The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-03-24
GRasTIsM UNDER CONTRAST.
Editors Register:

Editors Register:
To the general observer there is nc
feature in connection with the accession
of the new administration more striking
than the light in which it places the old
or retiring administration.
Verify, we live by contrasts. We have
no Just estimates of the most common
things, prevents, until they are brought
in contrast with something of the same
kind. A President WIS inaugursted the
other day who is adjudged by the moral
| sense OF the whole nation to be the pOlit-
ical offspring of fragrant and unprece-
dented public fraud and corruption. The
means and methods OF his promotion
have done violence to the fundamental
principles of Republican government, to
the purposes and preeedents of civil law,
10 our belief in the impartiallts of human
judgment, and shaken confidence in the
perpetuity of OF our institutions. How
ever far removed Mr.. Hayes may be
from any active responsibility for this re-
suit, or any private, selfish sympathy
with its enactment, his acceptance Of the
position under such circumstances cannot
separate him from near connection In the
public mind with the sense of shame, of
filth and foulness with which the national
character has been besmirched in this
connection.
Yet coming into office as Mr.. Hayes
does, tainted and steaming with the
odor of the corruption through which he
reached it, we must all admit that the
public breathes fteer, the atmosphere
seems purer, confidence in the future is
beng established, and even a hope OF
Just govern ment is reviving. What is
this but the effect Of contrast with
Grantism? Not that Hayes is good, but
that Grant was worse. Eight years of
the most INSCRIPTIONS, irreliglous policy
that ever afflicted our nation had so
darkencd and blackened the political
horizon, that even slight glimmer of
light is hailed rs an augurv OF old fash
toned integrity and patriotism.
We write altogether from moral and,
not u political or partisan, stand
point when we express what we believe
to be II general public impression, fol-
lowing naturally as the i"ttcct Of the coz
trast IN the national administration, that
''Grantism' has done moro in the last
eight wears to dali tho moral sense Of the
nation, pervGrt the pubic appreciation
OF iust government, and dearact from
tins dignity of the Presjden-
tial office, than all the mi,rule
we have suffered since Wash
ingtcn. Without moral character or
habits # virtue; without mental culture
or political training; without personal
dignity or claim If craftsmanship; with
out even h lb!tS OF sobrlatv or mannerly
demeanor, he stepped into tue Executive
office aS the representative of y demOral.
iHcd public sentiment, bringing with hIm
ouiv the habit and training OF the mill
Jvry camp and the uncVLth soldiery to
which h. naturally belonged. The won.
der that he did 81 well, Is not greater
tran that he l,t no worse. The insptu
a.! public iuvur has allowed him not
only 10 retain MS hats, but singularly
enough, t. apply his crude and unwar-
ranted notions - civil government to the
administrative o.. Ills office. Socially, we
have seen g. q. y bOor, adroit only in
sucking his e. Sar, or playing the jockey
At fashion course. Morally, we have
seen HIM indifferent to any OF the great
behes,s of the Christian world, without
magnetism in his example, openly disrc-
rnrdtuI OF the Sabbath, and with sore
Suspicion resting upon his private life.
Politically we have seen him apparently
estimating the Importance of his office by
two tests: the amount of patronage he
could bestow upon his per-
sonal ana political friends and
kindred, and the amount of disaster
and disgrace he could hurI from the eX-
ccutivc Office upon those who differed
with him or his party rs to the policy of
the government. As y statesman, be
has not been able to formulate or deliver,
during the eight years OF his high official
career, single original proposition out
side of the ordinary routine OF his official
functlons-( unless We except the San
Domingo job). He is not even Sin
gle Speech Hamilton
Is 1t any wonder the sun shines on the
accession of even Mr.. Hayes?
But the object of this writing is not
So much to denounce Mr.. Grant or to
land Mr.. Hayes, MS to save the lesson
which tins contrast now teaches. Evil
IDENTITY, the general feeling OF relief
which is felt by the public, Is not by rca-
son OF any confidence III the superior
ability OF Hayes over Grant to govern
the nation. The best friends of Mr..
HAYES do not claim tor him any great
endpwments Of Statcmanship. Nor Is 1t
the result entirely OF any caange in the
policy of the new Administration. The
experienced politician OF either party
GOES not rely upon the surface indications
so prominently disclosed by the new Ad-
minlstration, and received by the un-
sophisticated rs they are intended 10 be,
as assurances, however non-committal,
of u pscitic and non partisan policy to-
ward AL sections and parties. The lac:
is ths, these high antcipations will tend
to enhance ID" disappointment following
a full unfolding OF the bottom facts.
Whist the country relies on in Mr..
HAYES, and indeed in every high otiicisl,
more than in any policy he has promul-
gated, or any tencts he has espouSed. is
the private. personal character and quail
tiles OF the msn.
The masses OF the people, from the
highest ~ the lowest, are accustomed TO
relv on this more thsn they know. l.
is 4 kind of intuitlve conviction which
takes possession of the public mind as
soon AS they get glimpse of tt mans
inner life, And ii IS y right criterion.
Nothing is easier than for n mar to map
out political policy u tickle the fancy
OF the pub lie, and nothing i more utter
Iy unreliable. The demaGoCue always
introduces himself thus. But when We
want to estimate the value OF his sssQr-
ances We GO down INTO his private char
acter ard the principles and motives
which control him in all the walks of
life. The bank clerk msy be most plsus-
ible in his professions and general de-
meanor, but is Tot trusted with the kew
OF the vsult, till he lets light
into his "truc Inwardness" And
right here is that contrast between HAYES