Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-03-14
Hayes and TiIden.

Never, perhaps, since the origin of the
Government has there been such Il strik-
ing contrast between rival candidates for
the Presidency as between Hayes and
Tilden. They represent two opposite
types of political training. Each is the
impersonation of the distinct methods or
forces employed or at work in American
politics since parties began to exist.
Hayes is all candor and openness Tilden
is all cunning and concealment. The
former does directly and in the light of
day what conscience commands; the lat
ter, by indirection and stealth, what in
terest prompts. Tiden's method OF secrecy
and deception never permit him to make
known his real thoughts. Hayes frank
ness never suffers him to make known
anything else. The one utters aloud and
in the presence of others his opinions on
all proper subjects of discussion; the
other contidentlally, in whispers, and
with many an aside, evasively insinuatcs
what may be interpreted to suit the ext
gencies of the times. The one aims to be
what he seems the other strives to seem
what he is not The methods of action
OF the two men are as opposite
as their principles. Hayes believes
that sense of right and love of
justice sways the majority of mankind,
and hence that to control them we must
convince their reason. Tilden assumes
that interest and passion move the ma
iCrity, that money is the great motor
trickery the engine, deception the tender,
and hatred and malice the fuel that pro
pei the popular engine. Hence the UNI
precedented expenditure of money by "a
Presidential candidate, the evasiveness Of
his public utteranceS, the cipher dispatch
es, the secret agents travelling under~as-
sumed names the attempts at bribery, and
the tanning the fast dying out fires Of
civil strife. The eiectioneering methods Of
Tilden receive further illustration from
the ballot-boX frauds of 1868, for which
he was held personally responsible by men
of character and standing. Hayes meth
Cd of electiOneering is to live an upright
private and public life. to think and act
up 10 the best thought and light of o-day
to build up the best character that he can
aud then let that and his deeds plead his
cause. This method Of honor and truth
renders unnecessary cipher kilograms, Sc
cret circulars or conferences, many named
agents, money in barrels or on draft, or
appeals to the lingering disloyalty OF the
land. In the course OF these two candi-
dates we have had a fair test of the com
parative worth of honesty and craft in a
contest for the Presidency. Craft will
gain points at the outset; honesty will
gain honors and reward at the end Craft
may be so cunning rs to deceive for a
time the very elect; honesty cannot be so
guiltless as to give the victOr's crown to
any but the verbally elected. Craft crops
out too much and too soon 10 mislcad the
wary; honesty bears fruit in time to make
known to the wise the quality of the tree.
Craft seldom wins success n the present
and never in the future: uprightness gen
orally attains the highest success, and,
what is better, always deserves 1t. The
Vaccinations of Tilden, the politician,
have not proved match for the simT le
adherence to duty of Hayes, the unselfish
soldier and upright citizen. Let aspiring
men learn this easy, though paradoXical,
/ lesson-that the way to reach the Presi-
dency is never to seek il, and the way to
lose it is to scheme and plot for it. after
the manner of the trading politicians
( n. J. Times.