Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-10-05
PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS
XIII. The Hayes-Tilden Race of 1877
- BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN -

j ington II they needed cleaning, which the
Republicans firmly declined to admit.
Tnden was presented as a true re-
former with a reform record. He had
broken the rule OF the Tweed ring in
New York, the most corrupt political ma
chine ever known In the country mp to
that time, he had run Boss Tweed out
OF the country. and he was ths hero OF
the coed government forces To the
Democrats the slogan, "Turp the Fascals
Quit" meant just the same as LET TIL
den In"
There was another factor In the cam.
paign which had it's effect. One Of the
chief causes OF the Liberal Republican
bolt OF 1872 was the fear that General
Grant was too much OF a military man
TO sympathizs with civil government. The
whole South was ruled with bayonets
and the Southern people we're In a worse
condition than when the war closed. Car
pet-paggers were running the State gov
ernfnents, and with the aid OF Isegisia.
lures composed OF ignorant negroes and
unprineipled white men, were hastenina
the day OF absolute bankruptcy. By 1879
haf OF the Southern States had restored
peace and law, but In many the bayonet
still held sway and the Federal troops
were forcing corrupt government upon
me people. The North ala not sympa.
thize with this state Of affairs.
Many OF the Libesal Republicans how
ever disguised With the failure Of the
1reeIey campaign, and believing that
"hen General Grant retired there would
DC no further trouble, hocked 10 the sun.
port OF Hayes. Prominent among these
were Carl Schurz and Murat Haistead.
timers OF the Liberals, finding their own
orsanization had no life in II, went to
tbe Iuden side Of the fight. Among
THESE were men like Governor Curttn ~
FennsylEanla, one Of the two men who
nominated Lincoln for President In IsgO
ten. John II. Palmer, Charles Francis
Adams, and others who henceforwar I'd
were known as Democrats.
ELECTION BRINGS on
BITTER CONTEST.
The election day came aud Tilden
swept the country. Next morning the
papers OF every shade OF POLITICAL fsgfb
SAID Tilden was elected. But Senator
chandler OF New Hampshire. secretary Of
the Republican national committee. OF
which Senator Zach Chandler was chair
man. gave out the newa that Hayes re.
eelFed $50 votes to Tilden's Is4. and
was elected. Then the powerful ma.
chinery OF tho Federal Government was
set In motion, and the contests were orig.
mated IN Louisiana. South Carolins.
Florida and Oregon.
The House of Representatives was
overwhelmingly Democratic. the Senate
was Republican. The country was threat
ened with anarchy. and Congress de-.
Fised the Electoral Commission. A /,
was constituted there were eight Repub.
means aud seven Democrats on the com.
mission aud every question before II was
decided In favor of Hayes by a vote of
eight to seven. There was an incipiept
revolt among Republican Senators whIrh
would have prevented counting in the
hayes electors from Louisiana. At the
mead OF 1t was Roscoe conkling. and
enough Senators to have carried the dav
had agreed to fight II ConkIing would
lead. Kate Chase Sprague. according 10
the omen gossip OF the time. persuaded
MIN to change his mind Thus she was
revenged on Tilden for the defeat Of
her father, Chief Justice Salmon r