The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1877-12-13
TINES REVENGE.
How the Returning Beard Rascals
Were Squelched by the Man
They Made President.
Special Correspondence N. o. Democrat.

Were Squelched by the Man
They Made President.
Special Correspondence n. o. Democrat.
WASHINGTON, Nov. I6, 1871
Whatever may be the views of indi
viduals regarding the general polit-
ical eXpediency and significance of
the appointment of Lawrence to the
collectorship, all must agree that as
q coup de grace to the miseries of the
Returning Board, it is an eminent
success. 1t took Mr.. Hayes all
summer to brace himself up to the
task of destroying the men who
made him President but at last he
reached the requisite tension of
nerve, and struck the blow with the
deadly precision of a Chinese heads
man. To me, who have watched all
the maneuvers through which Mr..
Hayes approached this act, the cul-
mination is invested with something
like the interest that attaches to the
denoument of deeply plotted ro-
nance. When | remember that one
year ago to-day the eyes of the ma
ton were bent with fierce eagerness
of apprehension or Of expectancy
upon Wells and Anderson; that for
weeks and months they carried a
national destiny in their breeches
pockets; that they figured first as
Warwicks, receiving the homage
due king-makers, and then as mar
tyrs, showered with the sympathy
of a great party; then, when ] see
them with hung heads and suRken
hearts meandering the streets of
Washington, where there is none so
poor to do them reverence, there
appears in their fate a lesson that
can not be taken too deeply in an
admonition. The mills of public
opinion have been grinding slowly
all these months, but no man can
look at Mad. Wells and Tom. An
dersOn to-day and say that they
have not ground exceedingly fine.
These two men came here last
spring with the airs of masters of
the situation. They swelled about
the streets and hotels in the bloated
grandeur of successful crime and
invaded the precincts of the White
House with the assurance of per
sons possessing the power of life
and death. They seemed to think
that it was not even necessary for
them to ask for anything, that they
had but to signify their royal pleas
ure to receive, and the good things
of the earth would be handed to
them upon a silver-salver, covered
daintily with a silk napkin and
graced with obsequiousness. All
this they were accustomed TO call
'the logic of the electoral COUNT
Among their intimates they used
to say. Behold, we stole the Presi
dency and gave it TO Hayes! Sure
ly the receiver of stolen goods can
not refuse to divide with his benc.
factors, the thieves"
Allotted by John Sherman in the
Cabinet, who, as pGTtieeps erimiRis,
bowed fexibly to the demands of
his pals, and backed in Congress
and before the country by the inau-
ence that conferred in Blain, these
men for a time held their own at
the sources of power. If Mr.. Hayes
showed signs of restiveness under
such dirty manipulations and made
wry faces at the foul odors he was
compelled to endure, the sly hand
of John Sherman was laid upon his
arm and John Sherm0n's reptilian
voice Kissed an ominous whisper in
his ear: Don't force these men to
confess, for if you do we are all
lostr'
Gradually, however, as the sum
mer wore on, the misgivings o: the
President wore away. The best
sense Of the country sent back re-
assuring response 10 his efforts and
righteous administration. BY and
by Mr.. Hayes discovered that he
had made upon the popular mind
the impress of an honest hearted
man striving to do right under
great difficulties. He detected un-
mistakable signs Of sympathy. which
was all the more potent because it
carried with it sort Of condona
ton. Then he began to feel strong
in his purposes, secure in his posi-
ton, and honored in his acts. From
that moment the death warrant Of
the Returning Board became a de
cree.
Fear never produces love, but,
whenever it vanishes, hate takes its
place. Mr.. Hayes had certainly
feared the Returning Board in the
earlier days of his administration
when the political sky was black
with threats and muttered full Of
growing thunder around the North
ern horizon. But when fair weather
came; when all danger of attack
upon his tenure had vanished and
he no longer needed to fear Wells
and Anderson, be began TO hate
them. He had from the frs loathed
them, as the Prince in the play
loathed the ghost of Banquo.
But the two wretches themselves
could not comprehend the fate that
overhung them. If they had looked
up but once they could not have
helped seeing the sword that trem-
ulous hair held suspended 10 smite
them. But so accustomed were
they to furtiye glances and hang
dog gaze upon the ground thai they
had lost the art of looking up, and
we're hence needless Of their peril.
Even at the last hour Anderson,
holding on TO the assurance Of
March amid the III omens Of No
vember, went 70 the White House,
withdrew his recommendation Of
King, and gravely informed the
President that he would accept the
place himselfl
4 Mr.. Hayes lifted his eyebrows
and took u second look at the man.
There he was, that same Tom An
derson, with the same knotted face
and sinister forehead, gnarled aud
scanned with the lines Of evil doing.
It was a reality 70 Anderson, but
not so 70 Mr.. Hayes. His night
mare had ended aud he was now
wide awake. Descending his as
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