Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-09-09
WELCOME TO PRESIDENT HAYES.

theories can effect towards cementing the
union between East and West, and making
of the States an homogeneous nation. The
President will receive hearty and loyal
welcome from the people of this State, and
we hope and believe that for this occasion
party feud will be set aside, and all, re-
membering only their obligations as joint
citizens of one republic, will unite in honor
ing the incumbent of the chief Office in the
gift of the people. But the constituency
of the RECORD UNION will cheerfully
acknowledge that President Hayes deserves
all the respect that can be paid him, as well
for his personal merits as for his official
position. He is not only the President OF
the United States, but he is one of the
best Presidents the country has known.
There are not few politicians Of the
" stalwart variety who will demur to
this Characterization. They have been
dlspleased by the Presidents earnest en-
deavors to hold the balance even. They
believe in downright, uncompromising
partisan administration, and so long as
their side is uppermost they are outspoken
adherents to the maxim, ''To the victors
belong the spoils" On the other hand
there are Democrats of the 'dyed-in-the
wool" genus who think it rank heresy to
admit that any Republican official can be
other than anathema, and who regard it
as incumbent upon them to use injurious
epithets whenever they mention Mr..
Hayes. But neither of these classes
are really or broadly representative.
They stand for the extremes which are
always in the minority. The tendency in
American politics, fostered by the growth
of higher order of intelligence, is towards
greater moderationin opinion, and especially
towards the belief that the chief executive
of the nation should represent it as
whole, as nearly as possible, wherever
vital issues are not concerned. President
Hayes has given many proofs of his sincere
desire to approach this ideal. His
failures in carrying out the reforms to
which he pledged himself on nomination,
are to be ascribed rather to the magnitude
of the obstacles he encountered than to
any faintheartedness on his part. He did
not realize that in attempting to
place the civil service upon stable founda-
ton, in substituting merit and capacity for
the caprice of political patronage as the
grounds of appointment he must overcome
the organized resistance of Congress and of
the great party organizations, to which the
control of patronage has long since become
as the breath of life. Nor did he realize
that although he had the sympathy and
encouragement of all thinking men, aad
though the intelligence and public spirit of
the country were with him, there was an
apathy in the masses which could not be
overcome, and which doomed his efforts to
the fate which always overtakes reforms
unsupported by the spirit of the time.
Against the resolute and banded opposi-
tion of the great army of selfish politicians,
highest manifestations of popular senti-
ment which the Senate met all APP
peals for reform with, the President
| found himself powerless. Yet though ex-
pertinent proved that the body of the peo-
pie were not yet prepared to sustain such
an onslaught upon the intrenchments OF
corruption, incapacity and partisan usurpa-
tions, it would be a mistake to as
sumo that no good has resulted from
this tentative effort. 1t has sown the
seeds of future reforms. 1t has
proved an entering wedge for the
introduction of practical but none the less
salutary improvements 1t has enabled
the Administration to establish the COM
petitive examination system in one depart
ment of the Government. 1t has paved |
the way for the revolution which it has
made unavoidable All this has resulted |
from the high stand taken by President |
Hayes when he entered Office. In other |
respects he has given the country an ad-
mirable administration. 1t has been en-
tirely free from scandals of all kinds. 1t |
has been marked by rigorous and COM
pletely honest collection and disbursement |
of the public revenues. The friends and |
advisers of the President have been honor
able and sagacious men. His personal in
iuence upon the Government has been
eevating The very complaints made
against him by extreme partisans are in
effect the highest compliments that could
be paid him. He has sought to do justice,
and of course he has failed to satisfy |
those VINO care nothing for justice when
party interests are concerned. He has |
been accused of feebleness of purpose be- !
cause he refused to overstep the just limits
of his jurisdiction. But President who |
seeks to be the President Of the whole |
country is unquestionably not cnly the |
safest but the most constitutional of magis- |
trates, and this Mr. Hayes has sought to
be. He has counselcd the people on his |
present journey to pay more atten-
ton to national educstion. No |
wiser advice could be given, though |
it has no touch of partisanship about it.
In word, President Hayes has during his
administration honored himself, dignifed
his office, and served the people well and
faithfully. He has given us a pure and
efficient Government, he has sought to act
with dispassionate equity, he has proved |
himself hgh-minded and patriotic gen.
tleman, and for these reasons we bespeak |
for him the most cordial and hearty well
come the good sense and the hospitality of |
California can afford.
GENERAL GARFIELD AND TIE GREEN
hackers.
General Garfield is not only the Repub.
lican nominee for the Presidency, but he is
perhaps the fullest and most faithful rep
resentative of Republican principles in the
party. For many years he has been the
recognized leader of the party in the
House of Representatives. He has spoken