Year: 1872

ern States-GeneraA GranCs new Fol-


10y of Reconciliation.


The special despatch from q trustworthy
source at Washington which we published
yesterday, in reference to the future treatment
OF the reconstructed Southern States resolved
upon by General Grant, is exceedingly graft
flying. 1t thus appears that the rigorous
regime of the past is to be discarded for a more
generous and concliatory policy; that the
Presidents attention is much given to the
consideration of this important subject; that
it is believed he fully comedies with the idea
that the time, the conditions and the general
results of the late national election are pro-
pitious for reviving the same terra of good
feeling" which came in with President Mon
roe's reelection by an overwhelming popular
majority similar to that which General Grant
has just received that he is in favor of very
material notifications in the Ku Klux laws of
Congress as soon as he can be satisfied that
there is full protection for life and property in
the Southern States, and that he will most
probably recommend a general amnesty in his
forthcoming annual message.


These are indeed gratifying assurances,
and they are perfectly consistent with that
generous character and those conciliatory in
clinations manifested by General Grant in
many things from the surrender at Apo
mattox Court House to his humane treat
ment of the Indians Doubtless IT, instead of
that remorseless Puritanical spirit of coercion
which has too much controlled the legislation
of Congress in reference to the South-surely
il, instead of this policy the two houses had
been governed by the more amiable spirit of
General Grant al complaints of the inse-
curity of life and property in the lately rebel
lious States would have ceased long ago. By
his constitutional oath the President is bound
to take care that the laws are faithfully exc
cuted; but if in their execution the laws re-
lating to the ''Ku Klux Klans," for example,
are found, in his judgment, too harsh to reach
the object designed, it is equally his constitu-
tional duty to recommend their modification
substantially his opinion, and that accord
ingly we may look to President Grant for tho
Inauguration Of new line of action towards
the South for the establishment of law and
order-a policy embracing complete oblt-
Grafton of martial law and rebel disabilities.


The revival Of ''the era of good feeling"
which distinguished the second term of the
administration of Monroe is q happy thought
In this case, we believe history may SO be
shaped as to repeat itself with perfect security
and complete success. The occasion, in oil its
conditions invites the experiment. From its OPP
position to the of 1912 the old federal party,
which had been for many years gradually de-
clining rapidly went down, 50 that in 1920 it
dissolved and disappeared, and in ''the era of
good feeling" which followed, though short
era, the American people were said to be call
republicans and all federalists. From its
opposition to the war, the issues of the war
and to the Congressional measures of South
ern reconstruction resulting from the war of
1861, the democratic party, "fallen from its
high estate" has since been steadily declining,
till, from this remarkable contest of 1872,
under its "new departure, it stands substan-
TALLY in the condition of the old federal party
in 1920, without a local habitation or
name" There were two parties in the late
coalition against General Grant, the liberal
republican and the democratic party; but
these two parties were SO blended together
that with the collapse Of the coalition it may
be said, in national sense, that both have
ceased to exist.


There is, in short, nothing in our political
history which will SO aptly compare with the
second election Of Colonel Monroe as this sec
ond election of General Grant. Nor can it be
denied that the results Of the Presidential con-
test and the political situation are as favorable
to the incumbent in the latter case as they
were in the former. But when we look at the
feebleness of these United States among the
great nations in 1920, as compared with our
commanding strength and resources as the
foremost nation OF the earth in 1872, and when
we look at the great and benefcent measures
in our domestic and foreign relations now
within the grasp of General Grant, it will be
seen that his opportunity for grandly sue
cessiul administration far transcends that Of
Monroe, from his second election. Assuming
that he has and will have no aspirations for
third term, Grant, as was Monroe, is perfectly
free to act upon the idea that there is hut one
political party in the country, the party of
his administration, and if in the contest for
the Presidential succession in 1876 we shall
have repetition Of the ''scrub race of 1924,
Grant, like Monroe, may thank his lucky stars
that with his laurels untarnished he has with
drawn from the course.


We have said that in the conditions ana in
the results Of the late extraordinary Presi-
dental contest there is every encouragement
to the administration for the new departure Of
fraternal generosity towards the South Ii
the President has secured the endorsement of
every Northern State, from the Atlantic to the
Pacific seaboard, he has secured the vote OF
confidence from majority Of the Southern
States and the Southern people, This popular