prehensive survey of all questions. He is genial, generous and
candid, and has all the necessary qualities of heart and brain to
make a great President. He has no prejudices. Prejudice is the
child and flatterer of ignorance. He is firm, but not obstinate.
The obstinate man wants his own way; the firm man stands by the
right. Andrew Johnson was obstinate--Lincoln was firm.
_Question_. How do you think he will treat the South?
_Answer_. Just the same as the North. He will be the President
of the whole country. He will not execute the laws by the compass,
but according to the Constitution. I do not speak for General
Garfield, nor by any authority from his friends. No one wishes to
injure the South. The Republican party feels in honor bound to
protect all citizens, white and black. It must do this in order
to keep its self-respect. It must throw the shield of the Nation
over the weakest, the humblest and the blackest citizen. Any other
course is suicide. No thoughtful Southern man can object to this,
and a Northern Democrat knows that it is right.
_Question_. Is there a probability that Mr. Sherman will be retained
in the Cabinet?
_Answer_. I have no knowledge upon that question, and consequently
have nothing to say. My opinion about the Cabinet is, that General
Garfield is well enough acquainted with public men to choose a
Cabinet that will suit him and the country. I have never regarded
it as the proper thing to try and force a Cabinet upon a President.
He has the right to be surrounded by his friends, by men in whose
judgment and in whose friendship he has the utmost confidence, and
I would no more think of trying to put some man in the Cabinet that
I would think of signing a petition that a man should marry a
certain woman. General Garfield will, I believe, select his own
constitutional advisers, and he will take the best he knows.
_Question_. What, in your opinion, is the condition of the Democratic
party at present?
_Answer_. It must get a new set of principles, and throw away its
prejudices. It must demonstrate its capacity to govern the country
by governing the States where it is in power. In the presence of
rebellion it gave up the ship. The South must become Republican
before the North will willingly give it power; that is, the great
ideas of nationality are greater than parties, and if our flag is
not large enough to protect every citizen, we must add a few more
stars and
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