The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1883-07-28

B. Hayes expired. Its termination pro-
duced feeling of relief and gratifca-
ton throughout the country, in which
men of all political opinions shared.
How thoroughly despised the Hayes
Administration was is shown by the
manner in which it is remembered by
most representatives of the party that
placed it in power. 1t is seldom men,
toned by them without sneer. While
all other Presidents have been honored
by the naming of persons and localities
after them, hardly any such tribute of
respect and sympathy has ever been
paid to Hayes. To appreciate the ex-
tent of the contempt with which he ID
regarded by Republicans one need only
watch for short time the utterances
made by Republican papers represent
ing different sections of the country and
their party whenever they have occa-
sion to refer to the defunct Administra-
ton. There is reason to believe that if
Hayes were to run again for Office he
would be beaten in his own State though
the general political situation were IA
vorable to his party. The feeling
toward him undoubtedly is due to the
fact that the existence of his Admins
tration was disgrace to the country,
reproach to our Institutions. Those who
approved the fraud looked with con-
tempt upon its creature. Yet it would
be strange if the most despised Presi-
dent had not few defenders. Indeed
Hayes has such. We recently quoted
paper that at this late day spoke of his
''clean, upright and able'' Administra-
ton. Its editor has long been an enc
my Of Roscoe Conkling, and naturally
became an admirer Of the man who
did his best to overthrow the power and
influence of the former Senator and
was cordially hated by the latter. There
are other defenders who were connect
ed, in one way or another, with the
Hayes Administration or received ia
vors from it. and still other Republic
ans who had to make up for their hos
tility toward the Grant Administration
by professed loyalty toward its success
or, like the Republican journals which
supported Greeley in 1872, and subse-
quently felt obliged to surpass in party
zeal thc'staunchest Republican organs
which had never wavered in their polit-
ical allegiance. Two New England
papers which more or less openly IA
vored Tilden's election in 1876, endeav-
ored to reconcile their Republican read
ers by the pretense of attachment to
HAYES.
What win be the final judgment of
history on the Hayes Administration?
No one should venture to forecast it at
present. The time to speak of the
events of the last few years without an
ger or Partially has not yet arrived.
Still this Administration is thing of
the past. Censure can not hurt it,
eulogy will be of no advantage to it.
There were undoubtedly some able and
patriotic men identified with it, but is
any Administration of the United States
wholly unsupported by such men imag-
inablep OF the many things which oc-
CURED during the four years of the last
Presidential Term and reflected credit
upon the countrya few-very few in
deed-were connected with its Govern
ment. But how could it be otherwise
in highly civilized and free country?
The thing for which the Hayes Admin
istration obtained most credit, st least
from its political opponents, was its so
called Southern policy. This policy
originated in a political bargain, but |
when it was bitterly denounced by the |
Stalwart Republicans Hayes chief Sec |
rotary, John Sherman, effectually vindi- |
Gated 1t by showing that the Admins |
tration had no choice in the matter and !
at no time had the power to treat the |
South as Grant had treated it. During |
the term Of Hayes Administration |
the House of Representatives remained |
under Democratic control At the out |
set the Senate had an Insignificant Re-
publican majority which in the middle !
of the term gave way to stronger
Democratic majority. Aside from the !
fact that Hayes only performed duty
in not meddling with the local affairs OF |
the Southern States he had no option in |
this respect. 1t would have been DOS
sible for him to reform the Civil Serv-
vice. To its thorough and complete re- /
form he committed himself during the |
canvass of 1876. But the use which he
made of the appointing power to re-
ward political crimes was more discred-
table than the nepotism of General
Grant. Whatever may have been at
tempted or achieved in few Govern
offices, the result of Hayes Adj
was to bring Civil-service
Reform into disrepute. The vitality
and strength of the reform movement
was shown by nothing more than by the
TACT that it could live and prosper after
Hayes had done everything to make it
ridiculous The Chicago Convention of
800 af frat wa nfad tn sUuos-o f1o v,of<,rv,, |
question entirely; such was the impress
lion made by the performances Of the
President.
II has been claimed, however, that at
east the financial achievements of the
Hayes Administration were great. Even
his claim was unfounded. Hayes found
he Resumption act on the statute book.
All that his Administration did in the
way of preparation was to issue bonds
% the amount of some ninety millions