The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-05-25
THE REPUBLICANS AND THE IN
VESTIGATION.

| Ii the Republican party had the slightest
consideration for Hayes there might be some
| suspicion Of sincerity In the howl they are
| raising over the investigation into the meth
| DDS employed to place him where he is. But
1t Is notorious fact that, for him person
ally, they entertain no regard whatever, and
ever since his Inauguration he has been the
target Of the abuse Of first one and then an
other OF the party leaders He has been
charged with treason to the party in every
commendable act OF his administration and
SO violent is the resentment against him that
his administration exists to-day by the toll
erance of the Democrats and out of cOnsid-
GRAFTON for the concessions they have wrung
from him, rather than by the support of his
own party. His policy has been repudiated
by the Republican conventions of two States,
and Blaine and Conklng, beyond dispute the
leaders of the party, have denounced him in
unmeasured terms, the latter going so far as
to describe him and his administration as in
famous. The only reason why the open de-
nunciation is not more unanimous Is because
there are SO many Of the leaders of Re-
publican sentiment In the same boat with
him. 1t is to this fact, and not to
any love for Hayes or his admnistra-
ton, that all this howl about "revolu-
ton" and "Mexicanizing" the govern
ment Is attributable. The readiness with
which it has been taken for granted that this
investigation means, inevitably, the ousting
of Hayes is itself an indication of this fact, as
well as the best evidence as to what the Re-
publicans themselves honestly believe in re-
gard to this business. If they cared at all for
Hayes they would not give his case away in
advance by any such tacit confession Of his
completely in the frauds by which he bene-
flied
Conkling has affirmed that he has knowl-
edge of facts which will sink Hayes and his
administration in infamy when they are dis
closed and there can be no doubt but that the
vast majority of the Republican party believe
all that he has said.
If these disclosures affected Hayes alone,
If they involved nothing beyond his disgrace
and expulsion from office; in short, if they
could be limited to the exposure of the fraudu-
lent title by which the Presidency is held
and the vacation of that Office, not word of
this talk about revolution" and "Mexicaniz-
ing would we hear.
The ousting of Hayes is not what the Re
publitans are apprehensive about. They I'M
derstand just as well as any one else that the
country can be hurt in none OF Its interests,
can be endangered In no respect by the vindi-
cation and assertion of the valid title to the
Presidency, and can have no higher interest
and no higher safety than In the proclaiming
fho 3,,,ro fIo ho1,,, -
an usurpation.
This cannot hurt the party, but the dis
closures this investigation must inevitably
bring out will hurt it, and it Is this they are
afraid of. They know full well that there is
but one power in the land that can drive
Hayes from the Presidency, and that is the
power of public opinion, and there is but one
way in which public sentiment can be aroused
to the accomplishment of this supreme act,
and that is by making known to the people
the full extent and details Of the Infamous
fraud that has been put upon them. 1t is
with these disclosures that the Republican
party is concerned for they fully appreciate
that the same public opinion that will con-
sign Hayes to infamy will at the same time
overwhelm the party with utter ruin and dis
grace. This investigation may or it may not
result In the deposing of Hayes; this is de-
batable question; but that it will damn for
ever and eternally the Republican party the
authors Of the conspiracy and crime which
put him in place. and, at the same time, de-
frauded the people and brought dishonor to
the country, there can be no doubt. The sim
pie bringing out Of the facts will accomplish
this, and this is all the investigation proposes
to do, leaving 1t to the country to dispose of
the presidential question afterward and as
suits it best. This exposure, we feel assured,
will compel the ousting Of Hayes by impeach-
ment or some other process, but it will also
consign to enduring infamy the party that
put him where he is by the means Of every
crime that human depravity has ever devised,
from murder to petty larceny.