Daily Republican., 1881-03-03
Pxesiaens Ma, es' Reeord.

ton record will have been made up.
and President Garfield will have just
stepped upon the threshold Of a new
one, and ne will have his record tc
make. 1t is Of President Hayes record
we would say word Of comnsndation.
The troubles which attended his cleo
ton and more especially his inaugurs.
ton are net forgotten-troubles that
followed him through great part Of
his term, but with all that he has had
to contsnd with, he stands in no need Of
vindication and his administration Is
entitled to an honorable place in the
memory of the nation. 1t commenced
at a period when sectional divisions
and antipathies were at their height,
and they have by no means wholly
disappeared yet, but 1t must be ad-
mitted that there has been remark
able change In public sentiment. as
well as q remarkable transition in the
affairs Of the nation. The finances Of
the nation which were in q confused
condition have been restored to specis
basis, a change which promises to BE-
permanent, and our national credit h as
acquired degree Of strength that 1t
never before possessed. The civil ser
vice though not having accomplished
all that was claimed for it has been
greatly purified, and freed from all
abuses, and the beginning Of A,reform
has bean made which has sufficient
root to acquire healthy growth II it is
favored with fostering care. The pro-
gress that has been made in this d.
rection is in q large degree due 70 Pref
idsnt Hayes clearness Of conviction,
steadinesyef purpose, and frmness in
action. Whatever Of wisdom and stead
mess of purpose have been lacking, the
responsibility rests elsewhere than with
President Hayes. There has been q
disposition to find fault with President
Hayes Southern policy, but when the
difficulties with which he Was met at
the outset of his administration are
taken into consideration, it must bs con-
ceded that he at least acted homes .ly
and conscientiously and with the inten.
ton of doing the best that could have
been done under the circumstance.
We do not believe that II was q
stroke of good policy to withdraw the
United States troops from such States
IS Louisiana, Mississippi, South Caro-
lima and Alabama, but 1t seemed TO be
inevitable, and indeed the prepare
lions for their withdrawal, it is said,
were all made before President Grants
term Of Office expired. 1t was, however,
q great mistake and has resulted in
Leaving those States to the mercy Of
the Kings and Ack,ens Of Louisiana i,
the Chalmers and Mannings of Missis
sippi, and the Buffers and Hamptons
OF South Carolina. Since the With.
draval Of the troops there has never
been o fair election held in those
States, and even at this day, when the
rigors Of political feeling have soften.
cd, nearly one-half the vote is sap
pressed, the elections are carried BY
fraud and violence and the States are
misrepresented in Congress. We do
not lay this blame to President Hayes
nor his administration. The way for
his actions was paved for him before
he took his seat. The Southern people
claimed that reconstruction had fully
done its work, and promising q hearty
support Of the constitution and laws
without the presence OF the bsyonet,
the President believed them sincere,
That he has been deceived is no Yefsc.
tion upon his motives and mentions,
which were all meant for good. We
doubt whether any President could
have doue better under The circum-
stances. Aside from the policy which
has marked his actions, the Presidents
moral conduct stands unchallenged
when compared with the pursst that
has preceded him. Every moral reform
that was intended to benefit the human
race has found In the President q
steadfast friend. His escuteheon is
clear from the least faint of corruption,
fraud or immortality. In this respect
he stands before the nation az the
model President, and without detraet.
No ausht from the honors which are
his due, II Ia right and proper for rs to
say that iu this respect his administra-
ton was made lighter and purer by the
exertions Of the Presidents noble wife,
Mrs. Hayes, who drove wine from the
White House. OF the retiring Presi
it must be written by grateful people,
."Well done, good and faithful ser
vant."