New-York tribune., 1876-10-28
THE PEOPLES CANVASS.
A RETURN TO HAYES.

HAYES Is A SHADOW IN THE CANVAss-Iis COR
RrspONDENCE AND sPEECHEs-A NOBLE MAN.
TO the Editor Of The Trtbune
SIR: II appears to me that the Republican cam
paign has been weakened by the singular error OF
forgetting the Republican candidate Curiously
enough the mere fact that Mr.. Hayes's character
and career exhibit no bemishes seems to have DIS
cardcd that character and that career from use as
elements of power in the struggle. Because the
Democrats have not found it possible to vlify hm,
and because the Republicans have not been driven
to defend him, both parties have largely ceased 10
speak of him. Meanwhile the very attacks when
have been made upon Mr.. Tilden, combined with the
fervent If not always satisfactory responses TO those
attacks, have kept him prominently before the pub
lie eye The result is that the Democratic candidate
has an air of vitality and reality, while the Repub-
lican candidate has begun to assume the appearance
| of a shadow.
1t is n bunder every way. The policy has been
erroneous, and the result is a misconceptions Mr..
Hayes is not the least shadowy, either Ill life or i'll
morals or in intellect. / question whether we have
seen, since the days of Henry Clay, another Prcsl-
Dental nominee whose political utterances have
been so worthy of wide quotation and serious study
TAYLOR and Scott honest men and good soldiers
without political experience or knowledge. think
that do little injustice 10 Cass. Van Buren,
Pierce Buchanan, and Seymour in Judging that
previous 10 their candidatures they were scarcely
more than energetic and adrot party managers
Fremont was a lively and captivating adycntnrer,
totally ignorant of public affairs whether internal
or foreign Breckenridge had just talent and morals
enough to follow the cry of rule or rum. LIN
colin up to the day of his nomination. was
mainly known as n brilliant campaign orator.
Mcclellan and Grant were eminent ~ gen
erals but had no training statesmen.
Ia. hn.I To- ham fl.fl
large questions with ability; but lac had party at
his back and no chance for the Presidency; ms can
dldaturc was dcusion scarce worthy OF record.
Observe that speak of these eminent leaders rs
candidates; | speak of what they were mp to the
date of their nomination. Judging them from tins
point of view alone judging them merely by what
they were when they set out on the presidential
race venture to declare that not one of them had
uttered such weichty counsel in craftsmanship a.
the present nominee of the Republicans. II You
doubt this pick up lIowcllss charming biography
and study the extracts from llaycss private and
public papers concerning state affairs. His opin
ions on specie resumption, on civil service reform,
and on the proper treatment Of the South are
marked by lucdity sagacity. humanity. and honesty.
His letter oi acceptance which Is but summary OF
many previous arguments and declarations II lit to
be- the textbook of our national policy for year To
come.
Furthermore and what is very fascinating, these
opinions are part of the life OF the man who utter,
them and may almost be called the man himself.
So far ~ know him, he has never performed a
deed nor entertained a thought which was not mod
est sagacious, humane. and honest President
Woolscy, IN his late speech to the Ncw-!iavrn Ee-
pubhcau- ha, Justly described him as "a man
who whatever hc has done has always played
noble part" He possesses that inGetcrbahlc quail
ity so influential with the Englsh-spcahing race,
the inherent and noble quality which "" call char
actcr. II" means exactly what he says; he SAID Il
s,Hply because hc meant il, and e never says any
thing more than he means. He reminds one Of Art"-
mus Wards droll but acute definition OF Gc'Ig,
Washington AS man who never stopped over
Now, Mc,srs. Editors aud Orators let us get back
to HIVES. We have wandered away from him int"
a Slough of charges and rccfmluatious which ha'"
not bcpcd him. and which have done no harm C>-
cent To our national rcputc and to that t'.'aoy
which should rule ~ the treatment Of public aiitf-
We have trcuhlcd at the prospect Of on armed and
united south; but that Phantasm seems 10 br shat
tered by the action Of the President ln South Car
oliua. We lave feared lest the advent Of The
Democracy should bring uPon us ruE"us H'd-
lauclc ol Southern claims; but the late letter ol
GOV. I.ldrn las guaranteed ur from lat Icril. to
far as his promises are guaraut'c. MI
these mattcr--thc vilficatIon of party leader
the government Of rifle cluhf and the payment
of war dlmagrs-al Of them are now. or at least
ought to be-, out OF politics. II we want subjects
for wise and aud fruitful speech, We would, think
do well 10 return TO our candidate and Ia Ill" orig
inal issues of the campaign Were a Republican
editor. | shord present Hayes once morc-Iiayc'
and his policy. | would not suffer day to pass
without publication Of one or more extracts from
his correspondence his speeches. h,s messages. and
above ALL bis noble letter Of acceptance. And, such
a. those extracts were, such in subject and ~ par
pose such ia dccoruu also, Should be my editorials
Rc.uec,fully yours, J. W d. FoELsi.
NeuH HGccn, conn, oct 20, 1876.