Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1893-02-04

THE HISTORY OF A FRAUD.
Mr.. Hayes Title to the Presidency and
How 1t Was Obtained.

How 1t Was Obtained.
These are the words OF Hon. William
NJ. Eyarts in referring to the great
crime by which Samuel J. Tilden was
kept out of the office of president of
the United States, and by which the
late Rutherford Il Hayes was seated:
''lt is all matter of history" said Mr..
Evarts. you see, when one party
gets in the other is out So there must
be diversity of opinion"
| II is all a matter Of history Death
wipes Vgt some scores, and softens per-
sonal Judgment. But if death wiped
c4 at cores, il the disposition to say
onl ( things of the departed were
| ailoweu to overcome the tr nth, history
with its lessons and warnings could not
be written, The accepted record OF the
past would be one continuous, amiable
falsehood.
An otherwise creditable and honora-
BILE life was blackened forever by the
acceptance of stolen office. There are
now advanced two views Of the con-
duct Of Mr.. Hayes at the critical time
which tested the quality of his soul;
and both are false One is the view Of
the partsanship which devils I'd the con
spiracy to defeat the will Of the people,
and profited along with Mr.. Hayes by
the success of that conspiracy. 1t is
terscly expressed by the leading re-
publican newspaper. mo other presi-
dent" says the New York Tribune,
ever had so valid and incontestable a
title to the office. Whatever may be
said Of the struggle over returning
boards in the three contested states it
cannot be denied that by the concur
rent action OF both houses of congress
and Of the United States supreme court
his title to the presidency was passed
upon, sanctioned and guaranteed. Tho
supreme legislative council and the
court Of last resort united in certifying
to the validity OF his election, and 1t
was morally impossible for him to act
otherwise than he did in taking his in
auguration oath" Those who hold
this view maintain that Mr. Hayes was
honestly elected as president; that his
title, originally good, was strengthened
and confirmed by the eight to seven
votes Of the electoral commission; and
that in taking the office Mr.. Hayes took
only what was his own.
The other theory regards Mr.. Hayes
as having possessed no better title to
the presidency than that which he de-
, ! -, tr,l of fI,t
s,itutonality, but OF practical neces'
, sity in the emergency that arose from
the contested election. Many repub'
, lcans and few democrats are now
saying that although the frauds in
Louisiana and in Florida, and tbs
! partisan decision OF the commission
gave to Mr.. Hayes an Office that has
: rightfully belonged to Mr. Tildcn, botl
parties had virtually agreed to abide
by the decision of the improvised court
and Mr. Hayes only did his duty il
Q standing by the verdict. They acqui
: him Of personal blame. He was limo
!. cent, whoever may have been guilty
In other words, according to this view
Of the events of 1876 and 1877, Mr.
Hayes was morally right in taking an(
occupying an office that morally be
= onged to Mr.. Tilden, whom the people
had chosen.
Merely to state these propositions il
, to exhibit their falsity. 1t is not on
. purpose to threslr old straw anew. bu
Is no occasion is more appropriate thai
the present for reminding the peopl,
that the late Rutherford b Hayes wa
himself party to the conspiracy b,
=. which he protited and an active agen
in promoting the monumental crime.
The proof OF this is found in the IN
disputed fact that the corrupt agree
! ments entered into while the success o
/. the conspiracy was still doubtful wer'
. carried out to the letter by Mr. Hayes
: as the beneficiary, after he had beel
fraudulently seated in Mr. Tilden'
) place Others had made the bargain
; he paid N. Y. Sun.