The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-10-19
NO. 10
The Very Wa ---Hts Character and
Worth.

The New York Rty,rid of the thirtieth
has to say of Governor Hayes that so far as
We are able to judge from his record Mr..
Hayes is a man some parts of " hose conduct
may be approved, while no part of it can be
admired. We lo, k upon him as q mediocre,
well-intentioned gentleman, who has been
lifted by the accidents OF politics to posi-
ton to which he had no title founded on
personal qualifications. He has none of the
elements of great sad commanding char
scter, neither the breadth of intellect, the
force OF will nor the ascendsncy over other
men with which nature stamps a man born
for leadership. He is immeasuTably inferior
To Morton, Blaine, Conkling and q half a
dozen other Republicans that might be
named In the qualities which tit a man for
influence over other minds and make him
felt as a potent force in p litics. We be-
lieve Mr.. Hayes TO be honest, but not more
honest than hundreds { thousands of clti-
zens who are plain tlllers of the soil or who
gain their livelihood by mechanical skill.
He is not eminent as a lawyer, was not emi-
nent as 4 soldier, he made no figure in Con
gress as a legislator. and there are probably
few counties in Ohio which could not fur
nish as useful Governor. We have moth
ing to say against the services rendered in
public stations by we'll meaning mediocrity,
but We are uaable to see that a small man Is
rendered great or admirable by nomina
ton for the Presidency.
r, Our correspondent maintains that Mr..
Hayes, if elected, will free himself from
party trammels and exercise noble indie
pendence, guided only by justice. We wish
we could believe so; but we are unable Ia
find anything in Mr.. Hayes's career to war
rant so pleasing an expectation. During
the three years he was in Congress he was
as obedient to party behesis rs the mob of or
dinary members. That was the period OF
enormous land grabs for railroads, and the
record proves that Mr.. Hayes voted for them
all. 1t would be poor compliment to his
sagacity to say that he acted In ignorance :;
but NOT even tins lame excuse can be
pleaded, for Mr.. E.ihu b. Washburne, our
Minister to France, was then in the House
and distinguished himself by bold and
vigorous opposition to those wasteiul,
swlndling grants of the public lands. Tn
fortunately for the claim of independence
which is set up for Mr.. Hayes he never
voted on such occasions with Mr. Wash
Durne, but always with the ma Drity OF his
party. Our correspondent seeks materials
of eulogy in Mr.. Hayes's action as Governor
OF Ohio, but he fails to adduce "A single in
stance IN which Governor Hayes has acted
IN opposition to his party.
Our correspondent asserts that on the
Southern question the managers of the Re
publican canvass ''audaciously misrepresent
their candidate" We are told, with great
emphasis, that Governor Hayes deprecatcs
the waving of the ''bloody shirt" and
''doCs not believe in new stirring up of
suspicion, hatred and strife" Concedi
that these are the real sentiments of Mr..
Hayes they only prove what cipher he is
in the politics of his own party. The Re.
publican stump speakers and party organs.
one and all, are waging the campaign on
the Southern issue, which, we are assured,
Governor Hayes so strongly disapproves.
Such contemptuous disregard of the wishes
OF their candidate proves that they consider
him weak mana mere tigurehead in their
canvass. 1t shows that he has no moral or
political influence among his own support
ers. If he has none now how can he be eX-
pected to exert any after his election?
Among the able men of his party he cannot
find the materials of Cabinet which will
indorse his own views; for all the able men
of the party, including even George Viii
liam Curtis, are indus rously waving the
bloody shirt and trying to make the cam
paign turn on that issue. Can Mr.. Hayes
administer the government without Cdb-
metz Is he strong enough to override all
the able men of his partyl If the Republi-
cans eltc the President they will also elect
the next House, and Congress will pass "A
new enforcement law to take the place OF
that which has been snnulled by the Su-
preme Court. Does anybody believe that
Mr.. Hayes would veto such a bill? Would
a man of his moderate talents and peace
loving disposition venture to play the part
of Andrew rhnson and eour' Andrew Jonn-
sons fate! Our correspondent III ~ believe
it, but we do not.
Our dissent from the panegyrists of Mr.
Hayes must not be understood as an indorse.
ment of Mr.. Tilden. II an admirer of the
Democratic candi late should send us a
eullgy which we consented to publish j.
would be aceoffaa panied with an equally free
expression of our estimate OF his character
We are unable to see that the nomination
of man for the Presidency 'adds one
cubit to his stature" or entities him to q
higher estimate than he enjoyed before
Pygmies, though perched on Alps, c pygmies still
And pyramids pyramids in vales.