The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-09-29
The Record of Gov, HAYES.

A citizen conspicuous enough 10 be
chosen, even by accident or by compro-
mise, rs a candidate for President ought
at least to have something i'll his public
character to recommend him to the conf
dence of the country, and to furnish a
guarantee in times like these. of fitness, in
tegrty, and courage TO administer that
grent trust faithfully and well, If IL should
be conferred upon him by the suffrages Of
his oountrymen. II is reasonable, there
fore, to ask what RUTHERFORD b. HAYES
has done to entitle him TO the distinction
which he seeks and TO ask also whether he
Is fitted to cope with the present crisis.
We reject al once all the personal issues
that are raised. and dismiss the charges af-
feoting his integrity, because all such alle-
cations must be taken with many grains OF
allowance in a heated political c1uvass aud
count for little when weighed in the bal
ance with established character ana hon
cradle previous life. Mr.. HAYES is now
serving third term as Governor Of Ohio.
Ii lie has done anything 10 sgnalize his
administration Of that high Office, TO mark
his career, or 10 lift himself out of the dull
chronology of Official succession, il las
been concealed from the public. II r has
run in the old ruts, excited no envy. ana
gained no reputation beyond that of
decent mediocrity. No act can he cited
which takes him out OF the general mass.
or holds him up as an exemplary excep-
ton.
He was elected to the Thirty-ninth Con-
fress in 1884 and reelected 10 The Fortieth
In Islf in xVhfpll 10 al halF fa
term, ana resigned. He was again cand-
date for the Housc OF Representative in
1872, ana was defeated by Gcu. BANNING,
the present member from Cincinnati, by
majority OF 1902 votes. Iii Congres sional
career is thus condensed utoA small space,
and Is easily reviewed; for outside of the
votes which he gave in the interest of great
corporations ana Of iobbers, aud in obedi-
once to the violcht policy OF that time, his
name is rarely heard OF, and n made but
ono little speech, lamolY defending his
action on fraudulent cudm.
During the term of Mr.. HAYEss ser
vice in the House, the plumber Of the
public domain by lpgi slaiion. aud tic or
gained schemes to appropriate il 60 the
use OF corrupt corportuous, were mt the
height The Republican majority was
overwhelming. The minority could hard
" call the yoas and my, IHAppEcs STE
VEINS was absolute dictator. Great crimes
were committed IN the name of loyalty to
the Union. Thieves projected Themselves
by denOuncng the rebellion. Patriots
like CoLrAX and BLAIVr shouted for the
EXTREMIST MEASURE, willie examining their
pockets with railroad bonds, stocks, and
iobbcry. Tens OF millions Of acres OF the
best land, which a wise policy would have
destined for settlers, were voted away 10
Ring' without a division IN the House.
Combinations were formed inside the Re-
publican minority hy which these PERM
ciOus bills ere hurried through, RuG no re-
cord was kept by VIII. IA the INDIVIDUAL votes
could be traced But some Of them, by
rare exception, were subjected 10 the test,
and the votes on these occasion, speak for
all the others. NJ. HAYES shows his hands
clearly for these railroad grants, MS we
shall see by the following record.
At the first session of the Thnty-niuth
Congress an act was passed to amend an
act making grant of lands to the Sratc OF
MinnesotI and aid IN tho construction of
the railroad from 81. Paul 10 Lake Supe-
rior, approved May 3, 1854 Mr. Lewis
w. Ross said
81 will say that I wo have not ciyen Minneso-
Ia more thdn fourth o. our puthc l3nci in
that State, II might be "a well Tor the gentle
TO Introduce Oil u 1--WE the state the rest.
Mr.. MoRRIIL moved 10 lay the bill on
the table, ana on that motion demanded
the yeas aud nays. Mr. HAYES voted in
the negative, and the bill was thon