New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-09-23
HONEST-BUT!

Gov. Hayes has now been before the country
as a candidate. for over three months, and thus
Ear no accusation has been brought against
| his private or public character, except that he
failed to make return to the tax assessor OF
pianoforte which he did not own and OF an
old buggy in which it was not safe to drive.
Compared with the magnificent millions OF
Gov, Tildcn these little items Of personal
propefty appear somewhat insignificant nor
will Gov. Hayes be compelled to employ
sharp accountant to prove by clever clpheTing
that he pays his taxes. 1t is something in his
favor that so many Democratic orators begin
the business of arguing against his election by
admitting that he is an honest man. Thus, in
Brooklyn last Thursday evening, Mr.. Henry L.
Murphy mt q Democratic meeting over which he
presided, did not think it necessary entirely to
sink the gentleman in the politician, but said:
Z" detract nothing from the high character
" and noble qualities Of Gov. Hayes" 1t is
creditable to the meeting that applause fol-
lowed this frank admission, and that the
Kisses which mingled with it were not strong
enough to mar it. Senator Bayard, who made
the speech of the night, could find nothing,
good or bad, to say of Gov. Hayes, and.so
paid him even a higher and more desirable
compliment.
But Mr.. Murphy shall not claim that we do
him injustice by representing him as perfectly
fair. Perhaps the Kisses which greeted his ali
mission Of Gov. Hayes's honesty reminded him
of the prudence III that company OF not being
himself too honest to be in fashion. Hence he
made haste to declare that President Hayes
with all his honesty would be "as clay III the
hands Of the potter" The general opinion
among the Democrats seems to be that an
honest man Is of necessity n weak man, and
that fC-ce and fraudulency of character are
inseparable. Substantially it is taken for
granted that man of clearly life and CONVEX
sation, of iudomitable integrity, of perfect
truthfulncss, must. be lacking in strength and
steadfastness of purpose. Mr.. Chairman
Murphy wants " a man of iron WILL as if the
honesty (Which he admits did not in this
world of constant temptations and OF frequent
falls, argue the possession of will somewhat
metallic. What folly Is it to tell us IN one
breath that Gov. Hayes is honest, and in the
next that he will suffer himself to be made
the creature of +" the creatures of the Grant
e" Administration ~ Is n man who has kept
himself honest through his whole life, though
subjected to every trial to which any public
character ia subjected, to become suddenly
vile. and having heretofore kept himself
healthy in the midst of n hundred infections.
10 succumb to the Washington malaria when
n majority of his fellow -citzcns have just
given him the most gratifying evidence OF
their admiring confidence
Gov. Hayes has already held several impor-
tait public onces--will somebody name the
marty which has made him blind instrument
the fIctoD which has used him as tool
the willy who have miSlcd, the managers who
have deceived, the intriguers who have used
HIM Thus far, brilliant and profound or not,
of great talents or of small ones, he seems to
rs to have shown a sufficient ability to take
excellent care of a reputation which Is OF
itself excellent. No expert ut figures Is en-
gagged in making o mathematical demonstration
of his integrity, nor il any historian busy In
searching newspaper files Tor evidence OF his
LOYALTY. All this may argue insipldity, inef-
fciency, and in some not oyer-fragrant quar-
tiers absolute impotency of intellectj but we
| think that the Democratic candidate for the
Presidency could well afford to part with his
reputation for shrcwdness, or at least a part
of it, in exchange for Gov. Hayess more
homely reputation for simple hOnesty-Gor
something of the "hSh character and for
some Of the "noblo qualities" to which Mr..
Murphy bore witness, and the mere mention
of which irritated the Brooklyn Democrats
| into misses.