The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1877-03-07
Hayes Inaugural.

|
Hayes, and as we are of the opinion
that it is exceedingly appropriate to
the damnable occasion, we transcribe
it in full to our columns:
FELLOW CITIZENS The first duty oi
a man, who has been elevated to high
office, is to return thanks to those by
whom he has been made successful.
l begin with expressing my profound
est sense Of gratitude to Mr.. j. Madi-
sou Wells, and his three associates,
who by rare exercise of ingenuity,
audacity and fidelity, were enabled to
turn majority of 5000 against me in
Louisiana into majority of 1000 in
my favor. The feat is altogether I'M
parallelled in political history, and
shall receive as it deserve, a high re-
ward.
| must also remember the services of
the illustrious High Low Commission,
which, sworn to ascertain what cleo
tors were duly appointed in each State
stuck so manfully together in tie nob'e
resolve that no evidence should he ia
ken to prove that any body was elected
anywhere except the persons who cast
their votes for me. Where the merit
was so impartialIy distributed, it
might be iuvidious to single out par
ticular individuals for honorable men
ton; tn, | cannot refrain from extol-
ling the names 70. P. Morton (Only-
for Party MOrton) who, two years ago,
introduced q bill authorizing either
House of Congress to reject the electo-
raj vote of a State bnt, as commits
sioner steadily insisted that neither
House could 60 behind tie returns,
where they were in my favor; also G.
P. Edmunds Great Frand Edmunds)
who, two years ago, denounced the
ever blessed Returning Board of Lon
isiana as "a continuance of thieves"
and not fit to be regarded in seating
Senator, but who asserts that it is to
he sacrealy regarded in seating a
President; and finally, the immortal
Sack Bnnsby, | mean Joe Bradley, who
chosen as umpire in board equally
divided, always voted on my side.
His fidelity can never be forgotten.
Let me, besides, compliment the
perspicacity and consistency of the
Senate. which, having twice voted for
Morton's bill, allowing either House to
throw out an electoral yete, at length
discovered, when it become unnr.e sa Y
to elect me, that it was highly impro.
per and unconstitutional for either
House to think of trampling upon the
rights of State, especially when it
was represented by a board of knaves
and peTurers. 1t is no easy matter
for grave body of Senators to over
come heir often expressed convic-
tons, bat in my case it was done with
the utmost facility and without hesi.
tation. As some of these Senators are
soon to retire from their office they
may connt upon me, as they have al
ready counted Tor me.
Can | forget an enlightened and
faithful press, in this moment of high
celebrations? Can | forget the Times
which for six months poured out a
steady stream of searching abuse OF
ms opponent, whom a little while be-
fore it had praised as an honest and
honorable man? Can | forget the emf
merit Field Marshal. who invented the
dodge about &2,000,000. 900 OF Southern
claims, which had so mucl, effect in the
canvass7 Can I forget the Evening
Post of New York, which for fifty
years having steadily battled for GER
tain principles, which my opponent re.
presented better than any other man
in the Uuiun, aud which did not rep
resent, suddenly deserted them to take
mp my canse7 What renders this case
of desertion the more magnanimous is
that the three editors of that journal,
who alone had given it any influence,
were the intimate and life long perso-
nal friends OF my opponent. 1t is true
its services were feeble, but so conspic-
nous disregard for my sake of public
and private decency oeght to be ac-
kuowledged by a small share of the Of
fetal patronage. Great credit is also
due to the New York Tribune, which
after contending in 1872 that the coun-
try was only to be saved by the over
throw of the Republican party, be-
came the champion of independent
journalism, but is now happily CONVEX
ted to high sense Of public virtne and
party fidelity by the influence of an
eminent gambler of Wall street-my
friend Mr.. Jay Gould. As our party
is the party of moral ideas and itnmor-
al practices 1t can have no filter organ
than this journal, which towers to the
skies, but sells liquor in the basement.
Having thus returned my thanks to
those to whom l am chiefly indebted
for my place by one vote. against a
general popular majority of 264,000,
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