The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-06
INFORMATION FOR THE CURIOUS.
A Possessor Of the Cardinal Virtues
With Some Slight Flaws.
HIS CAREER FROM MAJOR TO PRESIDENT.
The Star Of Destiny Wandering Amid
the Elective Franchise.
PHILADELPHIA, MAY 4. 1877.

PHILADELPHIA, May 4, 1877.
Rutherford B. Hayes is the President OF the United
States has been the most exciting and
memorable IN the history OF this century Never did
the candidate Of great political party for the highest
snice in the land stand before the people stronger
glare OF light md heat Never the throne OF the
Republic attained after close and remarkable .
struggle, and seldom It's occupan, been burdened
with such grave responsibilities Yet President Hayes
Is probably little known TO the people Of tho United
States as any Chief Magistrate who took his scat
So little seems TO have found It's way the news
papers as to his personality-who and what OF
man he is-hat one-haf tho worthy people whose rep
resentative he is may be still trying find where
he ls 10 DO classified between tho extremes Of
shc commonplace hgurehead and the brilliant and ac-
complished statesman. II was with considerable
pleasure, therefore, that happened TO meet on
street the other day friend has long enjoyed
the honor OF acquaintance and intimate friendship with
President Hayes. brief political discussion and
low questions part about the President cd TO
more protractcd interview before the gentleman lett
Town. have thought that, even emitting what was
lod me in confidence, and .whatetcr would be inju-
dicious at tins to publish in newspaper, there
might still remain something about President Hayes
which might DO OF interest the readers OF the HERALD
and have therefore, with my trends PERMISSION,
written out portion OF the conversation. My lnfor-
dent, and whose name is we'll known throughout the
country.
EARLY REcoLLBcTIoNs.
OF course among my nrst questions was, "How long
have you known President Hayes9"
"rhe arst time met him IN the spring or SUM-
mer Of 1851, !" was the roply. 'He tho major OF
the rwentythird Ohio volunteer regiment, Of which
William Rosecrans colonel and Stanley Matthews
lieutenant colonel Ho thr.y-o,ght thirty-nino
aid ND a; "A
his present appearance Indeed he hardly looks day
older now. curious thing about him in the army
was that he always wore gloves, whether In Of
Uniform, an unprecedented thing then in Western
regiment he always seemed clean handed sort OF
man. He was elected to Congress while he still in
he army. but the first lit hc got into really active
public life when he was nominated for Governor
In 1917
There wasa big fight and 1t was memorable strug-
gle The principal candidates were Benjamin T.
Cowan, aerward Assistant Secretary Of the Interior
under Deano. and J. Warren Kelfer. q member OF
Congress- Cox Governor and going out.
There was an attempt nade to put Cox the track
again Then Bob Schenck brought out as candi-
date but ON the second third ballot he declined.
There werc two wings in the republican party.
headed by Cowan, the other by William Henry Smith.
II was battle OF tho giants, and in the end the Smith
wing won and tho result tho nomination of Hayes
for Governor He beat Thurman tho democratic can.
didate, and dragged through with only 1000 majority
but the Legislature democratic ana the State
practically In the hands of the Next
Hayes was nominated and beat McCook by 5000
Jorny. Alter serving this second term he out to
Fremont
HAygs' GOOD BoKrUyE.
"While living in Fremont no was nominated 70 Con-
gress from tho Second district against hts protest. He
was defeated. This was the only time knew
HIM TO be unlucky. Shortly after this Congress
created four United States sub-trcasurics, aud
Grant appointed Hayes Assistant United States Trcas
urer at Cincinnati but he declined and candidate Of
John Sherman went IN"
"Hayes kept OF politics alter this and went 10
Fremont to ve the Burchard estate, which he has
B,nco inherited Always prior his last election as
Governor Hayes hailed from Hamilton county. Ohio.
BY the way, he the second President OF the United
States that this county has furnished Harrison was
County Clerk OF this county when no was nom nated
and elected President .
ALWAYS RADICAL REPUBLICAN,.
"Is Hayes a radical republican I"
"withcut any doubt he is the blackes sort of one
In 1895 he in the Thirty-ninth Congress In his
delegation nrst fellow named Hubbell, from
the Eighth Ohio DISTRICT called the Delaware district
where Hayes born. Hayes had great liking for
Aubbel, who was an amlabie sort OF mnn, but not
sneacked enough IN his repubiicanism to Hayes,
who was always reproachng him Tor IT, One day he
said TO him, Now, Hubbe, ieei perfectly certain
that you will up in the democratic party, ana SO
he did. He was afterward johnson man. "
THE LUCKEsr IN
81 consider him the luck,est man In America. He
N Fortunes darling. | never indication that
he position, nut It has somehow always seemed
TO come 10 MIN He mas always rot lust what no
wanted aud been In exalted positions all life
ho is man OF destiny. He believes implicitly In his
vein Of superstition IN his character. suppose all
are huperstiti0ns more or less II we'll ony admit II.
81.
noticed that soldiers would never hgbt SO well tho
morning alter they hai seen tue their left
shoulder anybody had called their 10 H. In
The Dix fight the Governorship In 1867, when tho
result hung the balance tor days, and on
both sides wild with excitement. Hayes was
perfectly calm and when he was toiesraphed 10 That
no had boon elected Governor oil the State by just
about 2 300 votes he did not appear surprised Sew
era days afterwart, when be met Trend he said
him that he had known for days that no 10 DO
elected, because one night ne was passing the Cincn
natl Gazette ofce and no happened 10 look up
The moon over his right shoulder. i knew then
was elected said no. ana he added, tho only
shoulder was the night before was shot In battle
could give you como more stories TO illustrate this
superstition, but
60 on; wish you would"
mo; Il might injurc him among people who don't
understand him. We musn'. allow the world 10 know
all the weaknesses OF great man."
''rhis supreme condolences IN his own good fortune
does II always INSPIRE himY'
always. HIS good luck has mover failed him, and
ho has learned TO believe In IL implicitly
KNEW HE WAS ELECTED.
"How did lie feel during the hong period OF doubt
after the Presidential election when the country did
not know who electcdy"
"Hayes never Tor a moment seemed to doubt that he
had the choice OF the people and that would DO
30 decided DO you remember how anxou5Iy
watched the counting OF tho electoral
rosing day, unccrlaiu how II would DO decideds
During that time Hayes on his way TO Washington
70 DO inaugurated as the President OF the United
States. And he was"
"By the way, alter tho election u friend asked him
how no accounted Tor the small republican majority
Ohio gave last fall. Hayes replied 81 was passing
linz fl. Atufa
tion and saw house In course OF construction IL
had mansard rooI which had just boon covered with
bright Some one had taken brush OF black paint
and marked IN large letters OF the roof: -
1lLDEN AND GOOD TlMESl
And on the olher:--
HAYES AND HARD TIMESi
He didn't ~ uny mOre,p