The Portland daily press., 1876-07-31

greater held of action, is tneTeWltn Dy no
means exhausted. In reality this is the least
part of it. Furthermore, one thing seems to
me assured in any case. However the election
may result, the sweeping out of the corrupt
officials and combinations which now dishonOr
our public service will be sure TO take place.
If it is said that the election of Mr. Hayes
would lead to mere coDtinu alton of the Grant
administration, it is the chatter of party no
less absurd than if his letter of acceptance
were Rlorifcation of Grantsm. Mr.. Grant
himself has better understanding of the mat
ter. The news from Washington cannot have
escaped you that President Grant has found
Mr.. Hayes's letter of acceptance very inap-
propriate," and has taken il almost as a per-
sonal affront. He will no doubt express his
feelings to further extent in the course of
the campaign 1t does not occur to me to ele-
vate Mr. Hayes to demi-god because be is
candidate for the presidency, but he is univer-
sally recognized as man of scrupuous lnteg-
rlty, OF strong feeling of honor, OF quiet
energy-a man who has fulfilled all public du
ties which have ever devolved upon him with
success, and in every respect without reproacb;
man in whom the desire to restore and pre-
serve honor to the government springs from
the natural tendency of bis nature, and not
from artifico or affected feeling. Ii is quite as
well known that in his official capacity he has
Tepelled the bad elements of party and sur
rounded himself with those most deserving of
respect. In the presidency he would therein
not be less successful, especially as through his
decided rejection of a second term he would
withdraw from the Influences which would sur
round him all opportunity to excite in him any
other emotion than that of making a single
term honorable. This is no extravagant praise,
but it has the advantage of being true. The
realization Of this feature of reform seems to
me therefore as thoroughly secure through
Hayes as through Tiden.
But it has always been a very important
matter to NE, not only that corrupt officials
should be brought to punishment, but that the
most profitable source of corrupton--a system
of pl1nder-sho9ld be checked by permanent
and thorough reform of the civil service. The
question, and the most important question is
how may this be attained? Now, if am con.
WINGED that Mr.. Hayes will undertake with
honest will and carry out with all energy ex-
actly such a thorough reform as that for which
have striven. what right have you to assert
that BY supporting him l tread my convictions
under foot? Have l reasons for these convic-
tons? Let us see. In his letter of acceptance,
which in this respect leaves far behind the re
publican as well as the democratic platform,
My. Hayes has presented the clearest and COM
pletest programme of civil service reform with
which am acquainted. Untiring and impair
tial prosecutions and punishment of dishonora-
BILE officials; no more appointments by the re-
quest of members of Congress; no removals ex-
cept for deficient service; the official no longer
the tool of party; honesty, capacity and fideli.
ty the only claim to Official promotion, thereby
the total abolition of the system of plumber;
the reform secured by legislative means. Do
you know Of better programme? Would not
its realization fulfill all which have advocated
in accordance with my convictions?
HAS HAYES THE COURAGE TO CARRY OUT HIS
PROMISES?
He has shown that the substance of civil SER
vice reierm is completely clear to his mind but
you deny him the courage and the energy
which are necessary in order successfully to
meet strong opposing influences. Moral cour-
age in one thing implies moral courage in 9th
ers. Have you considered perhaps, how much
moral courage must be inferred of candidate
for the Presidency who opposes the most pow
erful official influence of his party by such
programme? He stands at the beginning of
the campaign in which the policy of the candi.
date would dictate to him necessity of keeping
favor with all strong influences of party, es-
pecislly those already organized. Yet this can
ddate issues a manifesto which, in its COM
prehensive and sharply-deffned requirements,
is in itself the severest criticism of the existing
misrule. Is this want of courage? This candi-
date says to the members of Congress that in
case of his election they must expect of him no
concessions OF patronage; to the politicians,
that electioneerng work will no longer be valid
as claim to an office; to the President who has
been twice chosen, and was willing" for
third term, that whoever would undertake such
reforms must deny himself the ambition
of a second term. The man who in the critical
period before election has sufficient courage
and fidelity to his convictions to issue such
manifesto, will also have the courage after
election to resist whatever hostile influences
may surround him.
MR.. oRTENDoRFER's JUDGMENT Of MIR. TILDEN.
Now, what Go you look for in this particular
from Mr.. Tiden? Will he oppose this great
and covetous assault upon the booty, which is
coming not only from the North, but more es-
pecialiy from the South and which will sur
pass everything which up to this time in our
history can point to in this line? Will he brave
it and at the cost of his personal popularity in
his own party send back home the office-seekers
hat hx.v ako.v, s.x -GsD
move only bad ones? Allow me to tell you sir,
that you do not believe this. The carrying out
of such reform more than any other political
task, requires, first OF all, an unseltish aud un-
deyiating devotion to purpose, that which is
called "sngeness of purpose" freedom from
demagogic bias and from grasping after popular.
ity, a contempt for all wire, pulling and political
ma0n mi management. Is " your opinion that
Mr.. Tilden corresponds to this picture? AS for
myself, it is known to you that l never, like
certain other independents, placed the name of
Tiiden beside that of Brstow that might rec
commend the candidacy of the former in case
acknowledge the excellence of some of Mr.
Tilden's actions, Notwithstanding could new
or, even in the most favorable Moments feel
quite easy and comfortable in respect to the re-
form mission OF a man who had grown old in
the peculiar school of New York politicians,
and who had developed himself into most per-
feet master of the political machine before he
began his reform work. And could not refuse
W isOen W tne opinloI OF Otner persons whose
fairness could not doubt, and who had known
Mr.. Tilden longer and better than I-shal
say whose opinion in the matter was of espe-
cial weight with me? 1t was your own. This
would seem like an unbecoming allusion to
private conversation if you had not yourself
given up to public possession your judgment Of
Mr.. Tilden. Whoever read your paper last
winter and spring, had the opportunity of see
ing Mr. Tilden, when occasion offered, very
forclbly unmasked as "demagogue and grasp
er after popularity" as a man unworthy Of con-
hdence, and as an unsuitable candidate for the
presidency. You even found fault with that
part OF his annual message which had refer
ence 70 ~. sne b nnanclSi question, as a "sus.
opening bargain with western infiationists in
the national convention for the advancement of
private aims You strongly suspected even the
business honesty of Mr.. Tilden, for you found SO
unsubstantial his unpublished defense OF the
complaints of embezzlement of large sums in
railroad bonds that you felt obliged to express
your doubts about it in the Stats Zeitung. To
be Just to you ought to add that your opinion
OF Mr.. Tilden spoken in private agreed perfect
ly with those which you expressed in public,
and both were unquestonably correct. Such
was your Judgment IN the matter, aud you will
yourself ind rather laughable, after all this
your complaint that II am tramplng my con-
victions underfoot," because I prefer to Mr..
Tiiden as reform candidate another man
who is mot demagogue and popularity
seeker" and whose motives and character are
universally recognized as elevated high above
suspicion.
ADDITIONAL EVILS FROM DEMoCRvTIo SUCCESS
1t is scarcely necessary for me to speak at
length OF other reasons which make triumph
of the Democratic party undesirable 1 refer
among other things to the strength which it
would give to the ultramontane element, and
to the false hopes which it would arouse n
the lawless members of Southern commu-
mites, giving fresh impulse to the commits
sion of those excuses which make us
shudder, and for which the better part of our
Southern people have as great horror as we,
have frequently expressed my opinion on this
point, and according to an observation which l
first saw in the Stats Zeitung not long ago,
you agree with me that liberal, just, republi-
can government, in view of the moral effect of
Its Identification with the results of the war; is,
for the peace and welfare of the South, far pre-
ferable to democratic government.
sUMMARY-IN THE EVENT OF THE ELECTION
OF HAYES.
should not dare to promise the people an
ideal political situation if Mr.. Hayes be elect
ed; but as regards the three points which are
mentioned in this letter and which the address
of the May conference touched upon, the fol-
lowing appear to me as sure as anything one