The Morning herald., 1876-10-05
i NEUTRAL o1GNI0N iABeUT 90

~ n 1O A.A1A V1A&S S1~~s F~>--T"T F1{7f
We print communication says TN
IN. Y. "Herald" from a respected CORES
pondent, who seems to be warm admire
of Mr.. Hayes. We must express our en-
tire dissent from the eulogy of this cor
respondent. So far as We are able t
Judge from his record, Mr.. Hayes is I
man, ssme parts Of whose conduct may b
approved, while no part of it can be ad
mired. We look upon him ~ mediocre
we'll intentional gentleman, who has beer
lifted by the accidents of politics to po
sition to which be had no title founded or
personal qualifications. He has none o.
the elements of great and commanding
character neither the breadth Of intellect
the force Of will, nor tho ascendancy ovel
other men with which nature stamps 8
man born for leadership, BE is immeas'
urably inferior to Morton, Blaine, Conk'
ling, and half dozen other Republicans
that might be named, in the qualities
which fit man for influence over other
minds and make him felt as potent force
/ in politics. We believe Mr.. Hayes to be
honest, but not more honest than hundreds
of Thousands Of citizens who are plaintiff.
lers of the soil or who gain their liveli.
hood by mechanical skill. Heis not emf
nent> as lawyer, was not eminent as sol
dier, he made no figure in Congress As a
legislator, aud there are probably few coun.
ties in Ohio, which could not furnish as
useful Governor. We have nothing to
say against the services rendered in public
stations by well-meaning mediocrity, but
we are unable to see that small man is
rendered great Or admirable by nomina-
ton for the Presidency.
Our corr espondent maintains that Mr..
Hayes, if elected, will free himself from
party trammels and exercise q noble indie
pendence, guided only by justice. We
wish We could believe SO; but we are una
able to find anything in Mr.. Hays career
to warrant so pleasing an expectation.
During the three years he was in Congress
he was obedient to party behests as the mob
Of ordinary members. That was the pc.
riod Of enormous land grabs for railroads,
and the record proves that Mr.. Hayes voted
for them all. 1t would be poor compli-
ment to his sagacity to say that he acted
in ignorance: but not even this lame ex.
cuse can be pleaded, for Mr.. Elihu B.
Washburne, our Minister to France, was
then in the House, and distinguished him
self by a bold and vigorous opposition to
those wasteful, swindling grants Of the
lands Unfortunately for the claim Of in
dependence which is set up for Mr.. Hayes,
he never voted on such occasions with Mr..
Washburne, but always with the majority
Of his party. Our correspondent seeks
materials Of eulogy in Mr.. Hayes action
as Governor of Ohio, but he fails to adduce
a single instance in which Governor Hays
has acted in opposition to his party.
Our correspondent asserts that on the
Southern question the managers Of the
Republican canvass "audaciously misre.
present their candidate" We are told,
with great emphasis, that Governor Hayes
deprecates the waving the "bloody shirt, u
and "does not believe in a new stirring up
Of suspicion, hatred aud strife" Conced-
ing that these are the real sentiments Of
Mr.. Hayes, they only prove what a cipher
he sin the politics Of his own party. The
Republican stump speakers and party
organs, one and all, are waging the cam
paign on the Southern issues, which, we
are assured, Governor Hayes so strongly
disapproves. Such otuous disregard
of the wishes of their candidate proves that
they consider him a weak man-a mere
fgurehead in their canvass. 1t shows that
he has no moral or political influence
among his own supporters. If has none
now how can he be expected to exert any
after his election, Among the able men
of his party he cannot find the materials Of
a Cabinet which will indorse his own
views for all the able men of the party
including even George William Curtis, are
industriously waving the bloody shirt and
trying to make the campaign turn on thai
issue. Can Mr.. Hayes administer the
Government without Cabinet? Is ht
strong enough to override all the able mer