Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1878-04-18
Hayes First year.
ashinssOn National Union.

ire its fruits In estimating these we
nust not ignore the facts that at the meet 4
ing of the Cincinnati Convention in June,
1876. the Republican prospects were not
very brilliant; that its success in the ;
opening campaign was anything but GER Z
tain; that the intrigues within the party, t
for years previous, of personal ambition j
and their consequent Generalization, the {
failure of Congress, in its legislation, to J
respond to the appeals of the Executive
for power to enforce the reconstruction
acts, and other similar causes equally
powerful had resulted in the loss of State
after State to the Republicans, in the re-
duction of the Republican majority in the
Senate, and in the loss of the House in an
Overwhelming Democratic majority
Nor should we ignore the critical sltua-
ton on, and Immediately prior to, the
4th of March, 1877, and under which Mr..
Hayes administration began. The threat
ening attitude of the Democracy, claim
ing the Presidency by virtue of their
nominal popular majority, with the pow
er in the House to defeat count OF the
electoral vote, and serious doubt exist |
ing in the country, under the clamor of |
fraud, as to the validity of Mr.. Hayes
election, all combined to awaken wide |
spread alarm throughout the Republic
Civil strife, a bloody contest for the Pres
idency was seriously menaced, paralyzing
capital, suspending trade, and widely al
fecting the general welfare.
No administration, consequently, since
the beginning of the Government. except
Mr.. Lincoln's, in presence of the formida-
BILE preparations throughout the South
for rebellion, ever entered on its duties
with a situation so critical or difficult;
but Mr.. Lincoln, in both Houses of Con-
gress, had heavy majOrities, solid and
enthusiastic North to sustain him in all
his measures. while ''solid South, - an
angry and threatening South, divided
North, disgusted with the wrangles Ofthe
sections. a Democratic House, and SEN
ate only nominally Republican, confront
ed Mr.. Hayes!
What, then, was the duty of the hour?
What the policy of the statesman and
patriot? Was it not one of moderation,
Cancellation, concession? Was the coun-
try prepared for civil strife? Would it
have sustained Mr. Hayes in provoking
itP Would the Democratic House? Would
even the Senate? Where, then, would
Mr.. Hayes have secured the power or
means disappearing an attitude of strife9 ?
The application, therefore, of liberal
Radical Interpretation of the Cincinnati
platform to the situation during this first
wear of Mr.. Hayes administration is as
unjust as absurd; it is practically impos-
a
to furnish General Grant with the power
to maintain the reconstruction programme
in the South. 1t was not to be supposed
that a Democratic House would sustain
Mr.. HAYES in a like attempt, and conse-
: auentIy the collapse of the Republican
governments in South Carolina, Louisi-
ana, and Florida followed as absolutely
E the only alternative to a probable contest
&. az disastrous to the Republicans as to the
, country!
Hence, the only rational or patriotic
o policy for a situation so critical ant
threatening was one of conciliatiOn anC
g concession. Some of the measures to tina
: end have been severely criticised. Th'
$ manner of selecting the Cabinet, the ap
n pointment of few Democrats to office IL
IS the South, and the operations of the civi
h service reform, haYe all given great of
It fense in certain quarters; but have the!
: been judged or criticised in generou
l. spirit?
.e Of course, we wish it were otherwise
g we would be pleased that none but mer
lie itorious Republicans should be appointe
a under the Administration. But we can
D. not, in justice, ignore the situation no
or the practices of Mr.. Hayes Republica
predecessors. A reform in the civil sci
IL vice was one of the pledges of the pla
n form. In the matter of appointment:
ne both Lincoln and Grant offended in lik
way, and the clamor under them, in cor
u sequence, was as great as it Is unde
y. HAYES. Grants first Cabinet was assai
es ed, if possible, with even greater bitter
d. ness. Both Lincoln and Grant appointe
a Democrats in the interest of peace and {
Cancellation! Under the situation hs
nd not Mr.. Hayes greater inducement
N the same direction and equal iustifc;
ton?
of It is a matter of history that no admir-
istration, in its first year, escaped crit
IL cism, even from those who assisted
placing it in power. The many great an
: little, necessarily disappointed either
he appointments or pet projects, invariabl
re attribute to latent hostility to them
mt the Administration, the causes of the
N. failure. and under both Lincoln al
lOO Grant the outery was loud and long col
tinued. A formidable effort was made
n defeat Mr. Lincoln's denomination, al
under Grant tile Liberal movement hE
he its origin.
lily Under the circumstances, therefore,
en- the face of the formidable difficult
which beset its every step, the countl
ng and the Republican party should be graf
he fed at the general results of Mr.. Haye
on first year. The perilous situation whi'
menaced the country and party at its b
ses ginning has given place to one of pea
and returning harmony and fraterni
of throughout the Republic. Under its {
IT'S. forts to maintain our credit at home a.
of abroad. its resistance to reputation i'll
to its forms, its laborS to stimulate capital
ON productive pursuits, and to protect q
oys revive our languishing industries, t
country ,in:despite hostile Democratic Il
ads islation is gradually, but surely, resumi
ing its old prosperity Capital is becomi
OF more confident, trade is reviving, a
plenty and comfort tread closely up
Oe confidence and peace.
on -.-
ssLqzy Legislators!'' That's what t
D to Cincinnati Enquirer calls you, gentlem
of the General Assembly.
of Edwin S. Petit has been appoint
,ase Deputy Collector of Customs for the Z
oer- trict of Port Huron, Michigan.
lrd. wm. NJ. Tweed is confined to his bed