New-York tribune., 1876-08-25
A DTRIOU.S LETTER,

A letter purpOrtlng 10 DC "ii''ch oy '''
Fitzpatrick to Gov. Hayes, upon the political
situation in Indiana is printed IN the llideh
newspapers with many screams of horror ana
with many groans of disapprobation. The
General Gf tho epistle is to be regarded as
penuine), with aquiline glance, surveys the
political field in Indiana, and sees not only
the regular enemy but formidable party OF
Independents sufficiently numerous to defeat
Gen. Harrison. lie at once declares, or Is
made TO declare with military prompt
,rss. that there is but one way
"to overcome this movement" Then,
metaphorically speaking, he waves his cavalry
sword over his head, and cries out: -
Bloody Shirt campaign with money, and
Indiana is safe; financial campaign, and
"no money, and we are beaten" If Gen.
Kilpatrick wrote this letter, he evidently
fancies that Gov. Hayes is to be elected as
Gen. Grant was reelected; if he did not write
the letter. the man who forged it saw clearly
enough into what overthrow recourse to the
old tactics might betray the Republican party.
The most curious part of this missive Is the
GOODNESS with which it is taken for granted
that tho Independents of Indiana can be
scared by the Shirt Slogan, or bought up IKE
cattle who are (as the letter says) "poor,
"needy, and in debit They are first spoken
Of A. men who may be saved by due admin
istration of "lectures and documents" and
then it is added that as they are "in debt
they stand ready in the market waiting for
the party with the longest purse to purchase
them. This is an Independent party " with
a vengeance
If this letter he forgery-and we fear that
il is not-there is a lesson to be drawn from 1t I;
for il points ont indirectly the way precisely
in which the supporters of Gov. Hayes ought
not to conduct the present canvass. Far bet
ter will it be for them to be beaten, horse,
foot and Dragons, than to win the hght by
cock and bull stories of dark lantern dangers
at the South, or 10y the corrupt purchase OF
votes. Having been nominated, no doubt
Gov. HAYES would prefer to be elected; but
we do not believe that he wishes the lnde-
pendent voters to be frightened or buOed into
electing him. -Four years of an AdmlniStra-
ton kept in power by such means can hardly
have given the Republican candidate
taste for four additional years Ike unto
them. There are orators III piehty
who would like lucrative engagements TO
make speeches for Hayes and Wheeler, who
do not know how to make any orations except
those of the old standard, bloody, hair
raising, nerve-thrlling sort. There are
"poetsr in plenty, who have campaign songs
for sale exactly like those which we sang
during the reign of jeff. Davis at Richmond
There are party managers in plenty, who
cannot begin to work until they are supplied
with money.
We hope to see Gov. Hayes elected with the
least possible assistance from these political
journeymen. If the corruptions, intrigues, and
other abominable devices of the present dy-
nasty are to be repeated. we do not care
which candidate is elected or rather we pre-
fer to have victory perch upon the Tilden ban
ners, leaving the record of Gov. Hayes still
immaculate. He is too good man to be
| spoiled; and in n success obtained in the old
way there would be no fragrance and no hope.
So, if Gen. Fitzpatrick did not write this letter.
we trust that the fact will be apparent. If he
did write it, he had better sheathe his sword
and give up his speechmaking.