The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-07-20
GOV. HAYES, LETTER.

This important political paper appears
upon another page of this issue, and is
worthy of little serious reflection from
its readers, for it is one of the most de-
ceptive documents ever presented to the
American people by candidate for the
high Office of President. It is not the
manly utterance of convictions of right
or wrong from an Independent thinker
or a political reformer, but is the crafty
device of caucus of political leaders,
who, in their anxiety to continue the
supremacy of their party, have hitherto
had the cunning to nominate negative
men upon negative platform of princi-
piles; and at this juncture of affairs have
stepped to the front to give the benefit of
their experience and brains to the mega
tive candidate they expect to control il,
elected, and have, after much thought
and consultation, produced for. him
cunningly worded and ambiguous letter,
which ne submissively adopts and gives
to the world as the sentiments of the
man who is anxious to serve his country
as President for the purpose of reforming
its political atmosphere. The letter re-
fleets very little credit upon the integrity
or independence of its writer, and still
less upon the perception of those pro-
fessed Democratic papers which are stu
pid enough to imagine they see anything
in it calculated to induce the belief that
Gov. Hayes, if elected, will reform the
various abuses and corruptions of our
government. The very fact that his let
ter comes at so late date, and after all
contains nothing but an electioneering
avoidance of practical questions arranged
',y politicians shows that the Governor
can be controlled by his party, and that
if elected he will continue the rule of
the Republican party as it is to-day Or
ganizeri. An analysis of the letter shows,
first, that Gov. Hayes is in accord with
the resolutions and platform of principles
set forth at Cincinnati, which makes him
endorse Grants administration without
reserve, and also favor the Inconsistency
of declaring in favor of sectional pacif-
cation, and at the same time melting
jealousy and opposition to the South.
After thus squarely aligni. himself
with the platform, he makes a statement
of his own views upon the important
subject of civil service reform, in which
he processes to oppose Gen. Jackson's
maxim, "To the victor belong the spoils," y"
and concludes the subject with much in
genuity by saying the founders of the
government meant to give to a civil Off
Ger tenure of the Office so long as his
personal character remained untarnished,
and the performance Of his duty was sal
isfactory. He promises to do this, or,
in other words, to keep Grants appoin-
tees in office, unless they have been shown
to be unsatisfactory. This is really say
ing he is opposed to the principle of the
present system of appointments, but that
he will continue it in practice, for he
knows full we'll that the eighty thousand
appointees in the United States service
are Republicans, and he can easily prom
ise to continue them in Office, for it would
give no advantage whatever to the Dem
ocrats. If he had proclaimed that he
would divide the appointments between
the different parties, it would have been
magnanimous, but there is nothing COM
manding admiration from the public or
gratitude from the Democrats in promis-
ing to keep Republicans in the positions
they now hold.
His remuneration of second term is
intended to assist him in procuring first
one, and shows he is so doubtful of elec-
ton that he is willing to renounce a
future possibility of preferment in order
to assist him in his present ambition. If
he were sincerely opposed to a second
term he would have given better evidence
of it and have afforded noble example
to posterity by waiting until he obtained
first before he refused second term.
His course as it is can only be construed
as an clectioneering scheme, intended to
advance him in the present canvass by
taking advantage of and pandering to
the popular sentiment of indignation
against third term. 1t shows, however,
that Hayes does not mind striking Gen.
Grant a back-handed lick, if necessary,
to assist in his own elevation. He en-
dorses Grants administration and is will