, 1880-12-12

I A@A <AAAS A*AE ~ al ALL " A2A4E k1OVDA-
Whether or not public man is entitled tt
any privacy In personal or domestic affairs
is question which seems to have been raised
by tte American practice during late years
Of exposing to public gaze all the intimate
relations OF lifo. The license at the gossiprr
was formerly confined to the drawillg-room
and the dinner-table, and the printer only
became purveyor Of private affairs long
after the decease Of the victim. But the
peculiar enterprise OF certain class OF
American newspaper-men has penetrated
the inner circles Of home life, and nothing
seems to be any longer sacred from vulgar
curiosity. In this condition of things, which
Is tolerated if not encouraged by society, it
may be expected at least that the private
affairs Of the public character shall be re-
veafed with some degree OF truthfulness and
fairness; but this rule is more frequently
broken than Observed. The President Of the
United States. whose position occupies a
larger space in the public mind than that of
any other person, has reason to complain not
merely OF beng the subject Of tmpertinent
gossip, but also the victim Of malice in cur
rent newspaper comment
@4t AAhSoe AkCAA <40Oub 1ESluEl& I1A$ES
which has been going the rounds of tha
newspapers, and probably read and believed
BY the great majority Of people, is to the
effect that lie will go out Of office with the
good round sum OF Sf50,o00 iu hard cash.
representing the net savings Of his four
years. term. This morsel Ut gossip is put
forth With the purpose OF lnpressing the
public with the belief that Mr.. Hayes has re-
Farded the Presidential Office chiefly as a
personal emolument, and that he and his
family have been parsimolflous in their
courteaes at the White House. Indeed,
such an explanation has been more than
limited at by many Of the newspapers which
nave given circulation to the story OF
fabulous savings at the Executive Mansion
during the present Administration. There
are the best reasons for believing that tho
estimate of the Presidents private savings is
grossly exaggerated, and that the inferences
drawn there1ron are entirely unwartanted.
feshapS frank statement OF the Presi-
dents private affairs, so far as there is the
smallest psopriety in inqulring into them,
may be TIE best way to remove the false and
disagreeable impression that has been created.
1t will be remembered that when pressure
was made upon Mr.. Hayes i've years ago to
make the race for Governor in his State he
was at first very positive in his refusal to be
candidate, The reason for his dislnclina-
ton to reGnter public life at that time was
nue to the conviction that it was his first duty
70 attend to his own private affairs. lie and
MS uncle had engaged i'll certain real-estate
transactions, and the depreciation In the value
OF property after the panic had seriously en-
oarrassed him. This embarrassment was In
creased by the death of his uncle, who be-
queathed to Mr. Hayes tha entire burden Of
their Joint Indebtedness, and in addition
thereto the duty OF paying off large num-
Der OF cash beQuests, amounting in all to
about S85,ooo. This was hard load to
carry. Nevertheless AIr. Hayes finally
Yielded to the opportunities of the party
in Ohio, and consented to run Tor
Governor UPON the representation that he was
no only man at that critical time with whom
[he Republicans could confidently hope to
larry the State. He accepted the nomination
It some personal sacrifice, and was elected.
ihe brtiliancy and Importance Of this
Triumph prepared the way for his nomina-
ION and election as President OF the United
states. His private affairs were still neglect
"a, aud it was evident that he would have
>ut little time to devote to them during the
ensuing four years. it was this outlook