The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-10-23
Senator BEN. Hill ON the Hayes
Admin iStra ton.
A RasPinS Review of the Prese n {
..szaa Admit n fsIralfOn. t'f

ATLANTA, GA, October 2,

ATLANTA, GA, October 2, 1873.
With me all personal feelings and rela-
tons, whether OF friendship or otherwise,
are subordinated to the public good. But
1 should be very uncandid if | did not con-
fess that have been most grievously dis
appointed in Mr.. Hayes and in his admins
tration. If my grievance were only per-
sonal, the world would never suspect il in
my official conduct and opinions. 1t is
because my grievance relates only to our
national character and the public veal that
l make known its existence, and will pro-
coed to set forth briefly the reasons for it.
What is spoken of as Mr.. Hayes Southern
policy was of far less significance. This
Southern policy was a necessity of the stu
alton. Mr. Hayes had no power to avoid it,.
The end of carpet-bag plunderng in the
South and disgrace to the Nation had come
by events. Even Gen. Grant saw that the
army could no longer be used to sc tile con-
tested elections in the States and maintain
robbers in power.
= H
man may become President by reason
of a crime, and yet himself not be tainted
or even culpable. Twice, in our history,
have men become Presidents by reason OF
a crime. Andrew johnson became Presi-
dent by reason of a wicked and foul assas-
sination. 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 beca3e President through
the forms of the constitution and laws.
How did Mr.. johnson deal with those who
committed and were charged with aiding to
commit the crime by which he became
President? He pursued them for punish
ment 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 20 commit, the crime
by which he became President? If you
will examine the list, from the humblest
manager of the election precints in Florida
and Louisiana, through the visiting states
men, as they are now in mOCkery called,
and up to and through the Electoral Com
mission, and show the one,> black or white,
high or low. who is known to be guilty, or
who is suspected of the guilt Of this crime.
VINO has not received or been offered an
office, you will relieve to that extent the
pain and modification l feel in looking over
these sickening developments. +
Take it all in alI-its origin. its extent, its
wickedness, its elaboration. the variety of
characters engaged. its mum berless perjuries
and reckless forgeries, its marvellous success
aud its absolute control of a great govern
ment of uneQualed patronage for its re-
wards-and it must be confessed that the
Presidential fraud of 1876 is without a
parallel in any history. lC dwarfs all other
frauds, conspiracies and rObberies into
comparative insigniicance. Ii allowed to
go unpunished il will elevate perjury into
virtue, forgery into an art, and will re-
duce usurpation TO a science! The admin
istration which for one had fondly hoped
would inaugurate a new era Of elevation,
purity and efficiency in our civil service.
has persiStently identified It's life, its power
and its character with the frauds of its
origin, and has thus done more than all our
previous history to bring that civil service
into disrepute, and the advocates of its re-
form to confusioa and shame. The keeuesh
pang of all is that which springs from the
fact that will not down, that all this has
been done to silence, crafty and reward as
vile set of Seoundrels as ever robbed with
| out remorse or lied without blushing.
Ii has given me no pleasure to write this
| letter. have been slow and reluctant to
give up the hopes had formed of this adj
ministration. l am not willing even now
TO discredit my own judgment of men so
| far as to admit that my first impressions of
MI. Hayes were. altogether incorrect.
| prefer to believe, and do believe. that he
has fallen under the control of men who
! were deeply involved in the guilt Of this
fraud, and whose power over him he has not
been able to resist. Even now, if he would
purge his administration of every person
connected with the frauds. he might yet
| ally good men to his support and close his
| term of service with something of benefit
90 his country, and respect for himself But
| 1 Tear the serPents OF frand have their coils
80 wrapped around him that he is unable,
and may have become unwilling to release
himself. There is but one more step between
our free institutions aud destruction. The
i government has become identified with
/ fraud, and is administered by the authors
of fraud II the people shall fail to rep1di-
ate the fraud and its authors, abettofs and
re arders, then we shall have entered upon
| the phase Of our career when the Offices and
immense patronage of this richest OF couu-
i tries will take the form OF glitteriDg prizes
| offered to induce the commission. of crimes
| against the popular viii. sAssassins viii BE-
made heroes, and the greatest criminals vii
become mots entitled to enjoy the honorl
and live on the benefsctions Of governments
Beyond that. the man who talks of the safe
/ ~ and purity of public governments vii
be lunatic. Your friend
| BENZ. H. HILT,
| Hon. Robert G: Hember, EatOnt0n, Ga.
Flowers for winter bpnnets are compos-
Cd of metallic efnsels, chenille and velvet
i They come Ia tiny clusters, with hum.