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Show AN ERA OF GOOD FEELINO, Tlio recent municipal elections in the west do not indicato any material change in public opiaiou. Theae con tests, bowover, do not generally turn on national politics, but mOBtly on local questions, though tlio party organizations nro often used for convenience, con-venience, and tho habits of political association load many voters to bus tain tho ticket placed in tho field by tho party with which they affiliate in state and national electionu. The result in Chicago Bhows a very large republican majority for mayor and the choice by smaller majorities of the entire ticket nominated by that party. Elections in other western cities develop few democratic gains, and they seom to furnish no evidence of a popular reaction against the con -servative policy announced and so far carried out by the Hayes administration. administra-tion. The indignant outpourings outpour-ings of the democratic proas I against Hayes ag a fraudulent president presi-dent have subsided, even the opponents oppon-ents of the new administration being willing to teat it by ita policy and acts, leaving the struggle and animosities ani-mosities of the past out of the view as far as possible. At present the political politi-cal indications seem to be that an era ol good feolin? has set in among the people, and that if Mr. Hayes continues in the conservative line which he has marked out his administration admin-istration will have as many supporters in the democratic party ag within the ranks of the organization which elected him. All these pleasing features fea-tures may be dispelled, however, by the meeting of the now congrs in extra session, when an attempt will be made to draw party lines as strictly as ever in the organization of the house of representatives. METHODIST WBATH. A dispatch from Boston ahows thai the Methodist Episcopal miuiaters o New England have become severely exercised in regard to the policy ol the new national administration, and that resolutions denouncing the president presi-dent and his advisers have been presented pre-sented in the New England conference confer-ence and referred to a committee. No one well informed in the political history of the count) y, and especially in regard to the clergy of the Methodist Metho-dist church, will be surprised il this ebulition of wrath shall meet the approval of the New England conference confer-ence and find ita way to President Hayes as the embodiment of the highest moral Bentiment of the country. coun-try. It is too much to expect that the clergy of this sect, who took a very prominent part in building up tUat fanatical and revolutionary Organization known as the republican I party, could be speedily converted into conservative christians. The northern branch ot this church always prided itself upon its radical ideas, carrying into its pulpit the sword of the Lord to punish all who dillered from it in political sentiments, and holding it to be among, the duties of ita clergy to iuatruct ita members in their duties as citizens. The sectional crusade of the northern Methodists led at an early day iD the history of the anti-dlavery agitation to a rupture between the northern and southern Methodists, and this split and the succeeding warfare became a potent element in bringing on our great civil war which resulted in the demoralization de-moralization of the country, the enormous public indebtedness, and other fatal legacies which still hang like a funeral pall over the industry and energies of the nation. The abolition of the curse of slavery ought to hare satisfied theso radical's for a time. But it did not. They insisted upon the suffrage boing conferred con-ferred upan the ignorant negroes, and that the whole power of the federal government should be used to guarantee guaran-tee them the exercise of the privilege, and the government for many years, under its reconstruction policy, tried toe experiment of governing the southern states by placing and maintaining main-taining in power a system of negro and carpet-bag governments .based upon the idea that the enfranchised Africans were the truly loyal people of the south, while the white citizenship citizen-ship wan a rebel element, which could not be safely trusted with tho control Of the slate governments. During tho last term of Cicneral Grant this policy was pursued with some vigor, most of the southern states, however, having been wrested from the inilueucoa of the carpet-baggers and placed in the hands of their people, greatly to the advantago of ail their intereaU. The observance of the laws and good order were promoted, and the two races entered into more harmonious relations than before. In the three states of Louisiana, South Carolina and Florida the administration kept military control for political purposes, sustaining in power minority governments govern-ments which could not rxist a ningle day without the support of tho federal troops. By virtue of this policy Mr. Hayes was awarded the electoral votes of these states by such glaring frauds as to become a public scandal and disgrace. Having been elevated to the executive execu-tive office, the new president, in part probably forced by his necessities and in part by a sense of shame at the method by which he reached the top of tho ladder, announced hitt conservative con-servative policy, which is in direct antagonism an-tagonism to the platorm upon which his party Blood, and appointed ap-pointed a cabinet mainly outside of the extreme radicals who were his most eflicient supporters. The noted republican wire-pullers and managers were ignored, and a cabinet composed com-posed largely of democrats and Greeley men waa appointed to aid him in carrying on the administration. administra-tion. This was a new departure indeed, in-deed, which every conservative republican re-publican and democrat could approve. ap-prove. It promised a restoration of peace, union and good will. For a time the elements of radicalism and the lovers of discord and sectionalism were silenced, and the new adminis tration took courage and pushed on its good work. The order removing the troops from the South Carolina Btaie house places tho legitimate government gov-ernment in power in that state, and it is to be hoped that this policy may be continued until Governor Nicholli secures his rightful position in Louisiana. Louisi-ana. Wo do not wonder that tho Methodist Metho-dist preachers of New England begin to howl and abuse tho administration. It is entirely legitimate on their part. We only wonder if President Hayes will have the courage to stand up in the faoa of this firo and carry out his conservative policy. Should he do so he will achieve a victory such as few presidents have had the opportunity of winning, and will merit the approval ap-proval of a grateful country, which is tired of sectional strife. |