Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-10-12
WEAK Ar. AND An, D ] CRIMINAL! i /. I

A1AA ANl1s5N1OlNl
SENATOR Hills OPINION OF HAYES
md HIS AD1fINIsTRAT1ON.
scathin9 Review OF the Weak and Crimi-
nal Acts of tho De Facto President---No
Apology or Pal1fation of His Course Adj
missible---The Government Identified
With Fraud.
Senator Ben. Hill, Of Georgia, has written
letter to Hon. Robert G. Humber in reply
to note from him questioning the policy
and truthfuiness Of some of Mr.. Hill'e pre-
vious references to the present adm1nistra-
ton. From this letter we make the follow
ing extracts:
In my opinion Mr.. Hayes has utterly failed
to improve indeed has strangely thrown
away an opportunity to make for hiu:self a
name worthy to be enrolled with that of
Washington, because that opportunity i'm
proved would have conferred on his country
a benefit quite equal to any conferred by
Washington himself.
He has failed because he has shown him
self utterly unequal to his opportunity. He
has shown himself unequal in that he has
utterly failed to realize that the chief magis-
trate OF greas country has no personal
1rlenas, no personal enemies, and owes no
personal obligations, but is under obligations
only to his country, and to that country's
nonor, glory, prosperity, constitution and
laws. He has thrown away his opportunity
to honor himself and even his country by
recognizing an obligation to reward those
who, by frauds most disgraceful to their
country, gave him this opportunity. He has
thrown away the grandest opportunity ever
given to man, only that he might give Off
ces and rewards to as worthless set of rap
scaillons as ever disgraced humanity.
THE CRIME.
A man may become President by reason
OF crime, and yet himself not be tainted or
even culpable. Twice in our history have
men become Presidents by reason of crime.
Andrew Johneon became President by
reason of wicked and foul assassination
Mr.. Hayes became President by reason of a
wicked and foul conspiracy to change, and
which did change the ballots of the people
after those ballots had been cast. Yet each
became President through the forms of the
constitution and laws.
How did Mr.. johnson deal with those
who committed and were charged with aid
ing to commit the crime by which he be-
came President? He pursued them for
punishment with such vigor that, as all the
world now believe, an innocent woman was
hanged!
How has Mr.. Hayes dealt with those who
committed, and those who were charged
with aiding to commit, the crime by which
he became President? If you will examine
the list, from the humblest managers of the
election precincts in Florida and Louisiana,
through the visiting statesmen as they are
now in mockery called, and up to and
through tue electoral commission, and show
me one, black or white, high or low. who is
known to be guilty. or who is suspected of
the guilt of this crime, who has not received
or been offered an Office, you will relieve to
that extent the pain and modification I feel
in looking over these sickening develop.
ments. There was woman charged to be
among the conspirators in both crimes.
+ In Mr.. Johnson's case, Mrs. Surratt. pro-
testing her innocence with an honest W man Is
tears, and devoted mothers entreaties, was
chained and Knocked and hung!
In Mr.. Hayes case, Agnes jerks. confess
ing her guilt in brazen gibberish never be-
fore equaled, receives an Office of good paw
and little work in the treasury, and that, too
at time when many ladies of unquestioned
worth, with hungry children, and husbands
SLAIN In battle, were rudely turned away
with the gruf answer 'sno vacancies.''
II, instead OF fleeing as criminal, Wilkes
Booth mad sought the presence of Andrew
Johnson as one who had rendered the latter
good service, and Mr.. johnson had enter
tanned him at the executive mansion, what
would the world have said? What wonld
you say?
Letters have been produced before the
Potter committee, written by Republican
members of Congress, which were written to
Republican friends, and not intended fol
publication, which strikingly exhibit the 81.
perlor influence of Kellogg, Packard, Wells
and Anderson at the executive mansion. Tn
other ways we know now that almost eyery
person connected with the fraud has claimed
or exercised special influence or favor at the
White House. But the contrast may be stat
ed in one short sentences:
In Mr.. Johnson's case all the criminals
real or suspected, were specially marked fol
punishment.
In Mr.. Hayes case all the criminals. real
or suspected, were especially marked for re-
ward.
would really be glad if could find some
excuse,
SOME APOLOGY OR SOME PAL11Ar1oN
for the course Mr.. Hayes has pursued in this
matter. But, after full consideration.
can find none. It was no pailiation to say
that assassination was greater crime than
fr nd. Both were crimes. If it is right to
reward crime at all, then the greatest crimes
should receive the highest rewards. You can
not produce innocence, much less merit. by
grading crimes. All deserve punishment
and none are entitled to reward 10 reward
| fraud is a greater crime than to commit it
for the reward invites many commissions.
Il Andrew johnson had rewarded Booth the
whole world would have pronounced h,m q
greater criminal than Booth. It is dificult
| TO conceive OF greater crime than the de-
feat by fraud of the popular will of gov
eminent which rests on the popular will. If
there be greater crime it is committed nv
those who reward the authors of such frand
for such reward invites the perpetual defeat
OF the popular will, and, therefore. q direct
supervision of theagovernment,d an assumes
the most insidious form of treason.
It is worse than no excuse
IT rs ITSELF A CRIME
Ito say that Mr.. Hayes was under obligation
to these authors of fraud. II there had
been no assassin Booth, there would have
been no President johnson. But, was the
President, therefore, under obligation to the
assassin! If there had been no frauds in
Florida and Louisiana there would have
been no President Hayes. Is the President.
therefore, under any obligation to all who