New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-02-28

is that this degrading estimate of the President
has not always proved unfounded; that men
have gained the highest station who used pub
lie office for the payment of private debts.
Mr. HAYES is not that sort OF man. In the past
he has used office AZ u trust for the dement, OIL
the people, and not as purse from WHICH W
nav off personal mercenaries. We have great
faith that he will deal with the Presidency as
a sacred trust. His calm and wise conduct,
throughout struggle never equaled IN TINS
country. has won the higheyt praise from foes
rs well as from friends, and 1t would be
shock to millions who trusted him II he should
not treat as degrading and insulting inc
claims which are already made on the
ground of personal service to himself. we
have faith that the men do not know MIN
who are demanding on such pretexts, places
for which they are not mt.
One fact will help Mr.. Hayes wonderfully
Everybody who voted for him may claim 10
have turned the scale in this close contest.
Each one of the 1S5 electors made Hayes
"president.r for he might have sold out.
Each State was important, for the loss OF
ono would have been the loss of all, and
every active man who has done much III any
doubtful State can claim that he made Hayes
"Presidentr Every member OF the senate
and of the House who has aided IN the
long struggle; every attorney who has APP
neared before the Commission every member OF
cauvossing boards in doubtful States; every
supervisor of election or other active pollti-
clan: nav. every individual voter III Florida,
where there was not vote TO spare, mas oh
this degrading theory as strong "clal'n 10
any office as the ablest and purest statesman
Now the offices will not go round. All Tie
places in the country will not suffice TO pay
the men who directly "made Hayes President.
As for the men who drought him OUT or
who first mentioned his name,' or who turned
the scale in the close Ohio fight III 1872
which brought the Presidency within leach, Or
who placed him in nomination or changed
their delegations for him in the Cincinnati
Convention, they must take back seats. uhui
80, 900 more offices can be created Tor their re-
ward At last the practice of parties, ana OF some
recent Presidents, is made contemplate by
palpable rcducti0 dd dbSWdum. Thousands OF
mere tools of party, thousands OF ignorant
voters in Florida, may each claim that he
made Mr. Hayes President" more directly
than Mr. Evarts or any other statesman III
the land. If the Presidency is perquisite
and not trust, if offices are to be given III
reward for personal aid to the candidate, the
lazzaroni of the party can establish higher
claims" than the abest statesmen, and
Cabinet places must be filed by selection from
returning boards.
II is well that the spoils system has become
ridiculous as well as infamous. The people OF
the United States made Gov Hayes President.
They expect from him, not attention to per-
sonal helpers or friends, but fidelity to the
welfare of the people. Because they believe
him capable of that fidelity. they have trusted
him. And we have strong faith that they VIII
not be disappointed in their trust. Politicians
may "claim as much as they like, and ma
chine partisans may rave, but Mr.. Hayes VIII
use the trust OF the people for the good OF the