Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-10-23
HAYES EFFRONTERY,


We have at various times heard of quail
lty denominated monumental cheek" but
have never until recently seen it exemplifed
fully. This exemplifcation We find in the
report of an interview between a correspon-
dent of the New York Tribune and Mr..
Rutherford B. Hayes, who, by the grace of
seven to eight electoral commission and the
forbearance of greatly outraged people, is
filling the Office OF Pr sident of the United
States. The interview, after covering a
wide range of political topics, concludes as
follows:
"Haven't we great reason to fear" asked,
that the Democrats will count out our nominee,
40 matt er what his majority may be? They
have both houses now, and their power over
the returns is absolute. Are they not denounc-
ing the supervisors law to make pretense for
throwing out the vote Of States where it is ell
forced?''
81 think public opinion will prevent them
from adopting such q course" replied the
President. 1.-THE independent voters and in
dependent newspapers, siding with those of
the party to be defrauded, would form too
strong an opposition to be ,defed. A few
moderate Democrats in Congress would have
the power of preventing the carrying out of
such scheme No; if we have say twenty
majority of the electoral votes, think there
will be no such danger as you suggest"
But suppose the result should derend upon
one small State like Colorado or Oregon, and
the Democrats should set up claim of irreyu-
larity and throw out that State"
'Then there might be trouble; but think, :"
continued the President, falling back into his
easy-going optimism, that public sentiment
would find a remedy and settle the difficulty in
the right way.
Here we find man who set public senti-
ment at defiance less than three years ago,
that he might seize upon the highest office
in the land, pratinEnbout the power of pub
lie sentiment to prevent any such outrage in
the future, and assuming an exalted virtue
when speaking of the possibility of such q
thing. Has there ever been more conspic-
uous example of monumental cheek?
The assumption that the Democrats have
any desire or intention to count cut anybody
properly elected as President or Vice Presi-
dent is gratuitous piece of impudence, not
sustained by even the sugg estion of facts.
On the contrary bill is now pending in
Congress to prevent the possibility of such
thing being done-to guarantee to every
State the right to representation in tho cleo
toral college by the persons having the larg-
est number of votes. This bill was drawn
to prevent recurrence of the shameful
bribery, perjury and intimidation through
which Hayes managed to secure the votes of
two States that had chosen Tilden electors,
It is the probability of the passage and en-
forcement of this law that alarms the Re-
publicans at this time. They see that the
people are in no mood to submit second
time to such gigantic conspiracy against
their right to self government as thatof 1876
But tho contamination of such scheme
the Acknowledgement Of one or more of the
Democratic states-is the only hope the Re-
publicans have of retaining power fol-
another four years. It was with this idea in
view that they fought 80 persistently the
repeal OF the laws authorizing the use of the
military and supervisors and marshals at
elections. All this enginery will be employ
ed on behalf of the Republican party. If
the voters cannot be intimidated they are to
be charged with committing frauds, and the
returns from cities, counties and States
thrown out to an extent sufficient to CHANGE
the result. This is the programme of the
future, and it is fear lest the pending law
shall interfere with it that is responsible for
the implication that Congress contemplates
the counting out of the legally elected Presi-
dent. --.s.- f.. ..-:.
The complacenoy with which Mr.. Hayes
refers to public sentiment would lead one
not convsrsant with the facts to suppose that
he had the highest regard for the expressed
will of the people-was very paragon in
his obedience to Its slightest expression. In
stead of this he is the one above all others
in the country who has shown the most utter
contempt for it. Defeated by large ma
jority of the popular vote, and defeated also by
the electoral vote, he consented that his sun.
porters should bride returning boards, sub
orn the perjury Of witnesses, intimidate
those who had knowledge of the falseness of
their pretenses to majority, and finally &C
copied an Office which has enabled him to
reward every one Of his rascally partners in
crime. More than two hundred and fifty-six
thousand dollars are taken from the public
treasury annually to pay these perjurers for