The Russellville Democrat., 1877-04-05

which he may conduct his official trust. This is the only safety.
 What then, has MT. Hayes done for the country, and how has he kept his pledges thus far? One forty-eighth of his time has past, and surely the true nature of his administration should be foreshadowed by his action thus Tar. He has had ample time to shape affairs and grapple with the situation. What has he done? Thus far his administra- ton ie a blank--a pitiable failure.
 The truth of Morton's assertion that the republican administration under Hayes would be jusd what the party made it, has been fully demonstrated. The truth of the warning that was giv- en to the country beforehand, that Mir. Hayes would lose all his personality when ever he should be placed in the executive chair, and that lie would be powerless to carry out his nice promis- es and high sounding pledges, has been fully verified.
 MT. Hayes may be an honest man in his individual character and in all his private transactions, but he has failed to keep inviolate the oath he took upon himself when taking control of the na- tional administration, and it has turn ed out as we suspected that it would. that Mr. Hayes construction of his oath is to serve his party. We do not believe that he realizes that he is per hitting his oath of office to be violated by his dereliction of duty, but, never the less this is the case.
 MT. Hayes had the finest opportunity in the world to demonstrate his execu- tive ability and to impress the country with the greatness of his individuality. But he has lost this opportunity by want of backbone enough to act promptly and positively.
 Two important States of the South were in a state of disorder and uncer- tainty when Mir. Hayes took his seat. These States, Louisiana and South Car olina, had been kept in this state of suspense and uncertainty for months by Mr. Hayes predecessor. The whole commercial interests of all the Missis- sippi Valley are disturbed and demor- alized by the existence of the disturb ed and uncertain state of affairs i'll those two States. The material inter- ests of those States have suffered, and so suffering, have affected the whole Mississippi Valley, every hour since their right of local self government has been held in abeyance by the Fed eral Government. Mr. Hayes oath of office required of him to guarantee to every State republican form of gov ernment. Instead of doing this he has kept federal troops, armed and station- ed in those States with direct instruc tions to prevent the legally chosen au- thorities of those States from exercising the full functions of their office. He has kept his armed soldiers there in a time of profound peace, to protect pre- tenders in resisting and disregarding the lawfully constituted and uniVer- sally acknowledged. governments in those States. He had but to call off the blood hounds of war, and peace and order would have long since been re-
  stored in those States as it was in our | own state when we were permitted l to control our own State affairs. h. ! stead of doing this he has added digni- ty and importance to the pretended titles of the spurious governments in those States and continued the suspense by comforting with and giving audi ence to them. The people should hurl such incompetency from place and power. And the people should learn from this first month of Hayes admin istration, that no matter how honest the private life of any republican may have been, it will not do to place him in political office, for the instant 1t | is done he construes his oath of office | to mean that he shall so perform the | duties of his place as to serve his party | ends, no matter how much the country | may suffer thereby. This is what the first month of MT. Hayes administra- tion has confirmed.