The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-03-03
WATTERSON ON HAYES.
All Lost But HOnOr-The struggle
the Triumph, the Surrender
The ThOrny Path For
From his Speech in the House.

From his Speech in the House
The Republican party is great SIN
ner, and has withstood its destiny long
time l do admit. But the last iour
wears have witnessed the taking OF OF
many of its guiltiest leaders Year by
year they will continue to come to grief.
In its order the party itself will fall,
crushing those that remain with it in its
complete and final wreck. take this
ION laith," and my faith is strong and
pure; faith in the great creative princi-
pie of the universe, faith in free instltu-
tions, faith in the people and faith IN the
future. l have no faith in the violent
method proposed by some OF our friends
who have grown wsrlike after the event
They remind me only of Swlft's Irish
Engineers:
When all is lost that's worth defense
They build magazine.
In this present battle all is lost except
our honor, the memory OF our struggle,
the glory of our triumph, the lesson OF
our surrender. If Mr.. Hayes is to
come into the Presidency, as coming in
he is, l would not contest his legal title
to the Office. l would make no idle,
factious outcry. l would not block his
wsy. But would let him pass along,
saving merely, "Sir, it is your turn to.
dsy; tomorrow it may be another's; let
those laugh most who laugh last"
No man need fear a break IN the
Democratic line. The South is psrticu
lsrly unripe for plucking; neither is it
for sale. During ten years it has piled
up proof OF its capacity for endurance.
Ali this session it has given hostages to
fortune and-the North. To-day 1t is
standing by its count, q true exponent
of fidelity and peace. If Mr.. Hayes sees
fit to vary the policy of national pro-
scription and military interferences
which has characterized the administa
ton OF General Grant he will do wise
thing for himself just thing for the
whole country. But the South proposes
to ask nothing, to buy nothing OF him or
those who shall rule MIN. The manner
of his coming in builds q wall between
his administration and those embracing q
great majority CT his fellow-citizens, who
preferred another. There can be no
| compromise Will tuo lopuoiSau parry
no compromise with the historic eight.
As Mr.. Hayes may do the right, he will
receive the commentator of good men !;
but this Is not expected of him, nor will
it insure to the benefit of his party. or
wipe out the disgrace of his coming in.
| fear then if he be the liberal and con-
servative man he is said to be he will
not long remain so. He belongs to q
party whose nature Is changeless, and IL
will the rather control him than he it.
The Democratic party has but to pick it.
self out of the slough of despond, look
calmly at the situation as it is and move
forward bravey up the rocky ridge.
There may be deserter here and there.
If there is, let him go. There may be,
there will be, many comrade who shall
never mount the hill. Bury him with
the honors of war and march forward.
For us the word should be, as it was
given by the greatest of philosophers
and statesmen a hundred years ago,
"Cheer us if we run; conscious if we fall;
but, for Gods bake let US pass on, let US
pass on"