The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-01-26
What is the Use ?

''What is the use,' asks a super-sensitiye
correspondent, ''of continually harping on
the title of Hayes Pr There is ALWAYS great
use in exposing falsehoo6 and fraud. The
title OF Hayes is false and fraudulent, aud rs
such ought not to exist. To demonstrate
against such title, and TO urge its overthrow.
is the first and highest present duty of an
American citizen. To uphold or to acquiesce
in such title tends to destroy our free insti-
tutions, to rot our politics, and to corrupt
public virtue. The Inauguration of Hayes
under such title was the greatest shame that
has ever befallen the country. Secession has
been justly styled terrible crime; but il was
based upon doctrine in which many honor
able men honestly believed, while there is no
sane man who believes that Hayes was legally
elected. The results of successful secession
would have been material mainly, and not
necessarily fatal to public virtue; the conse-
quence of successful fraud as exhibited in the
rape of the Presidency must be an immeasur-
able loss of national honor and decencv. If
the highest Office in the gift of the people can
be traudulently seized upon; if the man who
was truly slected can be coolly counted out,
while the man who was not elected receives
position and power, of what use are elections,
and why should they be continued? If pop
ular suffrage is proved to be a sham at the
a
sham all the way down to the bottom What
encouragement has any worthy and capable
man in becoming a candidate for Office, when
he can have no assurance that election elects?
Why not give up the Government at once to
the thieves, who will steal it entirely sooner
or later? Of what avail is it To any man. in
any public or private position, to be honest !?
Is not fraud triumphantly crowned, and is
not rascality clothed in purple and fine linen?
Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die
Day by day the generalization is spreading,
and it is with the hope of arresting it that THE
Sun is continually harping ON the title of
Hayes. In the interest of the people, the
false and fraudulent title of Hayes should be
exposed and denounced.
''As a matter of policy" continues our
correspondent, ''you should drop the subject.
Hayes is doing better for the Democrats than
Tilden could have DONE TiIden would have
consolidated the Republican party; Hayes
has disintegrated it." We deny both posi-
tons. 1t is as true now as it ever was that
honesty is the best policy, and it is both right
and expedient to oppose a lie. 1t is not true,
though many Democrats seem to find much
consolation IN saying so, that Hayes has done
better IN any respect than Tilden could have
done. Hayes allowed self-government TO be
restored at the South; but 1iden would have
restored 1t more speedily and more thorough
ly, not because he had made bargain, but
because it was right. Hayes has fraudulently
affected desire for civil service reform;
Illden would before this have thoroughly and
effectively reformed the entire public service.
As regards the point of disintegrat;on, it may
be said that the Republican party is falling to
pieces, of its own rottenness, so far as it de-
serves to fall to pieces, and no further. This
is not the work of Hayes but OF natural
causes 1t may also fairly be questioned
whether a similar disintegration is not acting
upon the Democratic party, which has hasten
ed to learn evil lessons and to follow eorrup.
ton. We state the case very mildly when we
say that bargaining with theft, making terms
with fraud, and acquiescing in iniquity, will
never fail to demoralize any party.-Nelg
York Sun.