The New York herald., 1876-12-29
Governor Hayes and HIS Wicked
Partners.

Governor Hayes and HIS Wicked
Partners.
The remarkable letter from Cincinnati
which we printed last Tuesday gives the
"true inwardness" of the intrigue to secure
Southern support for Governor Hayes. 1t
means plot to count him in whether he is
honestly elected or not. How far he is COM
mitted to this wild project we do not pro-
fess to know; but it is time for him to speak
out.
We take Governor Hayes to be good but
not strong man, with excellent impulses and
patriotic intentions. His course since he
was nominated shows one or two danger
ously weak points of character of kind
which many truly good men have had before
him. 1t was weakness that having de-
clared his policy in his letter of acceptance,
q policy which received the approval of
good citizens of both parties, he thereafter
gave no attention to the principles on which
the leaders of his party conducted the can
vass These made haste to raise q purely
sectional issue, not mentioned in the letter
of acceptance and repugnant to that. and
on this alone they continued to ''fire the
Northern heart" never mentioning either
their candidate or his policy, or the plat
form, which was in harmony with his letter
of acceptance. Now, if Mr. Hayes had been
strong man, with the just pride of a states
man, he must have protested against the
course of the party leaders But he re-
manned silent, showed weakness of character
and justly lost the confidence OF great
number of thoughtful citizens.
Next, when he did begin to speak, after
the election, he showed himself weak. Be-
licving himself defeated he remarked that
he grieved for it, because the election of
Mr. Tilden meant bitter and bloody perse-
cution of the colored people in the South.
1t argued a curious ignorance, alike of pub
lie sentiment and public questions, to be-
lieve that unless he was installed the
Southern States would become field of
wrong and murder. A fanatic might so
think and speak, but he would be an
ignorant fanatic.
Finally we come to this intrigue with GER
tain Southern men. At first it seemed, in
its spirit, at least, not discreditable to him.
1t was supposed that, believing himself un-
doubtedly elected he was merely giving to
the South, through some of its principal
statemen, assurances that they would find
him very different President from General
Grant. So far there was no harm; but as it
seemed to take by its secrecy the character
of an intrigue we warned Mr.. Hayes re-
peatedly, and in q friendly spirit, that he
ought to speak out we told him that the
country is prepared to welcome such q
policy, and that while secrecy would en-
barrass both him and those to whom he was
understood to be making friendly overtures,
a frank and public announcement would
only raise him in public esteem.
But Mr.. Hayes remained silent and cur
Cincinnati correspondent nowt 9iselosss a
disagreeable rasaor far this silence. The
o'siect of shs o.sua IS not = .sens to
,laf The .e,ops "a ssathoru aen
and viz tle,w ad viii sTd Als adG ms
lgxior It i = secafs their votes vhisa
a1r. setws thcua1J necessary Il insp-e
hs action That il 30 different
thing. 70 etseuqt-- 90 gain over thirty
or sfiri;-nve Southern votes in the
House of Representatives to the sup
port of o scheme which has for its object to
secure his being counted in by the Presi-
dent of the Senate, in defiance of law and
oil precedent-that is q different and so
serious matter that, while we no longer
wonder at the continued secrecy, we must
now say that it is necessary to the good rep
utation of Mr. Hayes that he shall promptly
and publicly disavow all connection with or
knowledge of this intrigue
OF course such a plot cannot succeed. It
would bring failure and disgrace upon Mr..
Hayes and his administration if it did suc-
ceed. We have still the hope that Mr..
Hayes knows nothing of this conspiracy;
that it is the work of persons whom we may
call his wicked partners" and that his is
another of the not infrequent cases where
weak but in the main good man fanaticaIly
believes that his own success is necessary
to the public We advise Governor Hayes
to get rid of his wicked partners" They
are dragging him into deep and very muddy
waters. If he was really elected he will be
inaugurated and will live in the White
House. No plot or intrigue is required to
insure an honest result. If he was not
elected he should follow the example of Mr..
Douglas, who held Mr.. Lincoln's hat while
the latter was inaugurated.
Rapid Transit I'm tho Courts.