his
ballot In way to protect the reserved rights Of the
States. Butts it so presented? In ~, we voted
for candidate, whose whole political life was
guarantee that, If he became the executive he would
not, in remembering mercy, forget Justice. There
are two classes in the South and one of these class
es is poorly able to make itself heard when the ear
of the public is to be reached and this Glass; in its
poverty its weakness, and its ignorance, but above
all in its answering loyalty to the Government in
the time of trial. powerfully appeals to the country
to protect in the rights secured by the Constitu
ton. With hundred representatives of the 'Iost
Cause" in Congress, with nearly every Southern
State government in the hands of their former op-
pressors, and then with an Executive and Congress
hand in glove with the influences that seek their
domination and political serfdom, is it not to be
feared that the Fifteenth Amendment will not be
heartily enforced?


AS said before, the country decided against Us in
~ as to the complaints made Of the .undne ex-
ercise of Executive patronage Imust be allowed
to think, however, that the attitude of the admins
tration in this regard then and now was and is IN
dignifed and disgraceful. Nor do 1 believe it
would have been unrebuked by the people in the
last Presidential contest had not they thought that
other questions OF more moment were involved and
to be passed upon. But Grants second term is
more than half expired. There are now no serious
apprehensions that he viii be a candidate for
third, and now as in ", question of greater i'm
portance is, by the action of the Ohio Democracy,
thrust upon u.s.


Whether the Democratic position in Ohio on this
financial question be right wrong, of this there
can be no doubt-that the dissemination of the is
sues raised by it must seriously affect not only the
influential class in two or three Southern States;
not only the honor and dignity Of the Executive
branch of Government; but the business prosperity,
and as connected with that, the domestic comfort
and happiness of the whole people. And if there
be anything in the lessons of history if any reliance
can be placed upon the teachings of political scien
fists; and lastly, if give any credence to TIE
ablest thinkers of the Democracy themselves, the
position taken by the Ohio Democracy upon this
great question is wrong. II. NJ. H.