New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-21
Mr.. CLETELAND'S CRITICS.


While giving Mr. Cleveland praise, as TIE
TRlEuNE did on Friday, for dong a very
graceful and proper thing IN attending the
funeral Of ey-President Hayes, we took occa-
sion 70 say that II was all the more cfedltab'e
70 his manliness because 1t was 50 likely to
provoke the criticism of some OF his own parry
friends On the part OF some OF thcm we
observe disposition To give point 10 Such
criticism by revivng discussion OF the q'es-
tons long ago settled concerning the legality
of President IIayes's election. A. the only
living Democrat who has held the office of
President, Mr., Cleveland recognized the honor
due TO deceased citizen OF different party
who was for four years charged with the high
est responsibilities and duties ever intl7''ted
by the people to any individual. 1t was a
lifting and honorable thing, moreover. that
the ono most recently selected for that high
trust should bear his testimony to the upright
ness with which President Hayes, though gov
erned by different convictions, discharged his
duty as he was able to see it.
The act was made more significant by The
Democratic faction which chose TO dig up ut
this time the partisan caumnies to which de-
feated fraud re>oltcd in 1877. In the Indiana
legislature L, moclais were narrow and bigOted
enough 10 refuse any mark OF respect 10 the
deceased President OF the ground that he
was never elected. Even if that were trne
Mr.. lIayes was President of the United states,
was recognized as such by every department
of the government, aud by the governments
Of all other nations, and discharged the duties
of that great Office with ability. Ii Is small
and SLY spit, thirteen years after his term
If Office ended, - heap abuse upon him be-
cause he. in common with all other decent and
Iaw-abiding citizens. accepted the decision Of
the Electoral Commission by which the posi-
bilities of civil disorder were ave,ted.
But the truth. long ago made clear - all
men, is that Rutherford T. Hayes wa "a truly
and hOnolably elected in accordance with the
laws then in force Is any other President ever
has been Laws then Of unquc>tlonablc valid
ity had been enacted in various States for the
express pulpoS, of excluding from suffrage a
Pant of those who had participated in rebellion,
and securing the right of suffrage and lis free
exercise 10 enfranchiscd cololed citizens. 1t II
not now the question whether such laws were
wise or just. They were the laws which al
that time determined the result Of an election
By great bodies Of men in me OF the states
they were delcd and violated. bat these same
laws had provided for their enforcement by
placing extraordinary powers il the hands Of
officials acting as Returning Boards. The find
ing Of these officials that the so-call"d cleo
ti0ns. in certain localities were not legally
held because conducted in defiance ~ law. was
final and legally binding upon everybody. The
evidence up II which they acted though oUl-
rageously mi,repie.cntcd in PARTISAN passion
nevertheless satisfied fair minds that the laws
governing elections ii that time had been 80
violated that the express purpose OF those laws
could only be preserved by the exercise 81 the
powers intmStcd 10 Returning Boards. The
charge that the members Of the Beads were
influenced by corrupt offers. though even now
repeated by journals which >honId be worthy
of better things, never was and il ~; now
supported by any evidence whatever
IL is not only tue that President Hayes was
thus elected in strict compliance with the laws
then in force. but il also became known u all
the world that mot eAnaDldlnaty Efforts were
made 10 corrupt state officials. and secure "A
bought decision for the Democratic candidate.
The exposure OF the cipher di~paiche, made
il plain that tho men who then were bowling
flaud most loudly. because Returning Boards
had decided against them, were personally
Participants in or cOgnizant of the Infamous
attempt 10 brbe the Boald, and 10 purchase
the Presidency for Mr.. Tildcn for cash. IL is
a lasting honor 10 the United states that these
corrupt efforts were defeated By the decisions
which the Electoral Commission finally nti.
fled and which made Mr.. Hayes President
When Pre- Slcnt elect Cleveland lays his
tribute 10 the memory of cX-lre>ident lIaye,
he only expresses the contempt which sensible
men of both parties have long felt for the
pr,tencc that the election of 1876 was not
legally decided. Crazy paltIsans might have
plunged the country into civil war had no,
4 competent bcdy 10 pass upon the disputed |
question, involved. and to abide by its de-
r,sion. Democratic and Republican votes
united in creating the Commission and clothing |
il with power, and the PARTISAN who persists |
At this late day in setting mp his personal Opin-
ION of the law and the facts, against lis YER |
lct only makes it known that he is less |
sensible and less patriotic, even in these cooler
houis, than the members Of Congress Of both |
parties were in excited days when they carried |
ha. decision into full effect. That President
elect Cleveland stands with the patriots Of |
hat day, and not with the defenders Of de-
reated fraud, is to his credit.
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