The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-12-28
THE CON ITTEE AT NEW or
LEANS WHO WILL BE PIES
IDRNT.

The strongest argument for Hayes
was his alleged freedom from bad in
huences that have made Grants reign
hideous in fact and in history. II,
however, Mr.. Hayes's ambition lead
him to yield to the seductive infiu-
rnces of Morton and Blaine and accept
tie presidency, when it may be demon
strEted by the congressional commit
tee that he was defeated in Louisiana,
what position must he occupy in the
eyes of honest patriots? We do not
speak as partissns. The passionate
have little influence in fixing the opin-
ions OF mankind or In shaping the ac-
ton of wise Legislative bodies. It.
therefore, Mr.. Hayes forfeit honor
when accepting Office will he not lose
more when graspiDg the presidency
than wise patriot ever surrendered
voluntsrily2 Henry Clay towers above
dim figures that crowd the horizon OF
memory, and is still heard, as if he had
spoken yeEterday, declaring that he
would rather DO right than be presi-
dent" Would Hayes be president at
the cost of right? Beaten before the
people, will he take Office at the hands
of a deprsved returning board2 Must
dishonesty find its impersonatlon in
president, and fraud give US the first
officer in our government What
moral power would such a presi-
dent wieldl And having no such
agency of force how can he gov
ern republic2 If 1t appear
TO The satisfaction of the masses Of the
people that Hayes is an usurper
crowned by Grant and by the Senate,
the people may submit. Submission
e765sts infinitely less, ju s<Now, than in
ternecifie war; but the PeoPs- Viii r.
sent the outrage and Hayes be crushed
beneath the weight of popular odium
and condemnation. The next Congress
chosen will be almost wholly Demo-
cratic, and however liberal the Presi
dents policy, as these States of the
South may be affected by it, the de-
cency and intelligence of the whole
country North and South will turn
away in disgust when contemplating
the conduct of man assuming to be
great enough to be president and yet
incapable of comprehending that gran
deur of character which makes men
venerste the name of Clay even as they
would sbhor that Of H yes. 1t is SAID
that HAYES is defective in that vigOr of
purpose that distinguishes Tilden. If
he accept the presidency in the pres
ence of facts here defined he is worse
and yet braver than Cataline when
listening in the Roman Senate to the
invectives of Cicero. He is, too, in
capable even of compreherding the
reason for that deathless devotion
that distinguished the followers of
Henry Clay and those of Calhoun.
The moral worth of these me1 won
for them more fame and more friends
than their intellectual achievements,
and no president of the United States,
save Washington, stands forth in his
tory's pages more honored and reVered
than they who preferred the right to
the presidency. Hayes may dare to
take advantage of gross wrong, or
may not have the hardihood to do
right and reject power, but he achieves
no power and only weakness, and if
he thus become president he will bear
only the name, and none of the hon
ors or power incident to the once ex-
alted position. A crown won by
fraud is one of infamy, and, however
glittering, must be worse than crown
OF thorns, and We can hardly believe
that either Hayes or Tilden would
willingly wear it.
In view of these facts the conduct of
the congressional committee now in
New Orleans will be watched with
eager earnestness by the people. Facts
developed may not make or unmake
president, but will determine whether
Hayes or T.iden 0Hqft TO be president,
and if either violate the gaiaing pr'n-
pie that gave greatness % statesmen
OF the republic before war epE lrs
Hoodtide Of vice aud iESuTity over
~hriln5d Us, no ran only 90 down TO
nfsny ss the standard Of public NOR
als aud patriotism is lifted up by peace
aud industry ana the. revival OF
Christian purity.
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