The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-03-30


party and set up to elect himself President
by organizing the ofllccholdcrs into per-
sonal faction he was east out by Mr.. CLAY
and the great leaders of that day, who pre-
fcrrcd defeat to dishonor. Though selfish
and vain, and false to his pledges, TYLER
was not wanting i'm ability or experience in
public affairs, and with all his faults he had
a following in Congress Of conspicuous
champions like CALEB CUSHING and HENRY
A. WISE. Familiarity known as the Corpo-
rails Guard. They defended his acts and
his motives warmly, and it is due to the
truth Of history to say they were well re-
warded for the service.
When ANDREW JOHNSON quarrclled with
the Republican party, and proclaimed n
policy OF his own TO be enforced at all haz-
ards. he was discarded and denounced for
the trcachcry, and the part triumphcd soon
after as the result Of that heroic treatment.
JOHNSON had individuality and force Of char
acter TO impress his mark on the times. and
he had friends in the Senate and the House
OF Representatives ever ready to confront
his opponents and TO cspouse his cause. Nor
did he himself shrink from conflict A com
bative nature carried him forward, and If
he was often rash, he certainly was never
craven.
For the first time in the history Of the
country has the actual incumbent Of the
White House been assailcd, held up as faith
less TO his own professions, ridiculcd as
sham, and branded as a descrter with
out single friend in either branch Of Con-
gross TO rise in his defence, or to utter
word OF extcnuaton in his behalf WELDING
the vast patronage Of the Government, and
using it unscrupulously to pay off personal
obligations, or to reward the managers of
the Great Fraud, he could not command one
voice in the Senate to plead for him an ex-
cuse or an apology when Mr.. HOWE held
him up to public scorn and resentment.
A shallow pretender and canting dema-
gogue, without any principle to guide his
action or any intellectual capacity or grasp
to shape policy he assumed to dictate
conditions TO the men 10 whom the Repub-
lean party has been accustomed to turn for
counsel and direction and whom the party
recognizes as its accepted leaders He was
hardly installed in Office before pointed indig-
mites were offered TO these foremost minds,
and they were made TO feel that neither
their advice nor their aid was desired.
In fact, there was deliberate purpose
from the beginning to make personal Ad-
ministration. Independent of the party
which created it, and to cast aside all the
influences by which an Administration. to
be effective, must be supported. Mr.
SCHURz. Mr.. EvARrs, and Mr.. SHERMAN
had laid down programme Of their own;
and Mr.. HAYES, as the creature Of their
impracticable theories, insisted that ii
should be carried to the bitter end without
regard to cost or consequences.
Notwithstanding the radical differences
that were developed in the formation of the
Cabinet, and subsequently, in the most i'm
portant appointments to Office at home and
abroad, the Republican leaders still chung
to possible hope that an absolute rupture
might be avoided. And although some Of
them refused to hold intercourse with
HAYES, others, like Mr.. EDMCNDs, cherished
the delusion that he might be brought to
See the danger Of his obstinate course. They
tried all personal persuasion and then were
forced TO conclude that ii was in vain. Thus
experience has demonstrated to them that
HAYES is not only intensely dogmatical,
like most weak men, but he is tricky, un-
truthful, and fun of deceit under the most
plausible and smooth professions. This is
not their judgment alone, but, outside of the
narrow circle which clusters around present
power, it is the conviction Of men OF all
political opinions who have had occasion to
apply the tests OF character ia their per-
sonal relations with him.
The speech Of Mr. HOWE was a frank ex-
preston of the general feeling in the Repub-
lcan party He is not an attractive speaker,
and Is not accustomed, like his f rmer col
league, MATT CARpESrEI to draw great au-
dcnces. But the Senate was packed to hear
his indignant uttcrances that day, and every
Senator was in his place, because he gave
voice to pent-up Indignation; and the popu-
lar sympathy broke out in applause and APP
probation, not in compliment to the oratory,
but to the strong sentiment which Mr. HOWE
uttered.
TYLER and JOHNSON had about them pub
lie men who commanded respect for their
abilities, and who may be said, in
some degree at least to have re-
deemed their Administrations. Not so
HAYES. There is not man connected with
ii who to-day could be elected town con-
stable, or who has any more influence on the
public mind than the clerks who do the
copying in the departments The whole
concern is regarded with contempt, and 1t
will go into the dull chronology OF history
rs n thing utterly despised.
The prospects Of the Republican party in
1880 are not brilliant at best But If it in
tends to contest the Presidential election
seriously, the first and most indispensable
duty is to disown any responsibility for this
Fraudulent Administration and to reject it
rs the Republicans rejected JOHNSON in
1868, and as the Wings discarded TYLER In
1912. That done promptly and vigorously,
they may have chance. Without it, they
might US well disband.
Why Did Hayes Appoint Him.