The sun., 1893-01-20
Uo,r S.iends,oho favor us ,oith nanuscrfpfsJor
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ev must IN all cases send stamp for that purpose.
Tiiden and Haycs-"Au Matter OF
History.o

These are the words OF tho Hon. Will
LIAM M. EvARTs-may his remaining years
be many and happy-in referring yesterday
to the groat crime by which SAMUEL >.
T1bprN was kept out OF the Office OF Presi-
dent OF the United States. and by which
the late RUTHERFORD B. HAYES was
seated. "It is all a matter OF history
said Mr.. EyARrs. "You SEQ. when one
party gets in the other is out. So there
must be diversity OF opinion"
It is oil matter OF history. Death wipes
out some scores, and softens personal judg-
ment But II death wiped out all scores. II
the disposition to say only kind things OF
the departed were allowed to overcome the
truth. history with its lessons and warn
ipgs could not be written. The accepted
record Of the past would be one continuous.
amiable falsehood.
An otherwise creditable and honorable
life was blackened forever by the acceptance
Of a stolen oiflce. There are now advanced
two views of the conduct OF Mr.. HAYES
at the critical time which tested the quality
of his soul and both are false. One Is the
view Of the partisanship which devised the
conspiracy to defeat tho will OF the
people. and proRted along with Mr..
HAYES by the success Of that con-
spiracy. 1t ia tersely expressed by tho
leading Republican newspaper. mo other
President" says the Ne,o York Tribune.
lever had so valid and incontestable title
to the Office. Whatever may be said OF the
struggle over Returning Boards In the
three contested States. 1t cannot be denied
that by the concurrent action OF both
Houses OF Congress and OF the United States
Supreme Court his title to the Presidency
was passed upon. sanctioned, and guaran-
teed. The 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 honest
ly elected as President: that his title. orig
inally good. was strengthened and con-
flrmed by tho to 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 Presi-
dency than that which he derived from a
tribunal Of doubtful constitutionality. but Of
practical necessity In the emergency that
arose from the contested election. Many
Republicans and few Democrats are now
saying that although the frauds in Louisiana
and In Florida. and the partisan decision of
tho Commission, gavs to Mr.. HAYES
an Office that had rightfully belonged to
Mr.. T11DEN. both parties had virtually
agreed to abide by the decision OF the i'm
provised court. and Mr., HAYES only did his
duty in standing by the verdict. They
acquit him OF personal blame. He was
innocent. whoever may have been guilty.
In other words. according to this view
,OI tuo cNcuLo VI 4oto duu 1910 DlT.
HAYES was morally right in taking and oc-
cupying an Office that morally belonged to
Mr.. TILDEN. whom the people had chosen.
Merely to state these propositions Is to
exhibit their falsity. 1t is not our purpose
to thresh old straw anew. but no occasion is
more appropriate than the present for re-
minding Mr.. CLEVELAND and certain other
Democrats whose unreasoning haste to con-
done Fraud first triumphant In American
history was recently rebuked In Mr..
CLEvELAND's presence by Senator CAR
L1sLE. that the late RUTHERFORD B. HAYES
was himself a party to the conspiracy by
which he profted. and an active agent in
promoting the monumental crime.
The proof OF this Is found In the undls-
puted fact that the corrupt agreements.
entered into while the success OF the con-
spiracy was still doubtful. were carried out
TO the letter by Mr.. HAYES. as the bene-
fciary. after he had been fraudulently
seated In Mr.. TMDEN's place. Others had
made the bargain: he paid.
To consummate the foul and unpardona-
BILE conspiracy which had It's origin In
the o.ice Of the New York Times early
on the morning of the day after Mr.. TIL
DEN's election. and which was eagerly
adopted that same morning by the two
CHANDLERs at the Fifth Avenue Hotel.
and which from that time until March 4.
1877. was prosecuted steadily. unfiinch-
ingly. and remorselessly to the end by
the forgers. perjurers. visiting statesmen.
lawyers. and partisan Judges employed
In Mr.. HAYEs's interest. two distinct bar.
gains were necessary in behalf of the Re.
publican contestant: y
The first was the guarantee OF reward
and protection to the scoundrels who were
Induced to risk the penitentiary by com