The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-09-08
HELPED HAY TO PRESIDENCY.
story of the Life OF w. III. Robarts
n Newspaper Man.

one of the most interesting characters
at the national capital-a man who was
once one of he most influential editors
of the south and in that capacity did
more than few persons now living
know to make Rutherford B. Hayes
the occupant of the White house.
For the last twenty years Mr.. Rob
arts had been living in Washington.
He was we'll knOwn TO ne newspaper
correspondents of the press gallery or
congress. They have taken charge Oh
his remains, in the absence of relatives
and will have charge OF the funeral.
Most of his contributors to the press
were signed with his name in full, yet
he was a man of mystery to many, in
Guiding those who have known him
since he came to Washington from
his former home in New Orleans.
From a retired southern correspOn-
dent now living in Washington it IS
learned that Mr.. RObarts was one Of
the most influential editors in the
south during the reconstruction period.
This informant lived in New Orleans
many years, was associated with Mr..
Robarts in the 7resS gallery at the
capitol and knew him Intimately and
personally from the time the latter was
chief editorial writer on the old New
OIlcdllS 1llJiCS AIIlII HI at
He attributes to Mr.. RObartS full
credit for having made possible the
accession to the presidency of Presi-
dent Rutherford 3. Hayes after the
exciting political test of 1876. This
veterans correspondent. who now Oc-
cupies a high official Dosition under
the United States government in Wash
ington, is eminently reliable to assert
that it was RObarts who conceived a
novel plan of a~llaving the character
of the editorials o fthe southern press
by entering into an arrangement with
President Hayes whereby the southern
press of the time would acnuiesce in
the election of Hayes, provided the
electoral commission declared him
elected, upon the condition that the
state governments of the southern
states be restored to the demOC" tic
governors INC the federal troops to
withdraw from the state houses.
Mr. RObarts was a brilliant man.
he said, but failed to take advantage
of his opportunities after coming to
Washington. The salient feature of
his career was the political feat accom-
plished bv him while he was editor
of the old " Orleans Times during
the reconstruction period in the south.
Originally established bV a New York
er, this paper was always of great in
fuence throughout the south. es-
Dccldlly SO NUSn TIE lEOuDlcS u 1oiO
came up. for at that time The New
Orleans Picayune was in the hands of
receivers and had not regained it's in
fluence
ct was after the election of 1876
tina Gen. Rutherford B.. Hayes asked
Mr.. William H. RObarts to come to
the Hayes homestead at Fremont.
Ohio, for a conference about a plan
for harmOnizing the southern states
and inducing them to tactily acduiesce
in case the electoral tribunal decided
in favor of Hayes. 1t was to RObarts
that Hayes made his proposition OF
turning over the state governments OF
the south to the democrats if they
would consent to the plan.
$. z. Packard. the republican cam
didate for governor of Louisiana. ran
several thousand votes ahead of the
Hayes electoral ticket. Hayes enter
ed into an arrangement with Robarts
largely sustained by the southern
states, by which they were not tC
kick in Louisiana and Florida. whicf
were the two states about which the
most bitter controversy ragged. not tC
make any opposition to the
votes being cast for Hayes. provided
he i'm turn surrendered. to the o
OF these states their HON govern
ments.
I'm accordance with this plan Gen
W. III. BROOKE. TeCcIllIS IlllllIdIN NOll
mander at Havana. Tut who was thel
stationed at New Orleans. in command
of the department of Louisiana. wa
instructed to withdraw he Unite'
States troops which had been postet
around the Louisiana state house. an
when this was done the Packard gov
ernment COLLAPSED and the NichOll
democratic government took its plac
without ~bloOdshed. Packard was re
warded by Hayes with the appointment
of consul general at Liverpool. whicl
was then about the most lucrative ap
pOintment il the gift of the admins
tration. ever exceeding in its emolu
ments the consulate general at Lon
don. and worth man thousands of dol
lars. l know this from what Packar
himself told me PERSONAL
"Al of this elaborate plan was dis
cussed by Hayes with Robarts and n
exercised a controlling influence i
keeping the southern press silent o
the question of Hayes installation
which was one reason why Henri
Watterson's call for 100000 men to pU
in Tilden met with no response
Afterwards Robarts drifted up I
Washington and was for some tim
the Washington correspondent OF "a
old paper. The New Orleans Time
which had. in the meantime. bee
merged with The New Orleans DEM
CTat. becoming Ine "SII hhO"f Az
Orleans TimeS-Democrat.
He failed to take advantage OF II
position which his important service
might have entitled him to deman
and after severing his position VIII
The Times-DemOcrat became 4 spa
writer for the press. He might ma
become consul general at London. al
I have not the least doubt that II l
had sought the position he might ha'
received the appointment as mlnlst
TO France.
He had a fund Of "reminiscences al
q weII-filIed scrapbook in regard
celebrated duels of the south al
Louisiana and other events in the hi
tory of the south. which he would We
Rdroitly work over in a different shaE
so as to make his stories readable
all times. l have seen some of n
stories that have been submitted
him and accepted by papers ten dine
ent times
The southern authority quoted aoo
furnished another interesting detail
the life of Mr.. RObartS. He says IN
the GRol1 sod WlS EUOun 9S Robert