Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-03-09
President Hayes Administration.

rlpeneu tulullment but tne splenuor vi Ihe
dawning day sometimes holds divided
sovereignty with the golden gories painted
on the evening sky by the setting sun. So,
while the people greet with acclamations of
unusual fervor the new presidency with its
bright auguries, they have bountiful and
grateful benedictions to bestow upon the ad-
ministration which, after many stormy con-
ficts with warning political elements, has
brilliantly closed its victorious career. The
wisdom, the virtue, the sturdy manhood and
fidelity of the old administration made pos
sible the triumphant and undisputed acces-
sion to power of the new, with all the hopes
and blessings with which it is charged.
Rutherford b. Hayes became president
under circumstances without precedent in
the history of the nation. One-half Of the
people sullenly acquiesced in his accession
to the Office An embittered and unpatriotic
faction of his political foes has pursued him
with Satanic malignity to the end. The
president of four years ago had an oldfash-
Toned notion that promises should be faith
fully kept. The pledges of the party plat
form on which he was nominated, the letter
of acceptance, and the inaugural address,
were TO him living reality, and not as
thinking cymbals or sounding brass" to
allure credulous voters. He called around
him cabinet Of the ablest men in the ma
ton. Each member was in active sympa-
thy with the presidents ideal of an honest,
conscientious and efficient administration
of the government. His manful adherence
to his pledges brought him, at the very out
set of his administration, into violent and
irreconcilable conflict with the dominating
leaders of different factions of his party.
The evident good faith of the new president,
and the sincerity of his determination to
redeem his pledges OF administrative reform,
electrified the conscience and morality of his
party. At the instant that rival autocratic
political leaders raised the standard of revolt
against him, the people moved to his side
and struck close alliance with the faithful
president. That alliance was never dis
solved. 1t grew into an independent polit-
ical power. 1t won magnificent triumph
at Chicago in June, and under its banner the
republican hosts marched to victory in No
vember. Confronted by malignant and
harassing opposition inside as well as out
side of his party, always sharply antagon-
lied by belligerent house of representa-
tives, and during the latter half of his term
by a hostile senate, that President Hayes
was able to initiate and successfully carry out
those great measures that have restored the
country to unexampled peace and prosper
ity is the highest tribute that can be paid to
the wisdom, ability and spirit of the counsels
that shaped the course of his administration.
Handicapped by no personal ambitions or
selfish interests, above the qualification Of
petty revenges, meeting with unrufled
equanimity the warfare of his enemies, in
spired by an ardent desire and firm deter
mination to do right, with a mental power
that clearly discerned the right, and cour-
age that steadfastly maintained and defended
it,-he leaves ON record in time of peace an
administration that will be one of the bright
est and proudest chapters in our national
history.
Time has amply justified the wisdom of
his southern policy. On the south has been
thrown the odium of broken pledges. The
crimes in the south against the suffrage
have awakened the public conscience and
opened the way for remedies more powerful
and more republican than bayonets. A
notable improvement in the efficiency of
the civil service, reduced expenses in col
Letting the vast revenues of the government,
and the high standard Of honesty achieved
in accounting for every dollar of revenues
and appropriations, is conclusive evidence of
the success of his efforts practically to re-
form the civil service, however far he may
have fallen short Of the realization of an
ideal reform. The success of its financial
policy, hsmpered as it was by heresies in
the party as well as by the partisan obstruc-
ton of a hostile congress, has been the
brilliant and browning triumph of the ad-
ministration. A reduction of the public
debt S20S, S24,7 30, and of the annual inter-
est account Sl7,557,7OS by its successful
funding operations, the resumption and
maintenance of specie payments, succinctly
exhibit the salient points in its financial
record. This ratio of reduction maintained
through quarter of a century would quite
wipe out our national debt. The resolute,
dispassionate' and intelligent interposition
Of his official veto by which he signally de-
feated the revolutionary and incendiary
schemes of the forty-sixth congress alone
would be glory enough for one administration.
Mr.. Hayes may not be brilliant man, but
he has shown himself to be man of sound
saving common-sense and high courageous
convictions. Common-sense is better
statesman than brilliancy, as the steady
CLEAN of the planet is safer guide than
the fiery blaze of the comet. The nations
unprecedented material prosperity, as the
outcome Of the presidents faithful adherence
to sound financial policy, has its counter
part in the wholesome moral influence that
has shone from his fidelity to his political
pledges and from his public and private,
social and official, life. The invulnerability
of his administration was demonstrated in
the late fierce campaign. Not only was it
proof against attack, but it furnished the
highest vantage ground for successful as
sault. His successor, with all the fair aus
pices attending his Inauguration, may &C.
count himself happy if he shall retire at the
end of four years with as well earned and
as hearty "well done, good and faithful
servant" as greets ex-President Hayes from
every quarter Of the nation,
MRS. HAYEs.-The prime minister of Mr.
Hayes administration was nominated and
confirmed long before presidential RESPONSE
bilities haunted his dreams, and the unwrit
ten law Of the land has confirmed to heI
higher prerogatives than the recorded Law
has ever extended to cabinet minister
She has exercised a mastery over the heads
and hearts of people that the strongest stat
utory provisions have never conferred upon
presidents or lower officials No mistress Of
the White House has ever welded so magica
an influence, and no one has ever used it Il
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