The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-09-23

to those reforms demanded by the
people. But the Republican presses
and speakers maintain that they have
an assurance in the personal honesty
and integrity of Gov. Hayes, that he
will by the force of his own high per.
sonal qualities, infuse purity and re-
form into the administration OF his
Government. Can anything be more
absurd and contrary to the experience
of our own country In what single
instance in our history has any Presi.
| dent, himself but the mere creature OF
the party, been able to impress upon
his party principles and practices diff
fering from those which were the basis
OF its organization and existence ?
Take the most striking instances in our
history of two of the most self.willed
military men that ever filled the Presi-
Dental office. | mean Andrew Jack
son and Ulysses S. Grant. Jackson, 1t
is true, created his own party and for
the first four years his will was supreme,
and his policy i'll some measures indie
pendent OF dictation. But after 1t be-
came a thoroughly organized party,
and during the last four years OF his
administration, he yielded to that
power which is inevitable and repeat
edlv modified and changed his views
in accordance with the dictates of the
political organization of which he was
the head. All agree, that if General
Grant is more remarkable for one quail
ity than another, it is that OF obstinacy
and self-will; and yet how rapidly did
all his declarations and honest pur-
poses as to civil service reform OOze out
at his fingers ends under the opposition
which he encountered from the bad
men around him. The system was
soon wholly abandoned. A president,
to be anything in this country, must
be the president of his party. He must
think with it and act with it, or he will
be like John Tyler, a mere figure head
in the Presidential chair. Now, will it
be pretended that Rutherford b. Hayes,
with his bland, soft, courteous and
yielding character, can accomplish
what the iron will of Andrew Jackson,
and the surly obstinacy of Ulysses S.
Grant, found themselves inadequate to
accomplish mean policy of any
kind in conflict with his party2
No, gentlemen, ii Gov. HAYES possess
ed the iron will of Andrew Jackson, and
the sleepless energy of Samuel J. Til
den, he would find it a hopeless task to
attempt to purify and reform such an
organization as the Republican party.
For ten years that party has treated
this government rs if it were its private
property-the legitimate spoils of vic
tOry-not as trust to be administered
for the general welfare of the people.
1t has used the public treasury for par
tisan purposes; squandered the public
domain in gifts to favorite corporations
created offices to reward party service,
and sought to stitle the voice OF sover
eign communities by military force and
the free use of money. 1t has generated
throughout its whole administration a
system of public plumber and corrup-
ton, and now stands cruSted over with
Il leprousy of embezzlemcnt, peculation
and crime Is il in the nature of things
that such party can purify and reform
itself? Is it conceivable that mild,
amiable and accommodating gentleman
ike Governor Hayes can, by his per-
,onal qualities, be they as eminent as
his friends claim them to be, arrest this
lDod-tide Of peculation, and roll back
the surging pillows OF plumber and
corruption History affords no exam
pie OF any party which has been for
wears in power, and teeming with fraud
and corruption, having the capacity
and power Of purifying and reforming
its own abuses. 1t would be as vain to
expect it Us to suppose that fallen man
could, independent OF the atonement
Of cruciiied Redeemer, throw off the
innate depravity OF his heart, and by
his own human efforts emerge into
sanctitv and holiness. Can the Eth
Opian change his skin, or the leopard
his spots We know they cannot.
Neither can the Republican party
change the corrupt practices of its past
history, nor eradicate the vices that
have become inherent III its own syS-
TEN. No reform of the Government
can be expected unless it comes from
new party,-a party that goes into
power under distinct pledge of re-
form, and with prescribed mission
direct from the people to make econo-
nv, retrenchment and reform, the vital
and cardinal measures of its adlainis-
trative policy.
The country has now before it an OPP
portunity OF elevating to power ust
such Il party As have referred to-a
party that is pledged by all the glorious
associations of its past history, and by
the recent manifestation of its purposes
in the House of Representatives, to
give that reform which the people now
50 earnestly demand. Could anything
add to the evidence furnished by the
Democratic party for the last ten
months, in the only national body over
which it had control? Has it not UNI
carthed corruption? Has it not check
ed waste and extravaganza i'll expendl-
lures? Has it not punished fraud?
Has it not awakened this entire nation
to full perception OF the vicious and
disgraceful system which has wasted
our resources and brought reproach
upon free government? Suppose that
Democratic House of Representatives
hau never existed, WOulu HOl beil' Icl-
KNAPP have been at this time Secretary
of War, living in princely splendOr up
on the sale OF post traders commits
sions, and the robbery OF the poor sol
diers upon the frontier? Would not
General Babcock have still been the
private and confidential secretary OF
the President, encouraging frauds upon
the treasury, aud stimulating such
cold-blooded and atrocious crimes as
the safe burglary conspiracy i'll Wash
ington ? Would not General Schenck
still have disgraccd American 'diplo-
macy at one OF the first courts in Eu-
rope? Would not the relations between
the Cattells and Secretary Robson, and
the impeachment which now hangs
over him in the House, have been UNI
heard OIL Would not Delano have
been still Secretary OF the Interior, and
Williams at the head OF the Depart
mcnt of Justice? Would not Harring-
ton have been at this time an honored
guest of the White House instead OF an