The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-09-14

Washington, August 3I.- OF the
best illustrations that Gov. Hayes, il cleo
ted President, would be a tool of design
ing politicians who surround him is exem-
plifed by the weakness he has displayed
in two instances. First when Gov Hayes
came East to attend the Centennial open
inc exercises on the Fourth of July he
stated to several friends in Columbus that
during his Eastern trip he proposed to
visit Washington and aubmit a draft Of
his letter of acceptance which he had then
prepared to prominent politicians in that
city, including President Grant, and re-
ceive such suggestions as they might be
pleased to offer to beincorporated with 1t.
With the actual intention of following the
programme Hayes left for Philadelphia,
Meanwhile the policy of such aprdcedure
was canvassed among his personalrends
in Columbus, and theresult was the unan-
mous expression that it woult injure his
candidacy if he made his contemplated
visit to Grant SO apprehensive was
Wikoff that Hayes wouldreaCh Grant be-
fore the folly of the visit could be cX-
planned to him that he waited on Colonel
Lee, Private Secretary of tie Governor,
and induced him to send Hayes the fol-
lowing dispatch, for which he would be
personally responsible;
COLUMBUS, O., July 3, 1876.
urgent business demand5your imme-
diate return home. LEE,
Hayes anticipating that the summons
sent pointedly had reference to the amend
ment of his letter of acceptance which he
about that time intended to make public,
did return, and the visitto Grantwas fore
stalled, much to his own chagrin, When
the letter was finally promulgated Grant
took umbrage at it, and, among his near
est friends, MADE no attempt to conceal
his disgust at the manner in which he in.
terpreted certain portions of it as a direct
snub at his administration of public af-
fairs. In fact he became quite unrulyS
declared it was an insult to him and one
which his patronizing nature would not
brook. The matter had to be brldged
over in some way, and Conkling and
Morton healed the breach in this wise
Each wrote a confidential letter to Hayes,
informing him of the feelings OF the Pre-
sident and advising him to do something
to conciliate Grant, inasmuch as his cor
dial co operation was essential to success.
In due time Hayes complied with the adj
vice and wrote letter to Grant denying
that he had any intention in his letter OF
acceptance to put any slight upon him
or the policy of his Administration, and
that the occasion which seemed to require
that he should thus write him was owing
to the fact that partisan newspapers
placed such a construction upon the letter
Grant was immensely tickled over the
communication, and at once extended an
invitation to Hayes to visit him with his
family at Long Branch, and without con-
sultation with his friends Hayes actually
accepted the invitation. Now Hayes
again finds himself in dilemma. Those
managing his campaign honestly, and
who do not want him handicapped with
any such odium, have advised him that
visit will inure only to his irreparable in
jury. From this city over a dozen dis
patches have been sent him, cautionng
him under no shadow of excuse to make
the visit, one enthusiastic objector stating
that it would lose him quarter of mil
lion ofvotes, The recent dispatch sent
by the Associated Press from Columbus,
that Governor Hayes will not be able to
leave Ohio during the canvass, on ac-
count Of public business, was sent out as
the best method of advising Grant in
particular and the public in general that
the visit to LongBranch will not be made.
How Grant will accept this second snub
remains to be'seen.