Daily globe., 1878-03-18
The Trouble JVith HaYcs.
Don piattt's Washington Cor, Cincinna
IN ..s,o..

Don Piattts Washington Cor, Cincinnati
Enquirer,
And you want to know why, being such a
statesman, he gets on awkwardly. The
answer is easy enough-he has no following,
and for two reasons. The Lord has given
every creature, from Sherman to Bismarck
and that includes all that Noah took into
the ark-an instinct by which to know its
enemy, and every Republican feels when he
comes i'll contact with the President. When
Hayes addresses his party the sheep do not
recognize the voice of the sheperd. The
Democrat, on the other hand, being man
who believes in name and hopes for an office,
will not follow Hayes because he was
nominated at Cincinnati instead of St.
Louis.
The other reason is that our President
| lacks that force of character which inspires
respect, if not fear. Personally he is with
out enemies, and for the same reasons with
out friends. He neither repels nor attracts.
| Men willing to be his friends and support
his measures discover that they can get just
SO near him and no nearer. He is all smiles,
amiability and polite attention, but it is all
like sunlight playing on ice. The chill is
there, and all the more aggravating from the
appearance of warmth. He is as reticent in
the expression of feeling or opinion as Grant,
and OF a worst sort, for he talks but says
nothing. One feels that he is fencing all the
time. His selection of friends, if may use
that word, and of his Cabinet indicates his
characteristic. Stanley Matthews, by far
the ablest man of his party, is a friend who
freezes to you in the literal sense of the term
''Let us drop in at Chamberlain's,'' said q
gentleman to me after an interview with the
Ohio Senator, 'and get glass of brandy;
have to take Stanley Matthews out of my
system
Evarts, Sherman and Carl Schurz have nc
more red blood in them than SO many
turnips. Dan Key, the only man with 8
heart in him, has to wear his overcoat and
hat at Cabinet meeting to keep from catching
cold.
'They are as beautiful as sIiakes," says
Dan, 'and about as comforting"
TO understand what am driving at, com
pare Hayes in this respect with his immediate
predecessor. President Grant has less cultiva
ton, less knowledge or comprehension OF
public affairs than any man ever intrustec
with any Office, and yet the force of characte,
position. One felt that there was smolder
ing fire in those dread eyes that it were no
safe to kindle. 0. P. Morton, himself bull
dog on end, would hobble up the steps O
the White Hall, hat in hand, and apologize
for coming. Conkling, who openly sneer
at Hayes, spoke with bated breath Of Grant
And yet Hayes holds better hand tha,
Grant. Were he only half as aggressive, b
would be master of the situation. Whe1
the Senate, under the lead of Conkling, re
jected his New York nominations, had b.
then sent in new names, half Democrat ant
half Republican, the Republican Senator
would have called for hacks and hurried t,
the White House to assure their President o
their loyalty and devotion. Toa man VIII
asks nothing and holds all, the victory i
easy over men who ask every thing and hol,
nothing. But Hayes avoids responsibility
which is wise in details; but bad when
captain is called for.