Year: 1876

We have q sincere respect for Mr.. Hayes,
not indeed, as man OF great and COM
manding abilities, but as a gentleman OF
excellent moral impulses and hitherto
stainless character. We regard him
as virtuous, well-meaning citizen. who
would scorn the Presidency or any other
Office unless elected to it by the free choice
of the people in accordance with law. 1t
wouldgive rs great pain to be compelled to
change this opinion; but he cannot reason-
ably expect the press of the country to so
on defending his character if he thinks il
of SO little value that he will not shield
himself The country is full of rumors
utterly disgraceful to him if anybody
could suppose them true. These rumors are
daily coming to us in such forms and at
tested by such evidence that it requires
great stretch of charity to discredit them.
Our respect for Mr.. Hayes is SO great that
we have treated these stories with stubborn
incredulity, but it is an uphill work to de-
fend him against aspersions which he could
silence Mt once if he thought fit.


Is it true or is it false that an intrigue is
on foot, with Mr.. Hayes knowiege and con-
sent, for securing him the support of
Southern members Of Congress, with an
understanding that he will indemnify
them if they lose the confidence Of
their constituents ? He cannot be
ignorant that such charges are indus
triously circulated. He must know
that his character suffers in proportion as
they are believed. He owes it to himself
and the country to stop the circulation Of
such stories if they have no foundation.
His silence cannot be excused on the plea
that if such intrigues are in progress they
are managed by his supporters and parti-
sans without his approval. Silence implies
approval from the moment that such in
trigues come to his knowledge if he does not
openly wash his hands of all completely and
put stop to them by public rebuke. If
there are such intrigues he can arrest them.
If misguided supporters are trifing with his
honor and his character by proffer of bar.
gains to Southern members of Con.
gress he owes it to himself to de.
clare that he is neither an open nor
silent partner to such arrangements. He



rumors are false and that he neither desires
nor would accept the Presidency unless it
comes to him without any taint of fraud
or any collusive bargains with political OPP
ponents. He cannot afford under any cir
stances to appoint anybody but known
republicans to places of honor and trust in
the government. There is reason to sus-
pect that his partisans are holding out this
bait to prominent Southern democrats, and
he ought to lose no time in declaring that
all such expectations will be disappointed.
We desire that he will treat the South
fairly if he should become President, but he
cannot afford to have it supposed that such
treatment is the resalt of political bargain
instead of proceeding from his sense of JUS
tice. He must keep clear of oil dishonorable
entanglements, and as the air is full of frumors
injurious to his character he should make
it known by an explicit and authentic dec
laration that he is no party to any of the
Washington intrigues, and that he will repu-
diate all promises to political opponents
made by men protesting to act in his
interest.