The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-11-20
HAYES AND CHANDLER.
How the .AIninb1o President Trans
formed Into a Stalwart-Zach Chandlcr's
"Spine Bracing" Pilgrimage rs Recount
cd by Himself.

How the .A1nIab1o President was Trans
formed Into a Stalwart-Zach Chandlcr's
"spine Bracing" Pilgrimage rs Recount
cd by Himself.
Washington Correspondence NJ Y. Graphic.
At one of the meetings of the National
Republican Committee, at the time the
Electoral bill was pending. Mr.. Chandler
astonished everybody by suddenly Offering
his resignation as chairman of the commit
tee, stating as his reason that it had be-
come very apparent to him that he was
not enjoying the confidence of the Presi-
dent elect, and he presumed Gov. Hayes
would prefer to have SOME other person
in whom he had full confidence, to man.
age his interests before the electoral
Commission. The CONSERVATION which
was caused by this unexpected announce
ment is hard to describe. Gov. Hayes
friends, fguratively speaking, got down
upon their knees and besought him to
reconsider his determination, but Chand-
Ter was infexible. They offered him all
that could be in Hayes name, position,
patronage-anything he could ask-if he
would only continue to manage the CAM
paign. Finally, Chandler said that he
would withdraw his resignation if cer-
tain conditions were complied with, and
the assurances were given very readily.
They were easy conditions and involved
no sacrifice upon the part of President
Hayes or his friends. They were the
most reasonable in the world, and fairly
generous on Mr.. Chandler's part. They
were honorable, legitimate in every sense,
and should have been voluntary on the
side of the Ohio men. When these con-
ditions were guaranteed, Mr.. Chandler
withdrew his resignation aud went to
work. Their fulflment was to have been
immediate, but days passed. months
passed, Hayes inaugurated; Mr.. Chand
Ter was kicked out of the Cabinet; his
services were ignored, his counsels re-
iected, and to the day of his death those
assurances which were made him by the
friends of President Hayes were never
carried out. Their fulflment was never
begun. Mr.. Chandler felt this very
kecnly. l have heard him tell the story
twice. I have heard him name the men
whose broken promises were of the most
regretful remembrances of his long ca
reer, and his comments upon their dis
honorable conduct were very severe.
From the time that he was relieved of
his duties at the Interior Department by
Secretary Schurz until the 18th of No
yember 1878, Senator Chandler did not
enter the White House. 1t was period
of eighteen months, and he was in Wash
ington repeatedly during that time, but
he did not call upon the President, nor
hold any communication with him. He
would recommend no one for Office, and
would say to people who sought his in
fuence:
"The President would not notice my
wish if I should utter one. I have no
influence with this administration"
On the 18th of November, 1878, was
quite astonished to see Mr.. Chandler
coming out of the White House grounds.
I was not aware that he was in the city,
and had not heard that his feeling to-
wards the President had changed. He
shook hands cordially with me as we met
at the East gate, and I expressed some
surprise at seeing him coming from the
Executive Mansion. Hejokingly replied,
and said:
"Come over to my house and I'll tell
you something"
1t was cold, raw day, and he was we'll
wrapped up. We went into his library,
which was the front room of the base
ment in his house on 81 street, and after
taking off his wraps he drew up chair
to the fire, and looking at me in pecul-
iarly earnest way that was characteristic
of him, he said:
"You want to know, suppose, what
was at up there at the White House. I'll
tell you. I have been trying to stiffen
the Presidents backbone"
He said it very slowly and repeated:
"You needn't publish it; I'm only
telling you for your own guidance. |
came down here to Washington-I'm
sick, and wasn't fit to come to stifen-
Observation-Disclosures"
"Did you succeed ?" I asked.
"Nevcr you mind. You wait while,
my SOD, and then you go up and inter-
view Hayes. You ask him if he don't
think his Southern policy is about played
out, and if he don't think hanging reb.
els is better than giving them Offices.
Remember now," he continued, "you're
not to print anything about what I say;
but I want to keep you posted, and be-
fore many days you'll hear something
drop. Hayes is square man."
"When did you find that out?"
asked.
"I found it out to-day. I heard that
Hayes was sick of his sentimentalism,
and came down here to give him ton
ic. didn't come for nothing, and now,
my son, mark these words. Before
Hayes gets done with the Presidency
he'll be a blacker Republican than