Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1876-12-15
The Nex, PresIdent.

Now that Rutherford B. Hayes
has received majority of the votes
of the electors for President of the
united State and has been virtually
elected TO that great office, his acts
and utterances will br watched and
weighed more than ever before by
the politicians and the people.
From this time until March, says
the New York Times, the press will
be freighted with reports and rumors
concerning what Governor Hayes
has or has not said or done. Second,
third and fourth hand versions of
what he is supposed to have spoken
in private conversation or written in
private letters respecting his policy,
Cabinet appointments, and other mat
ters, will now daily mystify or illum-
mate the columns of the press.
To distinguish probable fact from
pure fiction, and test the truth of
the rumors that will from all sources
salute the ears, it is only necessary
to recall the distinguished traits in
the character of the President-elect.
If the numberless reports that find
their way into print are reconcilable
and consistent with these well
understood characteristics of the
Governor of Ohio, they may be true,
but otherwise they are likely to be
baseless as the wild vagaries of a
dream:
J. Gov. HAYES is a reticent, self
restrained, self, lf,contained man. He
listens well, weighs and often re,
flutes what is said, and mentally
takes the measure of all who APP
proach him. He is a singularly well
poised, symmetrically developed
man, free absolutely from hobbies,
vanities or affectations; is never in a
state of agitation or excitement, and
hence never loses his balance. His
tongue, unlike his mind, is not ac-
tive, and is under the most perfect
government.
2. He is an exceedingly cautious
man. He has lived long enough, as
he once said, to learn that no one
keeps a secret that is worth telling.
He talks and writes as if all he said
might be made public. Our belief
amounts to a conviction that if all
he has said and written since his can.
didacy were made known to the
world, it would greatly ell
evate him in the estimation of his
countrymen. All reports of private
conversations are without founda-
tion therefore, unless they are alleged
to be such as a wise, sensible and
discreet man would be willing to
publish to the world.
4. Gov. Hayes is an extremely ju-
dicious man. He has passed through
a contest for the Presidency, has
conducted three campaigns for Gov.
ernor, and has served five years as
the chief executive officer of Ohio,
without a blunder. He is a man
who commits 10 mistakes. Not a
foolish act nor an unfortunate speech
can be found on his record. He pos.
sesses not only sound but an uner.
ring Judgment. He knows when
to speak and what to speak. If he
is not clear what to do he does moth
ing.
4. He is "a remarkably well in
formed man. He knows all that il
going on, what is being done, anC
who is doing 1t. He closely scruti
nizes the acts, the character, and the
calibre of public men. His stand
ards are moral and intellectual. Ht
is not partial to able men withOu
honesty, or honest men without abil
ity. He prefers union of integrity
and brains, and rates demonstrated
merit above mere popularity. H,
has a noticeable leaning toward mel
of large attainment and learning, anC
being a gentleman of perfect man
ners himself, he gravitates toward
gentlemen of the best school anC
type.
5. Gov. Hayes is public man Of
firm, resolute will. He takes the re
sponsibility of doing his duty at al
times with uncommon alacrity. HI
resOlutely ordered a dangerous Grim
inal to be executed in Ohio agains
the protests and threatenings Ot
Bishop Rosecrans and the whole Ro
man Catholic Church. He compell
ed obedience to law on the part Of
riotous miners in Hooking and StarE
counties by the strong arm of mil
itary power. He would spurn will