Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1876-08-09

his promises were not mere songs TO
moonshine political drcamcrs, they
would drive him from the ticket or re-
sent his arrogant integrity by over
wbelming defeat. But they well know
that il is but the promise given to the
reform car to be broken to the hope.
OF all men interested in the pending
canvass, the Mortons and Conklings
and Camerons and Grants and Bah
cocks and Kelloggs best understand
how. utterly meaningless are the poetic
platitudcs OF their candidate. That
Hayes would prefer just such a gov
ernmcnt as he foreshadows in bis letter,
we do not doubt; but when he comes
to administer it, will he hurl the
swarm of Cameron placemen from
power in Pennsylvania Will he
empty out the Conkling dependents
from end to end in the Empire State ?
Will be ostracise the Morton tribes Of
reckless officials in Indiana? Will he
turn back the hands in the desolated
South and destroy the Clayton, Spen-
Ger, Bruce, Patterson, Dorsey and
Pinchback hosts Of plunderers2 If
his pledge means anything in the line
of honesty, ii means that he will sweep
the whole civil service out of place,
and end the degenerate power of Grant
by calling new officials to every public
trust, over the head of the leaders who
have disgraced the service by their
favoritcs and partisan henchmen. This
Mr.. Hayes dare not do; and more, he
does not mean TO do il. Had he given
an honest thought TO the broad pledge
he has made to nation that is sick
at heart with the greedy partisan
hacks, forced into place by the men
who made Mr.. Hayes Presidential
candidate, he would have paused be-
fore uttering so shallow a political deceit.
Equally unstatesmanlike is his politi-
cal sky.rocket on the school question.
He is of the little minds which grasp
such floating driitwood on the political
current. In his own State, where he
madeit save him in an otherwise hope
less canvass, the fundamental law
teaches all that he has ever taught on
the subject. 1t is so in Pennsylvania,
and every other State where there are
Constitutional provisions on the sub
ject; and there is not any party in any
Commonwealth today that would take
issue on the subject if it could, or that
could do SO if il would. As well might
Mr.. Hayes insist that the sun shall not
be hindered in its westward course, or
that the stars shall not be whirled with
their spheres. 1t is simply the clap
trap of littlencss; the wall of helpless
ness 1t is KIN to his high-hown as
surance of peace and protection to the
South, when he knows that Secretary
Cameron is now planning his campaign
in the reconstructed States, TO win
four of them for Hayes, in defiance OF
the ballot, by bayoneis and Gatling
guns. Nor does Secretary Cameron
rush to the overflow of the ballot and
probably to the studied branch of the
peace Of whole section, without know
ing his reward. He is to win, and Mr..
Hayes is to pay. He is to wrest vic
tory from the people at the cost of law
and of blood il need be, and Mr.. Hayes
is TO crown the chieftain with the high.
est honors of his administration. m
Stripped of poetry and platitudes, OF
blatant hypocrisy and stupid tomfool.
cry, such are the plain lessons of Mr..
Hayes letter of acceptance.